Community News

CHICAGO, IL – July 17, 2023 –  In a recent article published in the Journal of the American Medical Association Network Open, many sports supplements containing botanical ingredients for improving sports performance may not be accurately labeled and may contain drugs prohibited by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The study looked at supplements that were purported to contain newer botanical additives with 1 of 5 targeted elements on their labels. Each of the tested sports supplements had been purchased online and without a prescription. A total of 57 products were analyzed. Upon analysis, 40% of the products, 23 of 57 supplements, did not contain the ingredient that they were supposed to contain. 12%, 7 of the 57, contained at least 1 FDA-prohibited ingredient. 89% of the products did not accurately list the ingredients on the label or have the correct concentrations. A botanical ingredient originates from plants and is valued for its medicinal or therapeutic properties.

Sports supplements can contain ingredients that are harmful to your health. One medical study estimated that 20,000 people had to visit the emergency room in a year due to side effects from nutritional supplements. Supplements can be contaminated with unauthorized stimulants, heavy metals, or pharmaceuticals.

The lead author, Dr. Pieter Cohen, who is affiliated with Harvard Medical School, said “Industry is reckless with consumer health.”

Sports supplements are considered a dietary additive. The FDA does not have to approve any dietary supplements in order to be sold to the general public. However, the manufacturers have to follow the FDA’s recommended good manufacturing practices to ensure a product’s quality and safety.

Sports supplements are powders, pills, or drinks that are used to build muscle, promote weight loss or improve endurance in order to boost athletic performance. However, medical research shows that only a few are beneficial for athletes. Sometimes, they may contain harmful ingredients that are not listed on the label.

Here are some common sports supplements that were not included in this study:

• Creatine. This substance is made in the body and can help make energy for muscle contractions. It aids in sprinting and powerlifting.
• Amino acid supplements. They are the building blocks of proteins that can help build muscle.
• Protein supplements. They include casein and whey, found in dairy products. Protein is an important in building muscle.
• It stimulates the activity of the brain and the nervous system. It is touted to enhance sports performance.

Eating a healthy diet, correct sports training, getting a good night’s sleep, and avoiding smoking and alcohol are the best ways to improve sports performance. Most nutritional supplements have not been proven to make you a better athlete. The ingredients may not be accurately listed on label and some may be harmful to your health.

The lead author of the study recommends that if you chose to use sports supplements that they are certified by U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP) or the National Sanitation Foundation (NSF). USP is an independent nonprofit organization that helps protect patient safety and improves their health. It sets standards for dietary supplements, medicines, and food. NSF is an independent non-government organization that was created to protect human health. It sets product standards and tests and certifies that products are safe.

Listen to the full report below:

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

RALEIGH, NC – July, 2023 – The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services (NCHHS) can accelerate the Medicaid expansion start date to as soon as 30 days after the General Assembly agrees upon a budget. A compromise agreement has been reached between the NCHHS and the federal agency Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). The implementation period will be reduced from between 90-120 days to 30 days so that enrollment can begin sooner.

A Medicaid expansion bill was passed by the General Assembly and was signed by the Governor on March 27^th_. However, the bill is tied directly to agreeing upon the 2023-24 state budget. The Republican-dominated House and Senate have been negotiating over the budget for months and no deal has been reached so far. Therefore, the budget will have to be enacted by September 1^st for ME to begin on October 1^st unless the General Assembly decouples expansion from the budget. If either occurs after this date, then the next start date will be no sooner than December 1^st.

Kody Kinsley, the NCHHS secretary, said “Moving forward now sets the department on a path to be able to get health care coverage to thousands of people as soon as possible.”

Medicaid expansion will increase the eligible population of adults ages 19-64 who have incomes up to 138% of the federal poverty level while bringing billions of federal aid dollars to the state. Six hundred thousand additional under-resourced North Carolinians will gain access to health care, including almost 17 thousand people from Buncombe County. The HHS estimates that 9 thousand North Carolinians a month are losing their Medicaid coverage who would otherwise be eligible for Medicaid expansion.

Listen to the full report below:

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

ASHEVILLE, NC –  August 2, 2023 – The COVID-19 metrics are on the CDC’s COVID Dashboard.

