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A Primer on Pollen (andTreatment Options!) Homegrown Allergies
Y ou may recall that last fall we began offering allergy testing here at Texan ENT. Allergies are more than just a nuisance; they can drain your energy and leave you feeling horrible for days or weeks at a time. One big culprit of seasonal allergies is a yellow, powdery substance you’re probably familiar with: pollen. Here in Central Texas, cedars are colloquially known to allergy sufferers as a major trigger. However, as biologist Robert Edmonson with the Texas A&M Forest Service explains, the cedars aren’t really the culprit. “In the central part of the state, we deal with Ashe juniper. That’s what everyone calls cedar,” Edmonson told KXAN recently.
He went on to explain that this species of juniper is gendered and each gender produces something different. The female trees produce little blue berries and the male trees produce “copious amounts of pollen.” That’s right, it’s the male trees that are responsible for your sneeze. This isn’t unique to Central Texas, though. Recent research has shown that in communities across the U.S. and the world, planners select for male trees in local landscaping because unlike their female counterparts, they don’t produce or shed fruit, seeds, or pods, which subsequently have to be cleaned up. The good news is that we’re at the tail end of peak pollen from Ashe junipers in Central Texas, but the bad news is that our climate means something is blooming or growing that may trigger allergies
year-round. Over-the-counter nasal sprays and antihistamines bring relief to many, but if you find your allergy symptoms are severe enough to affect your daily life and they don’t respond to medications, then allergy testing and treatment at Texan ENT is a great option for you. Through testing, we can identify which of 60 different allergens are triggering your symptoms. Then we talk you through ways to decrease your exposure to these allergens. If appropriate, we may also offer sublingual allergy drops as a form of treatment. This treatment is individualized to each patient and has been shown to improve symptoms for 85%–90% of patients. If you want to learn more about our allergy testing and treatment options, visit TexanENT.com/allergy or give our office a call. HAVE A LAUGH
SPRING VEGETABLE AND CHICKEN PASTA BAKE
Inspired by TheSeasonedMom.com
Ingredients
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1 cup cooked chicken, diced
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1/2 cup fresh chives, chopped and divided
1 14-oz can artichokes, drained and quartered
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1 cup fresh asparagus pieces
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1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped and divided
1/2 cup carrots, grated
2 tsp minced garlic
1 1/2 cups uncooked penne pasta
1/4 tsp salt
1 3/4 cups chicken broth
1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 425 F and grease an 8-inch square baking dish with cooking spray. 2. In the prepared dish, stir together cooked chicken, artichokes, asparagus, carrots, uncooked pasta, chicken broth, half the chives, half the parsley, garlic, salt, and 2 tbsp Parmesan. 3. Cover the dish tightly with foil and bake for 35 minutes. 4. Uncover and stir. At this point, check the pasta to make sure it is al dente. If it’s undercooked, cover the dish and return to the oven until pasta is tender. 5. Remove from oven and garnish with remaining Parmesan, chives, and parsley.
If you love spaghetti, you’ll love these zucchini noodles!
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