Tampa Bay Times from St. Petersburg, Florida • 41

2 I Wednesday, May 28, 2008 St, Petersburg Times HER llilllllillHOPIMON hJ tampabayxomopinion i 4 i 1 a' I Guest column I Rao Musunuru SAVE MONEY SAVE TIME GET THE BEST RESULTS We are a full service facility with new state of the art equipment. Our 2 onsite Radiologists are board certified and train aH All rf rti ir MSmM i Learn the ways to cut risk of stroke imaging modalities r.I ication within three hours of a st roke caused by a clot may be able to stop the stroke completely or at least minimize the effects of the stroke. A person has to recog A lot can happen in 40 seconds. A humrningbird will flap its wings will cover 400 meters; a heart will beat about 50 times; and in the next 40 seconds, one more person are accredited by America College of Radiology. sustain a stroke do not die from it.

They live with it for a long time, not able to talk or walk. Life will truly be a living hell with little freedom and Independence. One will be struck speechless in the middle of a sentence. One will fall to the ground trying to take the next step. One can ADVANCED IMAGING CONCEPTS in the United States will suffer a stroke.

May is American Stroke Month, a time dedicated to raising awareness about this nation's No. 3 At Advanced Imaging we offer personalized patient care, as we understand your time is important. Most appointments can be schedule and completed within 24 hours. Most reports are generated within 24 hours. Ask your doctor about Advanced Imaging for ALL your imaging needs.

CT Scan MRI Mammo Pet Scan Biopsy Ultrasound PICC Lines Fetal Photos Nuclear Medicine X-Rays Musunuru Dr. Medara 13063 Cortez Brooksville, FL 352.597.0016 Dr. Bikkasanl WEACCEPT U.S.0AF000 STAMPS nize the symptoms and get to the hospital emergency room, preferably by ambulance. Time is of the essence. As in most cases, prevention is the most important element of the treatment strategy.

Most of the common risk factors that lead to a stroke are the same as for heart disease: hypertension, smoking, high cholesterol, obesity, diabetes and inactivity. All of these are preventable or correctable. Some of these risk factors also promote Alzheimer's (dementia) and some cancers. High blood pressure is the most common cause of strokes. Patients do not usually have any warning symptoms or signs until they sustain a full stroke with an exception of some lucky patients who develop a ministroke but the symptoms subside within 24 hours even without treatment.

(In most cases, only to be followed soon by a sudden severe stroke). Smoking by virtue of causing heart attacks, other circulatory problems, cancers, and emphysema in addition to stroke remains the No. 1 cause of preventable death. Smoking is the most expensive and excruciating killer. Stroke is also a leading cause of long-term disability.

Every year, about 780,000 Americans suffer a stroke and 150,000 die. It is expected that strokewillcostthenation $655-biI-lion in 2008. Stroke is not a disease of just the elderly or men. Stroke can occur at any age, includingchil-drea Each year, about 60,000 more women than men have a stroke in this country. A stroke occurs when a portion 3483 Mariner Blvd.

686-8900, ui inn mane AbUCTIUf I PRICES GOOD THRU TUESDAY 6-3-08 8:30 AM-6 PM, CLOSED SUNDAYS not even reach for the phone to call for help. But all this is mostly preventable. A few years ago, with the help of the American Heart Association, the Florida Legislature took a lead in the nation (thanks to the members of the Pasco-Hernando delegation for sponsoring the bill) to pass a Florida Stroke Act which increased and mandated the preparedness of the hospitals to treat stroke victims in an efficient and emergent manner. The American Heart Association American Stroke Association is also currently working with the U.S. Congress to pass the Stop Stroke Act in 2008.

Like most other things, the final and ultimate responsibility belongs to the individual. Action has to be taken before a stroke strikes a person dead or leaves him or her disabled. Reduce the risk factors, know the warning signs and respond quickly to receive appropriate treatment. Every second counts and you don't get a second chance. Dr.

Rao Musunuru is a cardiologist at Regional Medical Center in Hudson. He is a member of the national membership and communications committee of the American Heart AssociationAmerican Stroke HP 1 MM I sW.M I -W I 1.1FJ JI1M II 1-" 1I1L -IT Georgia Sweet RED RIPE BANANAS CALIFORNIA BROCCOLI WATERMELON I CALIFORNIA LETTUCE 991 U.S.1N.Y. ROME APPLES 1 4 99 rat, Ea VI ALIA ONIONS 69. $439 KQc SEEDED OR UNSEEDED AVAILABLE LARGE I Lb Ea 14CTSZE of the brain suddenly is deprived of blood supply oxygen and nutrients because of a clot in one of the blood vessels going to the brain or because of rupture of a tiny blood vessel in the brain. Warning symptoms and signs of a stroke are sudden: numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body; confusion, trouble speaking or understanding; trouble seeing in one or both eyes; trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination; and sudden severe headache with no way of committing suicide.

I often hear patients say, "Everybody has to die someday and I am not going to live miserably sacrificing everything." One does not want to die of a stroke. The majority of the people who Deli Kayem New York I RoTucci InPI I MAM I Murphy's Own TURKEY Style Plate Pastrami HARD SALAMI ROAST BEEF s3! $319g 6f HAM Domestic Dormans Cortona Sara Lee SPREAD SWISS AMERICAN CHEESE PR0V0L0NE CHEESECAKE $999 $499,, $399 $479 $59 lb -T Each Slice PHTilS Blue Bell GR0UND CHUCK GR0UND CHIKEN BREASTS IPC PRFAM JWR fcM Homemade BONELESS PORK FRIMMED SLICED THIN Each VIGO ITALIAN SAUSAGE SIRLOIN CHOPS CHICKEN CUTLETS mcatpiamQ ffi 11a9 gfai. ONE DAY NOCE known cause. Receiving a clot buster med- Share your opinions go to tampabay.comletters Your letters Re: Fridays may get summer off I May 23 story Mold may grow as costs are cut I urge Hernando County Schools superintendent Wayne Alexander to take into consider the growth of mold. Some people are highly allergic to mold; other's develop a sensitivity to it when exposed every day.

