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MARCH 2020
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1009 W. San Antonio Street Lockhart, TX 78644 1st and 3rd Mondays of each month
‘EAR, NEWS, AND THROAT’
HOW NOT TO CLEAN YOUR ROOM
W hat’s your favorite story? I don’t mean your favorite book or movie plot. What’s your favorite story to tell? I recently learned that March 15–21 is World Folktales and Fables Week, and that got me thinking about stories. Folklore of a culture teaches lessons through storytelling and other means, but I think we all have personal family folklore, too. It seems one story always gets told every time the family gets together. My mom likes to tell the story about when my best friend and I decided to clean my bedroom. Keep in mind, my friend and I were around 5 years old at the time. We got this bright idea while my mom was on a long phone call. My family lived in a split-level house, so although my bedroom was on the second story, my window was only a few feet off the ground. This is important because to get my room really clean, my friend and I decided to take everything that wasn’t a heavy piece of furniture and throw it out my bedroom window. The whole time this was going on, my mom could hear us running up and down the stairs, looking out the front door and giggling. She thought we were just playing like little boys. It wasn’t until our neighbor came over to ask if we were having a yard sale that she looked out the window. I had never seen my mom so mad. She made us bring everything back inside, sent my friend home, and sentenced me to my bedroom for a whole hour! Fortunately, this story has gotten a lot funnier with time. Evans Family Folklore
window,” and not “Dad once threw stuff out his bedroom window, so it’s okay.” The stories we tell kids are important because that’s how they learn when they’re young. Accordingly, I’ve made a point to read Audrey bedtime stories ever since she was an infant. I love reading to Audrey. It’s good quality time together. Plus, I think I have a budding reader. Even though she’s not old enough to read herself yet — we only just got her potty trained — she’s always excited to get a book and have me read to her. Audrey has lots of books, like “Big Red Barn” and “The Pout-Pout Fish,” but her favorite bedtime story is “Pancakes in Pajamas.” This is a cute little tale about a family of bears who decide to stay in their pajamas and eat pancakes all day. The bears end up going on a bike ride, which leads to the whole town having a big pancake party together.
I know my mom is going to love telling this story to Audrey when she’s older. I hope the message she takes away is “Don’t throw stuff out your
We’ve been reading Audrey this book since before she was old enough to eat pancakes herself. The first time Audrey had pancakes, she was so excited. She told us they were yummy then spread syrup all over her face. The story of Audrey’s first pancakes will definitely be part of our family folklore now. Maybe someday, I’ll be telling that story to her kids.
“The stories we tell kids are important because that’s how they learn when they’re young.”
–Dr. Seth Evans
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Imaginary Friends Promote Real Life Skills THE POWER OF PRETEND Studies show that up to 50% of young children have imaginary companions, ranging from entirely conjured entities to beloved stuffed animals. The popular social stigma around imaginary friends is that these children must be shy or lonely, but psychologists disagree. In fact, if your child develops an imaginary friend, most psychologists say it’s an activity you should promote instead of discourage. Psychologists claim that the invention of an entire friendly persona points to the fact that the child is both creative and highly social. Imaginary scenarios also give kids an opportunity to indulge in their wildest aspirations, like going to the moon or inventing a time machine. Their creativity gives them the ability to dream, explore, and experiment in useful ways. Imaginary friends can also be there to comfort your child when they’re feeling down or experiencing a tantrum, which is helpful when they are learning how to manage their emotions. There are also many ways parents can take part in interactions with imaginary friends to strengthen their own relationship with their child. Imaginary friends can make interactive play more meaningful and can be useful in accomplishing daily routines, like cleaning up or getting ready for bed. They also provide a window into the way your child’s mind works by encouraging the vocalization of thoughts and feelings they may not otherwise share. Imaginary friends are often a proxy for the children who invent them, so the conversations your child has with or about their friend can provide a lot of insight into how your child views the world and themselves. Imaginary friends are so important to how some children learn and grow that they’ve been featured in pop culture for many years. Entertainment like “Calvin and Hobbes,” “Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends,” and even adult shows like “Supernatural” —which featured an episode about a main character’s childhood imaginary friend returning to teach him valuable lessons as an adult — portray the inventors of imaginary friends as outgoing and creative. It just goes to show that letting the imagination run wild not only encourages healthy development but can also lead to lots of fun.
Creating a healthy lifestyle is often easier with support, but if you’re struggling to find someone to join you on your path to wellness, then look to your furry friends instead. Read on for some ways to get active with your pet, and learn more about their wellness and health at PetMD.com.
