SUDOKU
COMMON SYMPTOMS OF INNER EAR DISORDERS RECOGNIZING THE SIGNS
The vestibular system is made up of the parts of your inner ear and brain that contribute to controlling your balance and eye movements. If this system is compromised, it can result in an array of debilitating side effects that can hamper your ability to lead a healthy life. While some side effects may be alarming, they’re important to recognize as potential warning signs. VERTIGO If you experience any regular spinning or whirling sensations, or feel like the world around you is moving when it’s not, you’ve experienced vertigo. It can manifest while sitting still or standing, or may only occur when a certain movement is made. It’s often accompanied by lightheadedness, floating sensations, or the feeling of being heavily weighted or pulled in one direction. These sensations can also lead to nausea and vomiting. BALANCE Difficulty walking due to imbalance, stumbling, clumsiness, or poor coordination may mean your inner ear is acting up. You may have difficulty maintaining straight posture or need to constantly watch the ground while you walk to confirm its location. If you feel the need to grasp onto something while standing or sitting for fear of falling over, it could also mean your balance is out of alignment. This can lead to feelings of motion sickness as well. SENSES Severe changes in your vision or hearing could also point to vestibular distress. Your eyes may have trouble focusing on or tracking objects, or you might feel discomfort in heavy visual environments, like those with traffic or crowds. Other signs include sensitivity to light, difficulty seeing faraway objects, and poor depth perception. Loss of or fluctuations in your heering, heightened sensitivity to loud noises, or sudden loud noises increasing your vertigo symptoms are all aural symptoms that should be addressed. Not all these symptoms may be experienced by everyone with a vestibular disorder, and it can also manifest itself in other ways, like ear pain or headaches. If you think you might be suffering from a vestibular issue, call our office at (623) 544-0300 so we can help.
HOPPIN’ JOHN
Inspired by Epicurious
A traditional New Year’s favorite in the South, Hoppin’ John includes black- eyes peas that are said to represent coins, a sign of prosperity for the coming year. It’s usually served alongside collard greens, which represent cash.
INGREDIENTS
• 1 cup dried black-eyed peas • 5–6 cups water • 1 dried hot pepper, optional (arbol and Calabrian are great options)
• 1 smoked ham hock • 1 medium onion, diced • 1 cup long-grain white rice
DIRECTIONS
1. Wash and sort peas. 2. In a saucepan, cover peas with water, discarding any that float. 3. Add pepper, ham hock, and onion. Gently boil and cook uncovered, stirring occasionally, until peas are just tender, about 90 minutes. At this point, you should have about 2 cups of liquid remaining. 4. Add rice, cover, drop heat to low, and simmer for 20 minutes, undisturbed. 5. Remove from heat and let steam for an additional 10 minutes, still covered. 6. Remove lid, fluff with a fork, and serve.
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