When my daughter was in school, she almost failed fourth grade because her classroom had so much mold in it she missed at least one day a week. I had to place her in a private school for the sake of her health. I also suffer from mold exposure at my work and am on allergy shots and have to wear a mask in the building. Is saving money more important than people's health? The Bible says you cannot serve God and money. ation the health of his employees and students before cutting power to the schools one day a week for the summer.

I know there will be no one in the buildings; that is not the problem. I am talking about 1 -iMI rrrrrH uotix Supsk Markets CHARITIES Front row: Darin Dampler 457, Kattiy Jones Executive Director Back row: John Campbell- District Manager, Robert Watts 1132, John Allan 81 3, Doug Steel 220, Dean Furlong 630, Joe Coiwin 41 1 Oscar Martinez, Field Manager Staff, Kattiy Jones, Executive Director of United Way, Hernando Zachry Construction Associates $150,000 contributed! Publix Super Markets Associates $295,000 contributed! with constantly. If it is on their furniture, it is in the air in their homes. Even though the relative amount of silicon in the lime rock may be small, it does not dissolve once it is in the lung and accumulates over time. There are many other chemicals in this lime rock as well, including pollutants from the cars that drive over it Hernando County commissioners need to do their jobs and get experts from the U.S.

Environmental Protection Agency to evaluate the quality of the air as cars and trucks drive by on these roads. I believe they will learn that the pollutants in this dust violate EPA standards. The commissioners also should spend some time standing along these roads, as the children waiting for school buses are expected to do every day. It is unlikely they will still believe it is "safe" after just one day of exposure. The transportation impact fee has increased substantially in recent years, but what are we getting for it in the unpaved areas? The requirement of petitioning and 70 percent agreement among neighbors is antiquated and needs to be re-evaluated.

Many in these areas simply cannot afford the cost of paving. Those of us who can afford it cannot get it done because of the 70 percent requirement In addition, we are paying the same millage rate for property taxes as those who live in areas with all of the services the county provides, such as water, fire hydrants, drainage, cable and Internet access, and fully paved and maintained roads. We are getting none of these services. Many people who own land in the unpaved areas are waiting to build until the roads are paved. The county will easily recoup the cost of paving from the additional property tax revenue it will receive when these people move in.

Dr. Mary T. Newport SpringHill Hernando County, You Are The Due to the outstanding support of our citizens, businesses, and organizations, our local partner agencies will receive grants that will make a measurable difference in Hernando County. Thank vou from the United Way Board of Directors and Staff GIVE. ADVOCATE.

VOLUNTEER. We welcome letters from readers for publication. To send a letter from your computer, go to www. tampabay.comletters and fill in the required information. Type your letter in the space provided on the form, specify that you are writing the Hernando section of the newspaper, and then click "submit." You also may cut and paste a letter that you have prepared elsewhere in your computer.

If you prefer, you may fax your letter to (352) 754-6133, or mail it to: Letters to the Editor, Hernando Times, 15365 Cortez Brooksville, FL 34613. All letters should be brief and must include the writer's name, city of residence, mailing address and telephone number. When possible, letters should include a handwritten signature. Addresses and telephone numbers will not be printed. The 77mes does not publish anonymous letters.

Letters may be edited for clarity, taste, length and accuracy. We regret that not all letters can be printed. When will we start saving peoples lives, their jobs, the environment and the animals? So far, all of our efforts to save money have cost us money. We keep cutting government spending, but there is no money. It is going to big businesses, not where it should go.

Protect our kids' health, educate them, give them good medical treatment and help them find good jobs. Then they can pay taxes, and we will have more money. Florida businesses need to pay more taxes so they can have better-educated employees, and they will make more money. When we do this, we will find that in the long run we also are saving money. Janet Cowling, Brooksville Re: Lime rock roads not a silicosis risk I April 15 letter County needs to test road dust This is a response to the geologist who said the silicon in the lime rock dust is not a risk to our health.

We are not talking about a casual, one-time exposure. The families who live along these roads are subjected to this dust in the air all day, day-in, day-out There is a layer of lime rock dust inside their homes that they must deal LIVE UNITED ot Hernando, County, Inc Supporting BusinessesOrganizations In Kind Donations Chickfil-A Hernando Today Joni Industries Carrabba's Italian Grill All About Music Hernando Co. Broadcasting Holy Cross Lutheran Church Foundation Technology Solutions Oak Hill Hospital Coastal Engineering Brooksville Regional Hospital Potter's Clay Band A La Carte Staffing leadership Businesses Publix Super Markets Wal-Mart Stores Zachry Construction Walmart Stores Enterprise Leasing UPS SunTrust Banks Brooksville Regional Hospital Spring Hill Regional Hospital Progress Energy Crystal Motors Bank of America St Pete Times Target Hernando County Schools Regions Bank Ring Power St. Pete Times SWFTMUD Compass Bank Kierzynski Accounting Wachovia Bank Foundation Correctional Corp. of America Waste Management ale Technical Capita City Bank Regional Rehab Parsons Corp.

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