Texan ENT Specialists - April 2020

Check out our April newsletter!

TexanENT.com

512.550.0321

APRIL 2020

Satellite Offices:

601 A Leah Avenue San Marcos, TX 78666 Tuesday and Thursday afternoons

1009 W. San Antonio Street Lockhart, TX 78644 1st and 3rd Mondays of each month

‘EAR, NEWS, AND THROAT’

MASTER OF PRANKS

April Fools' Day is coming up fast, but there’s still time to plan your next big prank. Over the years, I’ve been both the prankster and the unwitting victim. This month, I’d like to share some of the best pranks I’ve been a part of. WAKE-UP CALL This one is a prank I pulled, and I use “prank” very loosely here. When I was in middle school, I was supposed to caddy for my dad at a golf tournament. That morning, my parents got up early to go to breakfast, and I was responsible for getting myself up, dressed, and ready before they got back home. Instead, I enlisted my sister’s help to convince them I was still in bed. We stuffed pillows under my covers to make it look like I was still asleep and turned off all the lights in my room. Then, I hid on the other side of the bed and waited for our parents to come home. An Evans Family April Fools'

we liked him pretty well, but my good friend and I often joked with each other by imitating him—well out of Mr. Snow’s earshot, of course.

One day, after parent-teacher conferences, my momwas

driving my friend and me somewhere when she said, “I had a great conference with Mr. Snow. He thought it was so funny how you two are always talking like him and laughing about his clothes!” We instantly panicked. How could she tell him that? After letting us freak out for a fewminutes, my mom started laughing and admitted she never told him any of that stuff. It was a simple prank, but for about five minutes, I was convinced I was going to spend the rest of the year in detention. SPECIAL DELIVERY Renee is better at pranking than anyone else in the Evans family. My wife has pulled some pretty spectacular pranks on me. The best one happened when we were trying to get pregnant with Audrey. Renee was still working as a pharmacist and had to get up earlier than I did for work. She took a pregnancy test in the morning, then texted me later in the day to tell me it was negative. Better luck next month. When Renee came home later that afternoon, I was watching a weird, subtitled Korean movie. After the movie was finally over, she brought me an Amazon package that had been delivered. I didn’t realize that she was recording me with her phone. I spent about half a minute messing with the TV remote before I finally opened the package. Inside was the positive pregnancy test she’d taken that morning, and that’s how I found out that I was going to be a dad. I really should have seen it coming. She did the exact same thing when we booked our wedding venue. At first, she told me the dates we wanted were all booked up and that we’d have to find somewhere else. Later, she gave me

When my dad walked through the front door, the first thing he asked was, “Is Seth up and ready?”

“No,” my sister said, “I think he’s still asleep.”

My dad didn’t sound happy to hear this. That’s when my mom came into my room to get me up. When she turned on the lights, I jumped up, fully dressed and ready to go.

“Ha! Psych!” I laughed. “I’m ready!”

It was a pretty lame prank to be sure, but my dad did think it was pretty funny.

PARENT-TEACHER CATASTROPHE The best prank my parents ever pulled on me was orchestrated by my mom. In ninth grade, my science teacher was a man named Mr. Snow. He was a quirky guy, to put it lightly. Mr. Snow had a very particular way of talking, and because he was colorblind, he always dressed like a crime against fashion. I’m talking about fuchsia plaid shirts with green pants. He was a good teacher, and “Renee is better at pranking than anyone else in the Evans family. My wife has pulled some pretty spectacular pranks on me.”

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T he season of sniffles and sneezes is upon us, but you don’t have to let your allergies stop you from enjoying gorgeous April blooms and fresh spring breezes. Try these natural solutions to help combat your allergies and breathe a little easier this spring — though if your allergies are persistent, seek professional medical help. Food is often overlooked as a method to fight your allergies, but make no mistake: The nutrients in some foods can do wonders for your body! Use this to your advantage by choosing ingredients proven to fight the sniffles. Raw, local honey has the ability to soothe scratchy throats, which protects the airway passage from further damage. ( Warning: Children under the age of 1 should never consume honey.) Also on the sweeter side, the naturally occurring enzyme in pineapple, bromelain, has been shown to ease inflammation and swelling, while quercetin, found in tea, red wine, and apples, can act as a natural antihistamine. If you’re looking for something more savory, spicy foods can light a fire under your mucus, break it up, and clear your nasal passages. Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese treatment method that pinpoints specific pathways crucial to the flow of energy throughout the body and reopens them through strategic needle placements. While studies have yet to prove that acupuncture can serve as a stand-alone treatment for allergies, it has been shown to aid in symptom management. Acupuncture can also decrease pain and release built-up pressure caused by congestion. Have you ever just wanted to open your nose and flush out all of your congestion? With a neti pot, you can! Simply create your own saltwater solution with filtered water — do not try this with unfiltered water, as deadly organisms can enter your body this way — and 1 teaspoon of salt. Some experts even suggest adding a pinch of baking soda to the mixture to soothe the bite of the salt. Next, pour the solution into the pot. Tilt your head to one side over a sink, pour the mixture from the pot into one of your nostrils, and let it drain out the other side. Repeat on the opposite nostril and feel the relief! Eat Them Away Poke Them Away Drain Them Away

