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ASHEVILLE, NC –  April 3, 2024 – Respiratory infections, like COVID-19, influenza and RSV, are characterized by being more prevalent during the winter months. With the recent onset of spring, the winter surge of respiratory infections has passed. However, over the past 3 years, COVID-19 infections have also surged in August. Therefore, the weekly update will continue to report on COVID-19 and restart influenza and RSV updates in the fall.

The CDC’s COVID Dashboard for the week ending on March 23^rd shows:  

• Hospital admission levels are low in every county in North Carolina, including Buncombe County. They are low in almost 99% of the counties in the U.S. and medium in about 1%. Admissions have decreased in the U.S., North Carolina and Buncombe County from the previous week.
• About 2-3% of the deaths in North Carolina were due to COVID, the 3^rd lowest level of 6 groups.
• Emergency room visits for COVID-19 are minimal in North Carolina. This is about 1% of all ER visits, the lowest level of 5 groups

Wastewater monitoring can be used to provide early warning for COVID outbreaks. The Buncombe & Henderson counties wastewater data on the North Carolina COVID Dashboard for the week ending on March 20^th shows:

• The number of viral gene copies in each water sample is at a yellow level representing the 3^rd highest level of 5 groups, currently between the 40^th and 60^th percentile relative to the past level measured at the same site.
• The 15-day rate of change of the number of viral gene copies in each water sample has decreased from the previous week, between -99% to -10%, the lowest level of 2 groups for a negative rate of change.

 

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Contact: Dr. Dick Needleman, Health reporter, 103.3 AshevilleFM, [email protected]

More Posts for Show: Asheville FM News Hour

 

ASHEVILLE, NC –  March 27, 2024 – Respiratory infections, like COVID-19, influenza and RSV, are more prevalent during the winter months. With the recent onset of spring, the winter surge of respiratory infections has passed. However, over the past 3 years, COVID-19 infections have also surged in August. Therefore, the weekly update will continue to report on COVID-19 and restart influenza and RSV updates in the fall.

The CDC’s COVID Dashboard for the week ending on March 16^th shows:  

• Hospital admission levels are low in every county in North Carolina, including Buncombe County. They are low in more than 98% of the counties in the U.S. and high in less than 1%. Admissions have decreased in the U.S., North Carolina and Buncombe County from the previous week.
• About 2-3% of the deaths in North Carolina were due to COVID, the 3^rd lowest level of 6 groups.
• Emergency room visits for COVID-19 are minimal in North Carolina. This is about 1% of all ER visits, the lowest level of 5 groups

Wastewater monitoring can be used to provide early warning for COVID outbreaks. The Buncombe & Henderson counties wastewater data on the North Carolina COVID Dashboard for the week ending on March 13^th shows:

• The number of viral gene copies in each water sample is at an orange level representing the 2^nd highest level of 5 groups, currently between the 60^th and 80^th percentile relative to the past level measured at the same site.
• The 15-day rate of change of the number of viral gene copies in each water sample has decreased from the previous week, between -99% to -10%, the lowest level of 2 groups for a negative rate of change.

 

Listen to the full report below:

 

 

Contact: Dr. Dick Needleman, Health reporter, 103.3 AshevilleFM, [email protected]

More Posts for Show: Asheville FM News Hour

 

BEIJING, CHINA – February 9, 2024 – Studies have shown that aerobic (cardio) exercise can reduce blood pressure in people with hypertension or prehypertension; however, a recent study indicates that another type of activity is also effective. A paper, published in JAMA Network Open on February 9^th, found that tai chi reduced blood pressure to a greater extent than aerobic exercise in a group of persons with slightly higher than normal blood pressure. The tai chi group had a statistically significant average systolic blood pressure reduction of about 7 millimeters of mercury while the aerobic activity group had a statistically significant reduction of almost 5 millimeters of mercury. Both groups performed the activity for 12 months. The study also found that more than 20% of the tai chi group and more than 15% of the aerobic exercise group developed normal blood pressure 1 year after beginning the exercise regimen.

