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BUNCOMBE COUNTY, NC  – May 24, 2023 – The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America said that about one out of four adults in America reported that they had seasonal allergies in 2021. This represents about 81 million people. Exposure to pollen from trees, grass and weeds can incite allergic symptoms. In North Carolina, tree pollen season can run from February through May with an April peak; grass pollen season is from April to June with a May peak; and weed pollen is from August to November with a September peak. Western North Carolina can lag behind the rest of the state by 1-2 weeks. The dates can vary depending on the weather. Warmer weather can start the pollen seasons earlier and cooler weather can slow it down.

Pollen is a powdery substance of microspores produced by the flowers of male seed-bearing plants that can be transported by wind, birds, insects or water to fertilize female seed-bearing plants. The pollen is so light that it can stay in the air for a long time until it rains and causes the pollen to fall to the ground. The proteinaceous part of the pollen grains can induce an allergic reaction in susceptible individuals. The symptoms include: nasal stuffiness, runny nose, watery eyes, itching of throat and eyes, sneezing, and wheezing. Pollen can also aggravate asthma with coughing and wheezing.

The warmer temperatures associated with climate change can aggravate seasonal allergies from longer spring and fall seasons. 2 researchers, from the Department of Climate and Space Sciences and Engineering at the University of Michigan, published an article in Nature Communications in March 2022, reporting that pollen season was about 20 days longer in North America in 2021 than in 1990 and that pollen concentrations were about 20% greater. Plants feed off of carbon dioxide and produce more pollen as atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide, a prominent greenhouse gas in the earth’s atmosphere that traps heat, increase from the burning of fossil fuels.

It is important for susceptible persons to know which type of pollen causes their allergic symptoms. They need to be aware of the daily pollen count for the offending agent. When the pollen count is high, consider wearing a face mask when going outdoors or avoid going outside. Natural treatment can consist of washing out the nose with saline solution after pollen exposure. Bathing will also remove surface pollen. Many people rely on allergy medicines like steroid nasal sprays and anti-histamines. It might be a good idea to contact your doctor and make a plan to relieve those nasty symptoms from seasonal allergies.

 

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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 – May 24, 2023 – The U.S. public health emergency for COVID-19 infection ended on May 11^th even though the virus is still here. However, more and more Americans have developed some immunity to this disease from immunizations and previous infection. New variants continue to infect people with the most at-risk groups more susceptible to severe illness.

The end of the public health emergency signifies changes in data reporting by the federal and state government. Both websites will tabulate data for COVID-19 hospitalizations, deaths, emergency department visits and wastewater evaluation. Wastewater monitoring can be used to provide early warning for COVID outbreaks in a community because the wastewater trends have historically mirrored the case counts.

The national COVID-19 metrics are on the CDC’s COVID Dashboard. Data from the week ending on May 13^th indicate:

• Hospital admissions are at a low level in every county in North Carolina and almost 99% of the counties in the U.S. Buncombe County’s COVID-19 hospitalizations have decreased from last week.
• The number of weekly deaths due to COVID-19 in the U.S. has decreased by 11.8% from the previous week.
• Emergency room visits for COVID-19 are minimal in North Carolina

Buncombe County COVID-19 metrics are on the North Carolina COVID Dashboard. The Buncombe County wastewater data for the week ending on May 10^th indicate that:

• The number of viral gene copies in each water sample is at a light blue level representing the 2^nd out of 5 groups, where the 1^st group is the lowest level of virus and the 5^th group is the highest level of virus
• The number of viral gene copies in each water sample has decreased by 10-99% over the past 15 days.

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

• COVID-19 can affect different people differently. Some people have mild symptoms like a cold and others have more severe symptoms like a bad case of the flu. It can harm other parts of the body too. 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 the best protection against severe illness, hospitalization and death from the new variants.

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, see your doctor because your doctor may recommend medical treatment

 

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

 

WASHINGTON, DC  – May 9, 2023 – On May 9^th, the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) issued new recommendations for women to be screened for breast cancer every other year starting at age 40 rather than at 50. The recommendations had last been revised in 2016. The current guidelines recommend that women between ages 40 and 50 discuss earlier screening with their doctor if they feel that they are at a higher breast cancer risk. The USPSTF is a national group of experts that sets the standards for preventive tests and screenings. Their new recommendations are for women at average risk for developing breast cancer. Cancer is harder to identify on a screening mammogram of dense breast tissue so some women may require an ultrasound or an MRI as the screening test. If the screening mammogram is positive, then the next step would be an advanced imaging study like an ultrasound or an MRI followed by a surgical biopsy for positive findings. A risk analysis is performed earlier than the recommended starting age for screening tests so that higher risk women can be screened earlier.

Many health organizations have had different breast cancer screening recommendations based upon their group’s evaluation of the benefits versus the drawbacks of early screening. The benefits include saving more lives with an earlier diagnosis before the cancer becomes harder to treat. The drawbacks are an unnecessary surgical biopsy and mental anguish after a false positive mammogram. The American College of Radiology prefers an annual screening for women at average risk to begin at age 40. The American Cancer Society feels that women should get mammograms yearly from 45 to 54 and then at age 55 change over to every other year; although women can choose to start yearly mammograms at age 40.

