Tampa Bay Times from St. Petersburg, Florida • 16

Monday, March 2, 2009 St. Petersburg Times PAN OPINION (UrjTTITrn 2 FER RIBS MONDAY I UXJO Half or Full Slab Dinners ij, (jAjO Quality, Value and Hospitality CRrv5fcUNifiil 8515 Utile Road (comer of Ridge littfe RJ.) 845j347j I 7 fTT I vJ tampabay.comopinion Guest column I Dr. Rao Musunuru Avoid deadly deep vein thrombosis IMIPB -m. 7 CORP. ENT.

AIR CONDITIONING HEATING 50 Years Field Experience in Residential Commercial ir-i Deep vein thrombosis resulting in pulmonary embolism represents a major public health problem. It is estimated that as many as 600,000 cases may occur each year in the United States resulting in more than 100,000 deaths. That is more deaths each year than from some other well-known conditions like breast cancer, AIDS or motor, vehicle accidents. DVTPE is considered to be the No. 1 cause of preventable hospital deaths.

In 2004, March was designated DVT awareness month to raise awareness among the public and medical community of this life-threatening condition. A careful family history remains the most rapid and cost-effective method of identifying a predisposition to blood clots in the veins as a result of inherited blood clotting disorder. Acquired risk factors for a venous thrombosis include advancing age, malignancy (cancer), hormonal changes (contraceptives, pregnancy or postmenopausal hormone replacement), obesity, smoking, hypertension and diabetes. The triggering factor for precipitation of blood clots in the leg veins in people with inherited or above-mentioned acquired risk factors is immobilization; for example, prolonged continuous travel, hospitalization, prolonged medical illness, surgery, trauma, nursing home confinement and stroke. Injury (surgery, trauma) also stimulates the body's clotting process and DVT Up To TOTAL REBATES AVAILABLE Become more Energy Efficient with a NEW XL20i System.

PE can occur within a few hours and up to several months after the event Under right (or wrong) circumstances, a blood clot in the leg (causing calf pain, redness, and swelling) can break loose from the wall of the vein and travel in the bloodstream, first to the heart and then to the lungs, where it blocks circulation, causing shortness of breath, chest pain, fast heart, low blood pressure, fainting and even sudden death. Controlling the risk factors, avoiding the triggering factor (immobilization), recognizing the symptoms and seeking immediate medical attention are the key factors in preventing sudden death and also chronic disability, either from the lungs (shortness of breath) or the legs (venous insufficiency). Doctors can prescribe blood thinners in addition to compression devices to prevent blood clots when immobilization or a risky event cannot be avoided. Doctors can also treat with blood thinners, clot busters, filters or even surgery (depending on the seriousness) if a blood clot already reached the lung. The best way to defend yourself from a killer is to arm yourself with knowledge how the killer operates, how to avoid being attacked and how to protect yourself, when attacked.

Dr. Rao Musunuru, a cardiologist practicing in Bayonet Point, serves on the National Heart, Lung and BloodAdvisory Council for the National Institute of Health. go to tampabay.comletters deputies' lives are handled in such a flip way. Did anyone think of the circumstances? Does the officer have a family? Does this officer, who was already shot in this altercation, need his life further endangered because a reporter needed a story? Do these men and women, who already deal with a higher level of stress than most of us ever will, really need to have that increased? Would any of us like to live looking over our shoulders every second of every day? How about their families? Give me a break, show some responsibility, and show some respect for these guys and gals. Christopher K.

Cooley, Hudson LIC CAC042727 $1,500 $1,000 350 150 '7 Comfort Specialist" It CpWMIJWfNT ''iiimbbbim GOVERNMENT STIMULUS REBATE pIUS TRANE REBATE plUS Utilities Rebate Up To plUS MILLIAIM-AIRE REBATE Also available 16 Month same as Cash www.millian-aire.com We Employ Technicians Let Us Show You Their Credentials I tjf jj David Bloom happily accepted an assignment from NBC News to cover the Iraq War in 2003. A healthy 39-year-old and an avid tennis player, he was embedded with the U.S. Army. His fami ly understandably feared for his life. But he wanted to serve his country and his fellow citizens by providing firsthand, impartial, eye- Musunuru witness news from the front lines.

