Texan ENT's online newsletter for March 2018
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MAR 2018
‘EAR, NEWS, AND THROAT’
Welcoming My Daughter Into theWorld MY ANGEL
I am pleased to announce the birth of my daughter, Audrey Eliza Evans. She arrived on Dec. 15 and, now that we’re settled in, I want to dedicate this letter to her. Renee and I prepared for months, but it I didn’t really get it until after Audrey finally arrived. As I watched Audrey lying on my wife’s chest in the delivery room, it finally hit home: I’m a dad now. I am responsible for this little person all the time, and, quite frankly, that’s terrifying! It was surreal at first, but you get used to it quicker than you’d think. I’m an expert diaper changer at this point, and my bottle-feeding skills are the stuff of legend. Sure, there is a great deal of stress that comes with being a new parent. I have almost forgotten what a full night of sleep feels like. Plus, there’s the constant worry that I’m going to make a mistake and ruin her life forever. I’m really fortunate I have Renee with me. I didn’t realize how much my own parents must have gone through with me. Anyone who is a parent knows how different life becomes. I’ve heard people say having kids changes you, but I could never have predicted how profound these changes would be. Before they have kids, people might focus on all the downsides of raising children. I know I did. Kids cry, they wake you up at night, and you’ll have an extra burden of responsibility. What you don’t realize is all the positive things that come with being a parent, like the warmth that comes with holding your child in your arms or seeing them genuinely smile for the first time. I never knew I could be filled with so much love until Audrey came into my life. Of course, it helps that she’s super cute. “I never knew I could be filled with so much love until Audrey came into my life.”
My parents are also completely in love with her. She’s their first grandbaby, and they are over the moon. They came to stay with us for about 10 days after we brought her home, and Renee and I were really grateful for the extra help. We brought a new baby into a home already full with two dogs, and it was a bit overwhelming. Luckily, the dogs also fell in love with Audrey right away. We were a little nervous at first, but they’re the sweetest little Westies, and they’ve been really gentle with her.
Having Audrey is one of the greatest things to ever happen to me. Honestly, I’ve wanted to be a dad ever since I was a kid. It’s a fulfilling and rewarding experience to finally have it happen. I’m excited for her to become more interactive with us. I want to get to know her personality and teach her the things dads need to teach their kids. Of course, before we know it, she’ll be in preschool. And then she’ll be in high school, and college, and getting married herself — okay, now I’m getting emotional.
I know life goes by pretty fast, so I’ll take advantage of the time I have with her and value each moment I can still hold her in my arms. –Dr. Seth Evans
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FEELING TONGUE-TIED?
A SIMPLE SOLUTION TO ANKYLOGLOSSIA
Is there anything worse than feeling tongue-tied? Often coupled with butterflies in your stomach, getting tongue-tied never fails to ruin a personal victory. Think of the moment you worked up the courage to talk to the cute barista or when you were in the middle of giving an important presentation. Were you able to recover, or did you totally blow it? Tripping over your own words is frustrating, but luckily, being metaphorically tongue-tied is temporary. If you are someone with a literal tongue-tie, you may be faced with lasting health problems. WHAT’S A TONGUE-TIE? Ankyloglossia, more commonly known as “tongue-tie,” is a condition in which a band of tissue attaches the tip of a person’s tongue to the bottom of their mouth. Present at birth, a tongue-tie makes it difficult for a person to stick out their tongue or move it freely. This restriction can cause problems with eating, swallowing, and speech. THE DANGERS OF ANKYLOGLOSSIA In some cases, ankyloglossia doesn’t cause problems at all. The mouth changes as we develop from infants, and the severity of a tongue-tie can lessen with time. However, this is not always the case. Infants with tongue- ties can struggle with breast- or bottle-feeding, preventing them from getting the nutrients they need. If left untreated, the struggles associated with tongue-tie only increase. Children with ankyloglossia can also struggle with eating solid foods, and can also suffer from delayed speech development and certain speech impediments. Adults living with a tongue-tie report additional difficulties, including jaw pain, migraines, poor dental health, and unusual speaking habits. IS THERE A CURE? When ankyloglossia is a problem, the solution may be a simple surgery to remove the extra tissue, allowing the tongue to move freely. The surgery can be performed on newborn infants, and in many cases, 80 percent of infants with tongue-tie breast-feed more easily within 24 hours. This surgery can free children and adults from the oral struggles they’ve faced their whole lives.
There’s only one day of the year you’ll be scorned for not wearing green: St. Patrick’s Day. If you’ve ever gone the whole holiday wearing any other color, you’ve probably been pinched by your peers, family, spouse, and anyone else decked out head to toe in green. Green has become so deeply associated with the St. Patrick holiday that many people are unaware that green wasn’t always its official color. Blue was the first color to symbolize St. Patrick’s Day, and the saint himself is almost always depicted dressed in what’s known as “St. Patrick’s blue.” What caused the shift from green to blue is more speculation than hard fact. Some have theorized that the change happened sometime in the 17th century, when the symbol for the United Irishmen Rebellion became the clover. St. Patrick used the clover to teach the Irish people about the Holy Trinity, and it eventually became a symbol that represented both the saint and the holiday. Another theory comes from Ireland’s nickname, “The Emerald Isle,” which was coined because of the plentiful green foliage that adorns the country’s landscape. It also relates to the green in the flag. Each of the three colors in the flag have their own symbolic meaning: green for the Catholics who live in the country, orange for the Protestants, and white for the peace between the two. Of course, you can’t forget leprechauns, the little creatures that have always been affiliated with the holiday. But just like St. Patrick’s original blue garb, these impish tricksters used to wear red instead of green. While green overtook blue as the shade of choice for St. Patrick, leprechauns began putting on their signature green suits. You might wonder where the tradition of pinching comes from. We can thank the leprechauns for this one. It’s said that if the gold-loving redheads caught you not wearing their favorite color, they would pinch you. To avoid pinches from leprechauns and people alike, be sure to put on some green this St. Patrick’s Day to blend in with the festive crowd.
