Page 186 - South Mississippi Living - June, 2024

FINAL SAY
MICHAEL A.
SEICSHNAYDRE,
Coast Ear Nose and Throat Associates
M.D.
One of my favorite things to do as an ear, nose, and throat doctor is to help people discover ways to live their best lives. I share multiple strategies daily with all of my patients to help them understand the effects of various exposures and to minimize negative health impacts.
Some of those negative health aspects can be easier to overcome such as exposure to pollen, mold, and other allergens, including dietary effects. Monitoring what we eat and breathe allows us to live a healthier life, but some exposures are not as easy and require patient dedication to manage, such as the contact we have with other people.
Unfortunately, many people experience stress from their interpersonal interactions with family and coworkers, but if we practice the virtues of patience, forgiveness, and humility, the result is a much greater sense of peace and joy in day-to-day living. I can tell you, and not just from my personal experience, but from being in practice right here on the Mississippi Gulf Coast for the last 31 years, the immune system will struggle when people are exposed to stress. Therefore, they struggle with other medical conditions because of excessive stress exposure.
When people are stressed, for whatever reason, whether they’re not sleeping well, if they are overwhelmed with pollen or maybe they are
upset about personal or professional relationships, it will decrease their immune system. When our immune system is down, we’re much more likely to pick up things like strep throat or some type of viral infection.
As an ear, nose, and throat
doctor, I can’t help but be
attentive to my patients’
allergic responses and help
them be wise about their
diet selections, but I also
strive to help with their
cognitive sense of well-being.
I encourage my patients to
remove as much stress from
their lives as they possibly
can and to always keep
active. Especially as they
age. If you don’t keep active,
you’ll progressively lose a
sense of balance. I discuss decreased levels of activity with patients all
the time because 90 percent of the people who seek a doctor for a balance disorder have been inactive for some time. So, stay active to stay healthy in body and mind.
My last advice is to remember that gravity is always working against us. If you feel like you’re developing a nasal or sinus condition, sleeping upright
can make a big difference. We all get congested when we lie down. If you are feeling bad, sit up and take a nap. Sleep in a reclined position. Make gravity
work for you and not against you. I feel very fortunate to be part of Coastal Ear Nose and Throat
Associates. We’re a group that’s growing in size with cutting-edge strategies and procedures and we’ve positioned ourselves to provide the full range of services to our ear, nose, and throat patients.
Dr. Seicshnaydre, MD is the Mississippi Gulf Coast’s first ear, nose, and throat specialist to also specialize in allergies and cosmetic rhinoplasty, and has been treating adults and children for more than 30 years.
186 | June 2024
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