More than 300 persons with a slightly higher than normal blood pressure between the ages of 18 to 65 years participated in the study. They were randomly divided into 2 activity groups and performed the assigned activity for four 60-minute periods each week for 12 months. The aerobic exercise group had a moderate activity like brisk walking, cycling, jogging or climbing stairs. The tai chi group was taught in group classes initially and then performed tai chi at home. Both groups followed a heart-healthy diet.

Tai chi is a low impact exercise and soft martial art that is practiced by millions of people worldwide. It involves a series of slow movements and postures that has been described as moving meditation involving controlled breathing. Tai chi was developed in China during the 1600’s. It remains popular today because of its health benefits.

According to the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health, a division of the National Institute of Health, tai chi can improve balance and reduce falls in seniors and people with Parkinson’s disease. It may reduce pain in people with low back pain, fibromyalgia, and osteoarthritis of the knee. Some studies have shown that tai chi can help people with chronic disease like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, Parkinson’s disease, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. It has also been linked to improving the cognitive function of persons with mild dementia. A few studies have found some improvement in the quality of life of older adults and persons with different types of cancer after performing tai chi regularly over 3 months.

The measurement of blood pressure consists of 2 numbers, as explained by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The first number, called systolic blood pressure, is the higher number. The systolic blood pressure measures the peak pressure in the arteries as the heart contracts and relaxes. The second number, called the diastolic blood pressure, is the smaller number. The diastolic blood pressure is the arterial pressure when the heart rests between beats.

Prehypertension and hypertension are silent health problems without any symptoms. Normal blood pressure can be as high as 120 millimeters of mercury over 80 millimeters of mercury. Prehypertension is when the blood pressure is slightly higher than normal. Prehypertension readings are between 120 and 139 for the systolic measurement or 80 to 89 for the diastolic value. 33% of American adults have prehypertension. A person has hypertension when the systolic pressure is 140 or greater or the diastolic pressure is greater or equal to 90. The readings need to be present on a few occasions before a diagnosis of either prehypertension or hypertension is made.

People who have prehypertension and hypertension have a significantly greater risk of developing health problems like heart disease and stroke than people with normal blood pressure. 50% of hypertensive individuals had a history of prehypertension. People can reduce their blood pressure through life style changes and eating heart-healthy foods, otherwise medical treatment is recommended.

 

Listen to the full report below:

 

 

Contact: Dr. Dick Needleman, Health reporter, 103.3 AshevilleFM, [email protected]

More Posts for Show: Asheville FM News Hour

 

ASHEVILLE, NC –  March 20, 2024 – The CDC’s COVID Dashboard for the week ending on March 9^th shows:  

• Hospital admission levels are low in 95% of the counties in North Carolina, including Buncombe County, and high in 0%. They are low in more than 95% of the counties in the U.S. and high in less than 1%. Admissions have decreased in the U.S., North Carolina and Buncombe County from the previous week.
• About 4% of the deaths in North Carolina were due to COVID, the 3^rd highest level of 6 groups.
• Emergency room visits for COVID-19 are low in North Carolina. This is less than 2% of all ER visits, the 2^nd lowest level of 5 groups

Wastewater monitoring can be used to provide early warning for COVID outbreaks. The Buncombe & Henderson counties wastewater data on the North Carolina COVID Dashboard for the week ending on March 6^th shows:

• The number of viral gene copies in each water sample is at an orange level representing the 2^nd highest level of 5 groups, currently between the 60^th and 79^th percentile relative to the past level measured at the same site.
• The 15-day rate of change of the number of viral gene copies in each water sample has decreased from the previous week, between -99% to -10%, the lowest level of 2 groups for a negative rate of change.

The CDC’s weekly flu surveillance report for the week ending on March 9^th indicates that North Carolina is at a low level.

