TEAM UP WITH YOUR DOCTOR FOR BETTER HEALTH

MEDICAL FOCUS

Team Up with Your Doctor for Better Health at Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital

When it comes to your health, your primary care doctor is your quarterback. They have a big-picture view and understanding of your overall health, and they can help you make the right moves to stay healthy.

“A strong relationship with your primary care doctor is key for your health,” said Harika Medi, M.D., internal medicine physician with Houston Methodist Primary Care Group. Building a relationship and partnership with your primary care doctor can help you tackle health problems and stay healthy through the ups and downs of life.

It’s A Team Effort

Here are some ways to make the most of your health visits and build a winning relationship with your doctor.

Find a primary care doctor. Look for a doctor who speaks your preferred language and offers convenient appointments in a location near you. Above all, you should choose a doctor you trust who listens and makes you feel comfortable.

Schedule an annual exam. It’s important to schedule an annual checkup even when you feel healthy. Annual checkups make it possible to prevent and detect problems early. “Your doctor may review your plan for managing chronic conditions and recommend screening tests to help you stay healthy,” Medi said.

Identify communication barriers.

Resources are available if you or a loved one struggles with hearing, understanding or remembering what is said in your health visits. Bringing a loved one along to your appointment may help you better understand the information shared by your doctor while providing emotional Harika Medi, M.D., internal medicine physician.

support, if needed. Contact the doctor’s office to let them know if you need help with communication or would like to have a family member or friend join you for your appointment.

Share your health history. Managing your health is easier when you build a relationship with a primary care doctor who knows you and your health history. Your doctor may recommend health screening tests based on your age, personal or family health history, and other factors. “For example, if you have a family history of heart disease, stroke, diabetes or cancer, your doctor may emphasize ways to prevent disease and recommend screening tests to help detect disease early,” Medi said.

Be open and honest. There’s no reason to hold back information because you’re worried or embarrassed. Your primary care doctor is there to support you in improving your health, not to pass judgment on your decisions. The doctorpatient relationship is ironclad in its confidentiality, with many ethical, professional and legal standards that protect it. Having open and honest conversations about your health helps the doctor better serve your health care needs.

Talk about mental health. Your primary care doctor can help with mental health concerns, including screening and treatment for depression and anxiety. Your doctor can also connect you with referrals to therapy, counseling or specialized care.

Ask about vaccines. Your primary care doctor can be a great resource to help you understand which vaccines are recommended for you and when to get them. It’s important to have these conversations with your doctor so you can make informed decisions based on the latest medical guidance.

Set goals for your health. If you want to lose weight, quit smoking or make other healthy changes, your doctor can help you get started. Your chances of success improve when you have medical support for making big changes to your health.

Prioritize your health by making an appointment with a primary care doctor. Convenient appointments are available at a location near you throughout Fort Bend County, including Sugar Land, Sweetwater, Brooks Street, Riverstone, Sienna, Aliana and Rosenberg.

Schedule an appointment with a doctor at Houston Methodist Primary Care Group by visiting houstonmethodist.org/ pcg/southwest or calling 281.930.6639.

Visit houstonmethodist.org/sugarland to learn more about Houston Methodist Sugar Land Hospital.

the drunken cyclist

By Jeffrey M. Kralik, Ph.D.

The Texas Two-Step: Barbeque and Wine

When I moved to Southeast Texas several years ago, I needed to adapt quickly to many aspects of living in the area, but there were three at the forefront: the traffic, the humidity and the barbecue. While the first two involve mere acceptance, there is a bit of wiggle room with the third, particularly when it comes to accompanying beverages.

While I understood that the “traditional” pairings with Texas barbecue range from sweet tea to beer, I was rather surprised to see limited effort to pair wine with the region’s version of smoked and grilled meat. Unlike other regional preparations, which often involve slathering the selected meat in a variety of rich, tangy, and often sweet sauces that can make wine pairing difficult, the Texas version is far less complicated. A simple salt and pepper rub is the mainstay of barbecue in the Lone Star state, fo-

Italy

Barbecue in Italy includes the vast variety of fresh fish available from the Mediterranean, but the meats involved come pretty close to those used in Texas: beef, sausage, chicken.

2019 Giacomo Borgogno and Figli Barbera d’Alba Piedmont, Italy Retail $24. 100% Barbera. From a famed producer of Barolo, this beauty has oodles of dark fruit, laced with herbs, spice and earth. The fruit here will work equally well with a smoky brisket or a garlic-laden sausage.

2019 Il Poggione (Proprietá Franceschi) Rosso

Toscana IGT, Tuscany, Italy

Retail $20. 100% Sangiovese. Another well-known producer, this one a bit further south, in Tuscany. Fairly light (in color, but not flavor) with black cherry, black raspberry and well, black earth. Particularly tart, this would be a great counter-balance to a juicy brisket.

Spain

As in Italy, Spanish barbecue involves plenty of seafood, beef and chicken. There is more pork, though, and of course, paella.

2017 Juan Gil Jumilla Red Blend Murcia, Spain Retail $20. Closer to a New World style with tons of fruit, a bit of spice, fruit and well, more fruit. Did I mention the fruit? There is also mocha and a bit of pine needle. Another fantastic wine for brisket and sausage, plus pork ribs.

2016 Marqués de Cáceres Rioja Reserva Spain

Retail $20. 90% Tempranillo, 10% Garnacha Tinta and Graciano. One of the larger producers in perhaps Spain’s most renowned wine region. Dark fruit, a touch of anise, black pepper and clove in a quintessential Old World way. Much more subtle than the Juan Gil, but also more sophisticated. A killer brisket pairing. cusing on the flavors and texture of the smoky meat.

Surprisingly, perhaps, this simple approach to grilling and smoking meat is practiced in many other countries around the world where barbecue is more frequently paired with, you guessed it, wine. Here are a few wines from around the world, all available here in Texas, that pair fantastically with what I consider the best style of the American staple.

California

Barbecue from the Golden State can be all over the map as can the wines. But when it comes to pairing wine with Texas barbecue, there might be no better choice than Zinfandel.

2018 Michael-David Vineyards Zinfandel Freakshow, Lodi, CA Retail $20. Quite dark in the glass with cassis a-go-go, black cherry and raspberry, vanilla, clove and sage. Really, really fruity on the palate as well, this might classify as a “quintessential Zin” with all that fruit at the fore, mid and finish. When looking for a bold wine, look no further than the Freakshow.

2019 Pedroncelli Zinfandel

Mother Clone Dry Creek Valley Sonoma County, CA

Retail $24. Dark fruit (plum, blackberry) paired with a host of spices and herbs (clove and sage for starters). One of the more versatile wines on this list, it will work with just about anything your grill master wants to throw your way.