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Hospital identified a round object blocking her nasal cavity. However, when doctors tried to remove it, they discovered something unusual: It was a tooth. No, the woman had not shoved a tooth up her nose as a child. The doctors quickly determined that a fully formed extra tooth had grown in her nasal cavity, roots and all. A 2011 paper published in the Journal of Conservative Dentistry found these extra, or “supernumerary,” teeth occur in 4 percent of the population and are twice as common in men than in women. However, supernumerary teeth tend to grown downward, alongside a person’s other upper teeth. It’s more rare for an extra tooth to form upside-down and grow into the nasal cavity. Doctors were able to successfully remove the tooth after peeling away several layers of membrane. After surgery, the woman reported a great deal of improvement and was able to breathe easy for the first time in her life. Most nosebleeds are not the result of a tooth growing in the wrong place, and if you get a nosebleed every now and then, there’s no need to be alarmed. However, if you experience chronic nosebleeds, a number of factors could be to blame, including acute sinusitis, allergies, certain medications, nonallergic rhinitis, or a deviated septum. If you or a family member experience chronic or long lasting nosebleeds, make an appointment with your ENT doctor right away. A quick exam can determine if your nosebleeds are a warning sign of a more dangerous issue.
One a scale of “unnoticeable” to “fatal,” nosebleeds fall somewhere around “minor inconvenience.” They can be embarrassing if they come on in the middle of a work presentation or a first date, but beyond some blood droplets staining your shirt, nosebleeds are not a reason to run to the doctor. However, if you experience chronic nosebleeds — and you don’t have psychic powers — then it might be an indication of a more serious problem. Last October, a woman in China who had spent decades suffering from chronic nosebleeds, congestion, and inflammation finally saw a doctor about her condition. Initial X-rays at the Hunan Provincial People’s WHEN TO WORRY ABOUT A LITTLE BLOOD Are Your Nosebleeds a Red Flag?
LAUGH! HAVE A
Zesty Zucchini Enchiladas For a lighter take on enchiladas, go carb-free by swapping tortillas for zucchini!
Adapted from delish.com.
Ingredients
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4 large zucchinis
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2 teaspoons cumin
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1 tablespoon olive oil or ghee
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2 teaspoons chili powder
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1 large onion, chopped
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3 cups cooked, shredded chicken
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2 cloves garlic, minced
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2 cups shredded cheese
Directions
1. Heat oven to 350 F. In a large skillet, heat oil. Add onion, garlic, cumin, chili powder, and salt to taste. Stir to combine. Add chicken and 1 cup enchilada sauce. 2. Use vegetable peeler to thinly slice zucchini. Lay out three slices, slightly overlapping, and spoon chicken mixture on top. Roll the zucchini “tortilla” and place on baking sheet. Repeat until all zucchini and chicken is used.
3. Cover the enchiladas with remaining sauce and sprinkle with cheese. Bake 20 minutes, and enjoy!
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INSIDE THIS ISSUE:
Page 1 A BigWelcome to Audrey Eliza Evans!
Page 2 St. Patrick’s Day vs. the Color Green
Page 2 Tongue-Tied: Not Just an Expression
Page 3 Don’t Forget to Floss Your Nose
Page 3 Go Carb-Free for Dinner
Page 4 The 3 Best Places to See Beautiful Flowers
Hours: Monday-Thursday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. | Friday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Earth’s Most Beautiful FLOWER DISPLAYS
Spring is here, which means flora will soon be in full bloom. Flowers can be an easy pick-me-up or a great way to add color to your home, but some people take their flower obsession to the next level by planning botanical-themed vacations. Here are some of the most impressive gardens and flower displays in the world. Netherlands Holland, most famous for its tulips, always draws visitors at the first sign of spring. One of its most famous destinations, Keukenhof, located in Lisse, is among the world’s largest flower gardens. The park is 79 acres and boasts approximately 7 million flowers each year. This colorful garden is open annually from mid-March to mid- May, but mid-April is the ideal time to see the tulips. Washington, D.C. Besides the monuments and historic buildings, one of the biggest attractions in Washington, D.C. is the cherry tree blossoms. Travelers
who visit the Tidal Basin during the spring can witness 3,000 trees, which were a gift from Tokyo in 1912, flaunt their beautiful pink blossoms. The best time to see the spectacle is from the end of March through the end of April. Anza-Borrego Desert State Park Desert lavender, flowering cacti, pygmy poppies, and rock daisies are just a few of the many wildflowers decorating Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. The various native species are often seen weaved together to form a colorful carpet over any barren patch in the park, which is located just two hours from San Diego. In addition to flowers, visitors often spot bighorn sheep. Wildflower blossoms vary in intensity each year, but they typically begin to bloom in late February or early March. Next time you’re planning a spring trip, consider visiting one of the world’s most beautiful flower displays. No green thumb required.
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