The North Carolina Respiratory Virus Summary Dashboard for the week ending on March 9^th shows that

• The percentage of emergency room visits for people with respiratory virus symptoms has decreased.
• COVID and flu hospital admissions have decreased
• There were more COVID admissions than flu.

 

Listen to the full report below:

 

 

Contact: Dr. Dick Needleman, Health reporter, 103.3 AshevilleFM, [email protected]

More Posts for Show: Asheville FM News Hour

 

ATLANTA, GA – February 28, 2024 – On February 28^th, a CDC advisory panel of experts and CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen recommend that seniors ages 65 years and older ‘should’ receive an additional updated 2023-24 COVID-19 vaccine dose. Seniors will be eligible 4 months after their last COVID shot. People ages 65 and older have the highest hospitalization and death rate from COVID-19 than any other age group. More than 95% of hospitalized patients with a COVID infection had not been up-to-date with the vaccine. The updated vaccine has been shown to reduce the rate of severe illness and death and to reduce the infection rate by 50%. Over the past 3 years, COVID-19 infections have surged in the winter and in August.

In September, the CDC recommended the updated COVID-19 vaccine for everyone over 6 months and older against the newer variants this fall and winter. The agency has recommended additional vaccination for immunocompromised people for better protection. However, protection has waned in seniors if they got a fall vaccine dose. Therefore, an additional dose of the updated vaccine this spring should restore protection against severe COVID illness and against a projected surge in August.

The COVID-19 vaccination rate has continued to decrease with every new vaccine recommendation. According to the CDC, 42% of Americans 65 and older have received the updated COVID vaccine. However, the vaccination rate is much lower for adults (22%) and children (13%) in the U.S.

Dr. Cohen said in a statement, “Most COVID-19 deaths and hospitalizations last year were among people 65 years and older. An additional vaccine dose can provide added protection that may have decreased over time for those at highest risk.”

 

Listen to the full report below:

 

 

Contact: Dr. Dick Needleman, Health reporter, 103.3 AshevilleFM, [email protected]

More Posts for Show: Asheville FM News Hour

 

RALEIGH, NC – March 1, 2024 – The latest update of the NC Medicaid Expansion Enrollment Dashboard was on March 1^st. Last month, enrollment in NC increased by almost 39 thousand to more than 385 thousand people. Buncombe County enrollment increased by more than 1,000 to almost 9,700 people. When the COVID national emergency ended in April, the first Medicaid expansion (ME) enrollees lost their full-benefit Medicaid insurance because they made too much money. However, NC HHS enrolled them in a limited Medicaid benefit plan that provides family planning benefits before advancing them back to Medicaid after the expansion on December 1^st. There were about 270 thousand North Carolinians, including more than 6 thousand people from Buncombe County, who became the first automatic enrollees. It is estimated that a total of 600 thousand North Carolinians will be eligible for ME, including almost 17 thousand from Buncombe County. Based on these estimates, there is about 200 thousand more North Carolinians and 7 thousand more people from Buncombe County who can qualify. In only 3 months of accepting applications, the state and Buncombe County are more than 60% of the way to enrolling all eligible persons for ME.

On December 1^st, North Carolina officially became the 40^th state to expand Medicaid, the federal program for health insurance for low-resource individuals. ME increases health care access to eligible North Carolinians ages 19-64 and their families with earnings to 138 percent of the federal poverty level from 100 percent, based on their household size. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCDHHS) dashboard to track ME enrollment is at medicaid.ncdhhs.gov/reports.

There are many ways to apply for NC Medicaid. Applications can be taken by phone, email, fax, or in person. Buncombe County residents can apply for Medicaid online and at any time at ePASS.NC.gov. Applications can be done in-person at the HHS Building on 40 Coxe Avenue, by calling 828-250-5500, or by mail. A printable application can be obtained online at the NCDHHS website.

 

Listen to the full report below:

 

 

Contact: Dr. Dick Needleman, Health reporter, 103.3 AshevilleFM, [email protected]

More Posts for Show: Asheville FM News Hour