The Best Eco-Friendly and Kid-Friendly Activities for Earth Day KEEP IT GREEN It can be tough to figure out how to switch up family game nights. Kids can be very attached to their electronics, making it hard to get them invested in anything else. With Earth Day coming up this month, you have the perfect excuse to put down the phones and get outside to save the planet. If you’re looking for ways to spend time with your kids on Earth Day, try these eco- friendly family activities! Pick up trash and make art with it. You can teach your kids a lot about downcycling and upcycling through recycled art. Downcycling is when waste is recycled to become a new product, but there’s a loss of quality as a result. Upcycling is the opposite: Whatever you recycle becomes a product with a higher value. One way to upcycle is to create recycled art. Use old newspapers or magazines to create collages or papier-mâché bowl sculptures around balloons, jars, or your own custom shape with chicken wire. You can also use old plastic or glass bottles as beautiful hanging planters or create a memorable wind chime from jar lids, tin cans, plastic silverware, and old rubber bands. Plant a garden. Gardening is one of the most rewarding ways to spend time outdoors. Your kids can learn about caring for another living thing and grow their own vegetables and fruits! A great way to start is to find out what’s in season in your area. If you don’t have an outdoor garden, you can pick out some indoor plants or create a hanging garden with recycled bottles! Build a compost system. If you have a garden, the next best thing you can do is start composting at home! Did you know that you can compost your cardboard products? Instead of waiting for the recycling truck every other week, you can use your spare green and brown waste to create incredibly nutritious soil for your garden! Green waste includes vegetable and fruit scraps, eggshells, nutshells, coffee grounds, etc. Brown waste includes cardboard, dead leaves, paper egg cartons, wine corks, and more. Get a bin and maintain a green-to-brown ratio of 1-to-2. Layer, water, and turn the compost to keep it healthy. It can take anywhere from two months to a year, depending on what you put in and how often you turn it.

We hope you and your family have fun with these planet-loving activities! Stay clean!

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512.550.0321

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WHY DOES YOUR CHILD NEED A SPECIALIST? THE 4 MOST COMMON REASONS TO SEE A PEDIATRIC ENT No. 3: Chronic Ear Infections and Cholesteatoma

Taking your child to the doctor can be a stressful experience. It’s easy for parents to jump to the worst-case scenario when they’re worried about their child’s health. This anxiety only grows when your primary physician sends you to a specialist, such as an ENT doctor. To help concerned parents remain calm, here are some common reasons children are referred to a pediatric ENT. No. 1: Adenoid Trouble Adenoids are tissues at the back of the nasal cavity that trap any harmful bacteria you breathe in. Unfortunately, it’s very common for adenoids to cause problems in children. Sometimes the adenoids grow too big, making it hard for the child to breathe through their nose. This can lead to chronic inner ear infections. Another common adenoid problem is adenoiditis, which is when the adenoids become infected for months at a time. Adenoiditis can cause a runny nose, a nasty case of postnasal drip, headaches, and coughs. No. 2: Cleft Lip/Palate A cleft lip is a birth defect that happens when the tissue of the upper lip fails to join together before the baby is born. A cleft palate is a similar condition in the roof of the mouth. A cleft lip or cleft palate can cause problems with eating or speaking clearly, and children with cleft lips/palates tend to suffer chronic ear infections.