• For the week ending on July 15^th, hospital admissions are at a low level in every county in North Carolina and almost 100% of the counties in the U.S. Buncombe County’s COVID-19 hospitalizations are low and have decreased from the previous week.
• For the week ending on July 22^nd, the percentage of deaths due to COVID-19 last week in North Carolina were about 3%, the 3^rd lowest level of 6 groups and an increase of almost 20% from the previous week.
• Emergency room visits for COVID-19 are minimal in North Carolina for the week ending on July 22^nd, however, they increased more than 20% from the previous week.

Wastewater monitoring can be used to provide early warning for COVID outbreaks. The Buncombe & Henderson counties wastewater data for the week ending on July 19^th is on the North Carolina COVID Dashboard.

• The number of viral gene copies in each water sample is at a red level representing the highest level of 5 groups.
• The number of viral gene copies in each water sample over the past 15 days is at an increasing rate of change, the highest positive rate of change from 5 possible levels.

In summary, wastewater levels, emergency department visits, and deaths are up from the previous week.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services wants everyone to know that:

• COVID-19 can affect people differently. Some people have mild symptoms like a cold and others have more severe symptoms like a bad case of the flu. Some effects can be long-lasting.
• Older adults and immunocompromised people are at a higher risk of developing severe illness and being hospitalized. The CDC recommends that people in these groups get an updated COVID-19 bivalent booster because it gives added protection.

The Department of Health and Human Services recommends:

• Stay up-to-date with COVID-19 vaccines
• For extra protection, wear an efficient medical grade mask
• People who are positive for COVID-19 or do not feel well should stay home
• People with any COVID symptoms should get tested
• If you test positive, your doctor may recommend medical treatment

More and more Americans have developed some immunity to COVID-19 from immunizations and previous infection. New variants continue to infect people with the most at-risk groups more susceptible to severe illness.

Listen to the full report below:

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

WASHINGTON, DC – July 20, 2023 – July 20, 2023 marks the one-year anniversary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. This was formerly called the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and reachable through a 10-digit number. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is a leader of suicide prevention and mental health crisis care through a national network of more than 200 crisis centers staffed by trained counselors. It provides free and confidential emotional support to Americans, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Translation services are provided in more than 240 languages. Many studies have shown, that after speaking with a counselor, people who call the Lifeline feel much better, more hopeful, less suicidal, less depressed and less overwhelmed. Research has showed that the number of Americans with suicide thoughts, depression and anxiety has increased during the coronavirus pandemic.

There have been almost 5 million contacts via calls, texts and chats answered over the past year assisting millions of people in a mental health crisis. These people were looking for help with suicide, mental health and substance use-related crises. The hotline’s efficiency has improved over the year. A shorter easy-to-remember phone number was able to make counseling more accessible and save more lives. The average speed to answer for contacts decreased from 2 minutes 39 seconds to 41 seconds while the volume of text contacts, chats, and calls answered increased by 1135%, 141%, and 46% respectively. There were 2 million more contacts this year than last year prior to introducing the 988 number.

Improving the hotline’s access and its efficiency is in response to reducing the mental health crisis in the United States. One billion additional dollars have been invested in the 988-suicide hotline this past year. It includes funding from President Biden’s American Rescue Plan and Bipartisan Safer Community Act. The lifeline is supported by HHS through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). These funds have gone to states, territories and tribes to provide more staff, more training, and more resources to meet this growing need.

Dr. Miriam Delphin-Rittmon, the HHS Assistant Secretary of Mental Health and Substance Use and the leader of SAMHSA, said “This means that more people are getting help and they are getting help more quickly, which is crucial for a person in crisis.”

Specialized services have been added to the suicide hotline since its inception last year, including:

• Spanish text and chat services (to already existing call support)
• LGBTQI+
• Youth and young adults

The crisis line links to the Veterans Crisis Line (VCL). Military members, veterans, and their families can reach the VCL by dialing 9-8-8 and pressing option 1. Almost 1 out of 5 contacts were answered by the VCL.

HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said, “988 is a life-saving program that connects Americans with trained counselors who offer real support in times of crisis.”

If someone is struggling or is in crisis, help is available by phone or text at 9-8-8 or for chat at 988lifeline.org.

Listen to the full report below:

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