He knew something terrible could happen while covering the war. He was committed to doing his job, delivering accurate news to the people, at any cost Something terrible did hap pen. He was killed at a tender age. He did not die from a gunshot wound, a roadside bomb or friendly fire. The killer was a massive blood clot that traveled from his leg (deep vein thrombosis, or DVT) to his lungs, resulting in pulmonary embolism, PE.

that killed him almost instantly. He did not know he had an inherited blood-clotting disor der, which never caused him any problems in the past He thought that his legs hurt badly for two days before his death because he had been cramped inside the tank for too long. He did not realize that the leg pain was because of a blood clot in the vein. He did not seek medical attention. He could not imagine that the killer within him was waiting to strike at any minute.

Your letters Story, photo put officer at risk Are we really that thirsty for information that common sense completely evaporates from our conscience? The front page of the Pasco Times on Feb. 27 posts not only the name of an officer, but his picture as well. Really? Are you guys serious? Let's review the facts here. The deputy is on the SWAT team you know, the guys who deal with the really bad situations. The deputy is also part of the gang unit you know, those groups of thugs that have zero appreciation for life and live for the opportunity to make a name for themselves.

Crime report NOTE TO READERS: The Pasco Times provides a report of certain higher priority calls received by the Pasco County Sheriffs Office. These include calls to report incidents such as burglaries, fights, drug violations, batteries and stolen cars. Information from municipal police departments is not included; also not included, because of confidentiality laws, are reports of sexual assaults. BAYONET POINT ASHBURYCLAYTON, 8500 BLK, Theft-Grand, Monday, 216 8:39 am DANUBE DR, 7700 BLK, Burglary- Auto, Tuesday, 217 3:27 pm DUKE DR, 7400 BLK, Aggravated Battery, Thursday, 219 4:27 pm GULF BREEZE CIR, 7000 BLK, Theft-Grand, Wednesday, 218 4:09 pm LAUDERDALE ST, 13100 BLK, Bur glary-Auto, Tuesday, 217 10:49 pm MAJESTIC BLVD, 12000 BLK, Vehicle Stolen, Wednesday, 218 4:41 pm MAJESTIC BLVD, 12000 BLK, Bur glary-Auto, Thursday, 219 10:30 pm OLD DIXIE HWY, 13900 BLK, Bur glary-Auto, Tuesday, 217 2:52 pm SPRING AVE, 12800 BLK, Drug Vio lation, Tuesday, 21710:26 am US 19, 12500 BLK, Aggravated Bat tery, Monday, 216 12:40 am HOLIDAY BAHIA AVE, 3000 BLK, Theft-Grand, Sunday, 215 9:21 pm BEGONIA DR.1200 BLK, Burglary- Residence, Tuesday, 217 8:08 am CASINO DR, 5500 BLK, Burglary- Auto, Monday, 216 6:14 am COLDWELL DR, 3400 BLK, Drug Violation, Tuesday, 217 3:08 pm FLORA AVE, 4800 BLK, Burglary- Auto, Monday, 216 7:32 am FLORA AVE, 5400 BLK, Burglary- Residence, Monday, 216 12:04 am GRAND BLVD, 3500 BLK, Robbery, minimum Seer Rating 14.0EER 12.0HSPF 6.0. 30th for qualifying Trane XU system up to $1,000.

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2003 Come Vf see our new L- to Wfl Share your opinions There was no sensational story here; the bad guy shot at the officers first and actually shot the officer in the chest They did as they were trained to do, and what most of us expect them to do. They fired back in retaliation for their lives. Now, the Times feels it necessary to not only print the officer's name, but hey, let's throw in the guy's picture as well. In addition, the Sheriff's Office finds it responsible to release this information to the newspapers; maybe they need to work on protecting those they assign to these units. This is not the first time an undercover deputy's name and picture were posted in the paper.