Chronic ear infections are one of the biggest reasons we see children at Texan ENT. Oversized adenoids are a common cause of ear infections in children, but we also see many kids with cholesteatomas. This is a deeper issue where a tear in the eardrum allows cysts to settle in the child’s inner ear. No. 4: Sinusitis Dealing with frequent sinus infections (sinusitis) is a painful experience at any age. Though most sinus infections can be successfully treated with a course of antibiotics, if your child suffers from frequent infections, then your ENT may recommend allergy testing to help determine the cause. These are just a few reasons why children may need to see an ENT doctor. While they can be scary, modern medicine has made most of these conditions much easier to treat. Next month, we’ll cover four more reasons why your child may need to pay a visit to our office. ... CONTINUED FROM COVER a present with the contract for the venue inside. Renee is great at pulling pranks because she can be so deadpan when she lies. I fall for it every time! Pranks like these offer a welcome bit of humor in day-to-day life. You can look at the world in a few different ways. I think it’s better to look at the world and laugh than to be depressed or angry all the time. April Fools' Day and light-hearted pranks remind us to take a moment and laugh.

Beet, Goat Cheese, and Arugula Salad

This crowd-pleasing dish is sure to be the biggest hit at your next gathering. And it’s good for you, too!

Ingredients

• 6 cups fresh arugula • 1/2 cup walnuts, toasted and chopped • 1/4 cup dried cranberries or cherries • 1/2 avocado, cubed • 2 oz crumbled goat cheese

• 1/4 cup balsamic vinegar • 3 tbsp shallots, thinly sliced • 1 tbsp honey • 1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil • Salt and pepper to taste • 6 beets, peeled and quartered

Directions

5. Place coated beets on baking sheet and roast them for 12 minutes. Set the beets aside and allow them to cool. 6. In a large bowl, toss arugula, walnuts, and berries with the remaining vinaigrette. Season with salt and pepper. 7. Top salad with beets, avocado, and goat cheese.

1. Heat oven to 450 F and line a baking sheet with aluminum foil. 2. In a medium bowl, combine vinegar, shallots, and honey. 3. Gradually whisk olive oil into the mixture and season with salt and pepper. 4. In a small bowl, toss the beets in dressing until they are coated.

Are you going to pull any epic pranks this year? I’d love to hear about them!

–Dr. Seth Evans

INSPIRED BY FOODNETWORK.COM

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PRST STD US POSTAGE PAID BOISE, ID PERMIT 411

1180 SETON PARKWAY, SUITE 330 KYLE, TX 78640

INSIDE THIS ISSUE:

Page 1 What’s Your Best Prank?

Page 2 Fight the Sneeze With These Holistic Remedies

Page 2 Eco-Friendly and Kid-Friendly Activities for Earth Day

Page 3 4 Reasons Your Child Needs an ENT

Page 3 Beet, Goat Cheese, and Arugula Salad

Page 4 Word From the Westies

DOG DAY AFTERNOONS Hours: Monday–Thursday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Izzy and Emma’s Favorite Dog-Friendly Places

Park. This dog park has specific areas for small dogs and big dogs, so pups of all sizes can run and play safely. Open from dawn until dusk, Steeplechase Dog Park is a great place for dogs and their humans to spend a spring day.

Hello, everybody!

Izzy and Emma here, just enjoying this wonderful spring weather. There’s nothing quite like springtime in Texas. Not only is the weather great, but there’s also so much to do! Here are some of our favorite dog-friendly locations and events to enjoy in the spring. Somewhere to Eat: The Railhouse 107 E. Center St., Kyle, Texas

Something to Do: Puptopia Festival 2020 Mueller Lake Park, 4550 Mueller Blvd., Austin, Texas

This event is a bit of a drive, but we think it’s worth it! Puptopia Festival is the world’s first “amazement park” for dogs and their humans. On Saturday, April 11, Puptopia is coming to Austin for a full day of

Craving some old-fashioned barbecue? The Railhouse serves up grilled meats, tasty sides, and live music all week long. The Railhouse also has a

dog-friendly events, games, and shows. Humans can grab a drink at the K-9 Lounge while dogs enjoy some well-earned pampering in the Spaw . Visit PuptopiaFestival.com/austin to learn more!

fantastic outdoor area christened the Paradise Playground, where dogs are welcome to hang out and enjoy themselves, too! So bring Fido and enjoy a great meal on a warm Texas evening. Someplace to Play: Steeplechase Dog Park 135 Hallie Dr., Kyle, Texas

We hope your spring is filled with fun for the whole family!

Izzy & Emma

If you’re looking for a place that caters specifically to dogs, look no farther than Steeplechase Dog

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