Newsletter Fall 2009

STROKE IDENTIFICATION

A neurologist says that if he can get to a stroke victim within 3 hours he can totally reverse the effects of a stroke...totally. He said the trick was getting a stroke recognized, diagnosed, and then getting the patient medically cared for within 3 hours, which is tough.

RECOGNIZING A STROKE

Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer severe brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke.

Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:

S *Ask the individual to SMILE.

T *Ask the person to TALK and SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (Coherently, i.e., is it sunny out today.)

R *Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS. If he or she has trouble with ANY ONE of these tasks, call emergency number immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.

New Sign of a Stroke -- Stick out Your Tongue -- Ask the person to 'stick' out his tongue. If the tongue is 'crooked,' if it goes to one side or the other, that is also an indication of a stroke.

AIR CONDITIONING

Please do not turn on A/C immediately as soon as you enter the car. Open the windows after you enter your car and turn ON the air-conditioning after a couple of minutes.

Here's why: According to a research, the car dashboard, sofa, air freshener emit Benzene, a Cancer causing toxin (carcinogen - take time to observe the smell of heated plastic in your car). In addition to causing cancer, Benzene poisons your bones, causes anemia and reduces white blood cells. Prolonged exposure will cause Leukemia, increasing the risk of cancer and ay also cause miscarriage. Acceptable Benzene level indoors is 50 mg per sq. ft. A car parked indoors with windows closed will contain 400-800 mg=2 of Benzene. If parked outdoors under the sun at a temperature above 60 degrees F, the Benzene level goes up to 2000-4000 mg, 40 times the acceptable level. People who get into the car, keeping windows closed will inevitably inhale, in quick succession excessive amounts of the toxin. Benzene is a toxin that affects your kidney and liver. What's worse, it is extremely difficult for your body to expel this toxic stuff.

So friends, please open the windows and door of your car - give time for interior to air out-dispel the deadly stuff - before you enter.

Thought: 'When someone shares something of value with you and you benefit from it, you have a moral obligation to share it with others.'

[Article by] Terri Sanders, University of Michigan, Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Hematology Oncology, Domino's Farms J 1200, Box 5750 Phone: (734) 615-4639 - Fax: (734) 615-3022 email: sandert@med.umich.edu

DO YOU BUY YOUR FOOD AT WAL-MART?

WAL-MART IS ONE OF THE LARGEST BUYERS OF CHINESE PRODUCTS. THINK ABOUT IT.

Avoid buying all processed food packaged in China. Anything goes! We just don't know what else is in those packages. Unlike in the U.S. and CANADA, China does not have laws regulating food processing.

Basically, do NOT buy any processed food from China, also Hong Kong. Many companies use a Hong Kong address to avoid this type of image reputation.

Non-Vegetarians: do you know where the chicken and fish you eat come from? Watch what you buy, especially, Highliner fish products. All come from China. Even though the box says 'product of Canada' it is from China and 'processed' in Canada. The coating is added and packaged! Fish is raised in pens using chemicals banned in Canada as cancer causing but legal in China. This was exposed on CBC TV's Marketplace.

Have you noticed you can't buy a single package of fish that isn't made in China (or Vietnam)? Do you think your food from China is processed in a sanitary manner, and thus safe to eat?

Do NOT buy any food originating in China ([or] Vietnam or Thailand)!

Take time, read labels, look for country of origin!

STOP BUYING ANYTHING FROM CHINA

BOARD MEETING

The next Board Meeting will be held at noon, Saturday, January 9, 2010, at Panera Bread, corner of Starkey and Bryan Dairy, in the Bardmoor Shopping Plaza. All TBV members are encouraged to attend. Join us for lunch.

About Tampa Bay Vegetarians

Our social group meets monthly, 4th Tuesday, at 7:00 PM at vegetarian or vegetarian-friendly restaurants. Click here for more information.