RACKING UP THE MILES
A simple way to get moving with your pet is to go for a walk. If you’re looking for a bigger challenge, then try running, biking, or hiking with your pet. Anything beyond a walk may require extra obedience training or equipment — like a specialty tool that prevents your pet from colliding with your bike — but after a few loops around the trail, your pet will be begging to go again. And how can you say no to that face? Plus, this idea isn’t just for dogs. You can find leashes and harnesses for cats, lizards, ferrets, and other pets that love to get fresh air. If you have a dog that appears to be more fish than canine, swimming might be the workout for you! Swimming is a joint-friendly cardiovascular exercise that works your entire body. If you’re not one for a dip in the pool, then kayaking, canoeing, and paddleboarding are great for your arms and core. Meanwhile, your pet can enjoy a relaxing ride or an exciting game of fetch. Just be sure to secure your pet with a life jacket before you and your four-legged friend splash away! If you want a good full-body workout while entertaining your pet, then consider including them in traditional exercises. Entertain your pup with a game of fetch and drop down for a burpee every time it runs away. Balance your bird on your shoulder while you squat and lunge. Mentally and physically stimulate your cat by dragging a string around your body during Russian twists. With a little creativity and a few of your pet’s favorite things, both of you can work up a sweat. GOING FOR A SWIM KEEPING IT TRADITIONAL
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ALL IN YOUR HEAD? 4 COMMON HEADACHE CAUSES (AND HOW TO TREAT THEM)
One minute you’re planning your day and the next you're lying on the couch with a cold compress telling your kids to please keep it down. This is what life is like with headaches. It’s estimated that around 75% of Americans suffer from headaches. Although common, not all headaches are the same. Being able to identify the cause of your headache can help you more quickly treat it. Here are the four most common headaches our patients suffer from. Caffeine-Induced Headaches Do you drink a lot of caffeine? You’ve probably suffered from a caffeine-induced headache. Caffeine affects everyone differently, but individuals who drink more than two cups of coffee a day can suffer more frequent headaches. Reducing your caffeine intake can also lead to temporary headaches, as a symptom of withdrawal. Tension Headaches Tension headaches are often described as feeling like a tight rubber band around your head. People who suffer from tension headaches usually report tightness or pressure across their forehead and tenderness in their scalp, neck, and shoulder muscles. Sinus Headaches Sinus issues tend to go hand in hand with headaches. Sinusitis is a common cause of sinus headaches. When the sinuses become swollen, it’s common for people to feel a mild, pulsating pressure in their forehead, eyes, and even upper teeth. Bending forward or
laying down can sometimes cause the headache to feel worse.
Migraines Migraines are the most painful headaches a person can suffer. Often debilitating and long-lasting, a severe migraine can keep you from being able to go about daily life. Migraine pain usually forms as a severe throbbing on one side of the head. Nausea and vomiting are common symptoms of a migraine. At Texan ENT, patients who suffer from chronic migraines can receive the “RESET Treatment,” a five- minute procedure that can help reduce and even eliminate migraine headaches.
How do I treat my headache? Most mild headaches can be treated with over-the-counter painkillers, a hot or cold
compress, and a little rest. However, more painful headaches may demand a visit to the doctor. If you suffer from severe or chronic headaches, or your headache symptoms include dizziness or numbness, call 512.550.0321 right away. There may be an underlying cause or lifestyle habits that need to be addressed.
HAVE A LAUGH
Pesto Chicken With Blistered Tomatoes
Ingredients
• 1 tbsp unsalted butter, melted • 6 tbsp spinach pesto
• 2 1/2 tbsp olive oil, divided • 4 boneless and skinless chicken breasts, pounded to a 1-inch thickness • Salt and pepper to taste • 1/4 cup whole-wheat panko • 2 tbsp Parmesan cheese 1. In a large ovenproof skillet over medium- high heat, add 1 tbsp olive oil. 2. Season chicken with salt and pepper, and 3. In a bowl, combine panko, Parmesan cheese, and butter. 4. Spread pesto over chicken and top with panko mixture. 5. Broil chicken for 2 minutes on high heat until browned. Directions add it to pan. Cook chicken for 5 minutes on each side, then remove pan from heat.
• 2 cups cherry tomatoes • 1 garlic clove, thinly sliced • 1 tsp red wine vinegar
6. In a skillet, heat remaining oil over medium-high heat. 7. Add tomatoes and cook for 6 minutes. 8. Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds, stirring constantly. 9. Season tomato mixture with salt and pepper, and add red wine vinegar. 10. Serve tomatoes with broiled chicken.
INSPIRED BY COOKINGLIGHT.COM
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Page 1 Here’s a Story …
Page 2 Get Fit With Fido
Page 2 Forging Imaginary Friendships
Page 3 Is Coffee Causing Your Headaches?
Page 3 Pesto Chicken With Blistered Tomatoes
Page 4 Word From the Westies
SOME EPIC TAILS Hours: Monday–Thursday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
History’s Most Adventurous Dogs
sled. This relay was called the Great Race of Mercy. The medicine was only good for six days, so time was of the essence. Thankfully, one of the lead sled dogs was Togo. Twenty mushers and 150 sled dogs participated in the relay, but it was Togo, lead dog of renown musher Leonhard Seppala, who crossed the longest and most dangerous leg of the relay. Togo led the way across the 91-mile stretch of the frozen Norton Sound. Thanks to his bravery, the medicine reached Nome in 5 1/2 days, saving hundreds of lives.
fed by hunting deer and waterfowl. Seaman was also a brave guard dog. He warned the explorers of grizzly bears and saved the Corps from a late-night buffalo stampede.
Hello, everybody!
March 25 is Tolkien Reading Day, a day to celebrate the works of “Lord of the Rings” author J.R.R. Tolkien. Izzy and I can’t read, but we do love adventure stories! To celebrate, we’re sharing stories about a few dogs who went on some very unexpected journeys.
Bothie of the Poles
To date, only one dog has visited both the North and South poles: Bothie, the Jack Russell terrier. Described as “a fully fledged renegade” by his owners, Ranulph and Virginia Fiennes, Bothie joined the Fiennes on their three-year expedition around the world. Though he regularly stole frozen eggs from the food stores in Antarctica, the Fiennes were glad to have Bothie on their journey.
Seaman and the Corps of Discovery
In 1804, Captain Meriwether Lewis and Second Lieutenant William Clark sent out with
the Corps of Discovery to explore the Louisiana Purchase. Joining them on this 28-month mission was Seaman, Lewis’ Newfoundland. Seaman was a great swimmer and hunter, and
Now these are some dogs that really deserve their own movies!
Togo’s Great Race of Mercy
Izzy & Emma
When a deadly outbreak of diphtheria threatened to wipe out Nome, Alaska, the only way to get the medicine to town was by
he helped keep the crew
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