It is mind-boggling that these "JL Pasco County HACIENDAMILE STRETCH, 1900 BLK, Aggravated Battery, Saturday, 221 12:32 pm LENMAR CT, 5800 BLK, Theft-Grand, Thursday, 219 7:53 pm LENMAR CT, 5800 BLK, Theft-Grand, Thursday, 219 6:56 pm LOMI LOMI DR, 3800 BLK, Burglary-Auto, Sunday, 215 11:04 am MATCHLOCK DR, 3300 BLK, Vehicle Stolen, Friday, 220 10:46 am OAHU DR, 2100 BLK, Theft-Grand, Sunday, 215 10:52 am PENSDALESR 54, 99900 BLK, Aggravated Battery, Saturday, 221 6:24 pm PLEASURE DR, 2000 BLK, Theft-Grand, Monday, 216 12:21 pm RESORT LOOP, 4300 BLK, Theft-Grand, Sunday, 215 3:29 pm SKYLAND DR, 5200 BLK, Theft-Grand, Tuesday, 217 9:52 pm SPECK DR, 2000 BLK, Robbery, Sunday, 215 11:29 am STAR ISLAND DR, 3900 BLK, Crimes Against The Elderly, Saturday, 221 11:50 am STAR ISLAND DR, 4100 BLK, Crimes Against The Elderly, Tuesday, 217 4:49 pm STRATFIELD DR, 4100 BLK, Bur- glaiy-Auto, Friday, 220 7:02 pm US 19, 1700 BLK, Burglary-Business, Thursday, 219 7:07 am US 19, 2600 BLK, Burglary-Business, Thursday, 219 8:32 am US 19, 2600 BLK, Burglary-Business, Thursday, 219 7:27 am WINDHAM DR, 3500 BLK, Murder-Attempt-Solicit-Consp, Friday, 220 5:41 am HUDSON ADOBE DR, 15900 BLK, Burglary-Residence, Thursday, 219 9:21 pm BANJO DR, 15200 BLK, Burglary-Auto, Saturday, 221 1:41 pm BERMONDSEY ST, 15300 BLK, Burglary-Residence, Friday, 220 4:44 pm BERMONDSEY ST, 15300 BLK, Burglary-Residence, Sunday, 215 1:32 pm' BRITTON DR, 13600 BLK, Burglary-Auto, Tuesday, 217 9:18 am office repair Expires 33109 I See store for details. No other discounts or offers apply. I CEDAR RIDGE DR, 12900 BLK, Aggravated Battery, Thursday, 21911:01 pm COBRA WY, 14400 BLK, Theft-Grand, Friday, 220 9:49 am COBRA WY, 14400 BLK, Drug Violation, Friday, 220 8:19 am COUNTY LINEUS 19, 10600 BLK, Theft-Grand, Sunday, 215 9:54 am DAYTON DR, 15000 BLK, Vehicle Stolen, Saturday, 221 4:10 pm DENTON AVE, 10600 BLK, Burglary-Residence, Sunday, 215 2:13 pm FIRST ISLE, 12500 BLK, Burglary-Structure, Friday, 220 6:42 pm JACKIE LANE, 15900 BLK, Theft-Grand, Saturday, 221 9:19 am KIM LANE, 10800 BLK, Theft-Grand, Monday, 216 2:20 pm OLD DIXIE HWY, 14600 BLK, Aggravated Battery, Sunday, 215 6:45 pm PETTICOAT LANE, 15500 BLK, Theft-Grand, Tuesday, 217 10:40 am SHEA DR, 14500 BLK, Vehicle Stolen, Sunday, 215 7:52 pm SHEEPSHEAD DR, 7200 BLK, Theft-Grand, Sunday, 215 1:40 pm SR 52LITTLE, 9000 BLK, Drug Violation, Monday, 216 4:45 pm SUGAR CREEK BLVD, 12700 BLK, Burglary-Residence, Sunday, 215 9:34 pm TAMI, 10500 BLK, Burglary-Auto, Wednesday, 21811:47 am US 19, 12100 BLK, Theft-Grand, Thursday, 219 2:13 pm US 19, 14200 BLK, Strong-Arm Robbery, Monday, 216 7:49 pm US 19, 14800 BLK, Theft-Grand, Saturday, 221 8:35 am US 19, 16400 BLK, Vehicle Stolen, Tuesday, 217 6:40 am US 19, 16500 BLK, Theft-Grand, Monday, 2161:29 pm VANDALIA DR, 12100 BLK, Theft-Grand, Thursday, 219 3:35 pm VINE ST, 15200 BLK, Burglary-Auto, Monday, 216 8:30 am NEW PORT RICHEY 13TH AVE, 6000 BLK, Strong-Arm Robbery, Friday, 220 10:20 pm 9TH AVE, 6100 BLK, Theft-Grand, Tuesday, 2171:14 pm See CRIME, 4 Batteries WJ (ME Expires 33109 1 store for details. No other discounts or offers apply.J Chamber Business of the year JSCllEErdlRJy wBeltone Expires 33109 Restrictions Apply. See store for details.

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