Breast cancer is the 2^nd-leading cause of cancer deaths in U.S. women, behind lung cancer. 1 out of 8 women develop breast cancer during their lifetime. Almost 30% of all new cancers in U.S. women, equal to 300 thousand cases a year, are from breast cancer.

Reducing health disparities through evidence-based screening and treatment is currently being evaluated. Although the median age for the diagnosis of breast cancer is 62, it varies according to racial group. Black women are 40% more likely to die from breast cancer, have a younger median age of diagnosis, and have a more aggressive type of cancer than white women. A diagnosis under age 50 is associated with having a more aggressive cancer. Therefore, preventive tests at an earlier age can identify a higher percentage of more severe cancers.

Women are at a higher risk for breast cancer if any of the following factors are present:

• Dense breast tissue of a more fibrous nature than fatty tissue. Almost one-half of women have dense breast tissue.
• A positive family history of first-degree relatives or multiple relatives having either breast or ovarian cancers.
• Increasing age
• Genetic predisposition through mutation or inherited genes
• Prior history of breast cancer

The Task Force will decide whether to go ahead with the new screening guidelines after public comment ends on June 5^th.

 

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 – May 11, 2023 – Now that the U.S. public health emergency has ended, tracking wastewater for the COVID virus will become a more important indicator for how much virus is in the community. The National Wastewater Surveillance System, established by the CDC in 2020, will continue to track COVID-19 virus in wastewater samples from many wastewater treatment plants representing almost 140 million people, but not every American. The data is reported to the CDC and the state. One of the sampling sites is from Buncombe County.

Wastewater monitoring can be used to provide early warning for COVID outbreaks in a community. The wastewater trends have historically mirrored the case counts. Infected people shed the virus in their feces just after they become infected. The amount of virus shed is analyzed weekly to determine the direction of the spread in the community. This allows the public health department to act more quickly to slow the spread of the virus if the COVID-19 virus levels are rising. It will help at-risk people decide whether go to indoor concerts and other public indoor spaces. Scientists are learning more about how to interpret the wastewater data. The number of sampling sites are likely to increase as the data is better understood. Wastewater analysis can be used for other diseases like influenza and polio surveillance in a community.

The revised Buncombe County wastewater data from the week ending on May 3^rd indicate that:

• The number of viral gene copies in each water sample is at a blue level representing the 2^nd out of 5 groups, where the 1^st group is the lowest level of virus and the 5^th group is the highest level of virus
• The number of viral gene copies in each water sample has decreased by 10-99% over the past 15 days.

 

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 – May 17, 2023 – The U.S. public health emergency for COVID-19 infection ended on May 11^th even though the virus has not gone away. According to the CDC, more than 1,000 Americans died from COVID-19 during the week of May 3^rd. Last year it was the 4^th leading cause of death in the U.S., down from 3^rd in 2021. More and more Americans have developed some immunity to this disease from immunizations and previous infection, reducing the risk of developing severe illness. New variants continue to infect people with the most at-risk groups more susceptible to severe illness.

The end of public health emergency signifies changes in data reporting by the federal and state government. The CDC and North Carolina COVID Dashboards will no longer report COVID-19 Community Levels, Community Transmission Levels, the number of cases and vaccination status. Both websites will tabulate data for COVID-19 hospitalizations, deaths, and emergency department visits.

There are fewer Buncombe County COVID-19 metrics on the North Carolina COVID Dashboard. Data from the week ending on May 3^rd indicate:

• COVID-19 hospitalizations are unchanged from last week.
• Wastewater monitoring will be reported later in the health report

The Department of Health and Human Services wants everyone to know:

• COVID-19 is an infectious disease that is caused by a virus
• It can spread rapidly.
• It can affect different people differently. Some people have mild symptoms like a cold and others have more severe symptoms like a bad case of the flu. It can harm other parts of the body too. 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.
• The updated bivalent COVID vaccine gives the best protection against severe illness, hospitalization and death from the new variants.

The Department of Health and Human Services recommends:

• Stay up-to-date with COVID-19 vaccines and the updated bivalent booster.
• Wear a tight-fitting mask for extra protection
• 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, see your doctor because your doctor may recommend medical treatment

 

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

 

WASHINGTON, DC  – May 2, 2023 – On May 2^nd, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy released an advisory report that said that about one-half of adults in the U.S. have experienced loneliness. The coronavirus pandemic made it worse by separating people from friends, relatives, organizations, classmates and associates at work. Young people between the ages of 15 and 24 were the most affected age group. Research indicates that loneliness is linked to many medical problems, including early mortality, sleep problems, stroke, heart disease, and mental illness. Dr. Murthy feels that loneliness is as serious a public health problem as smoking and obesity. Loneliness contributes to about a billion-dollar health care cost. The report is part of President Biden’s plan to address the mental health problem in America.

Social connectivity is fundamental to health and well-being. It includes having relationships with others and being involved in the community. Belonging to an organization, group, family or community builds a sense of social connectivity. Relationships suffered from a shift in communication from person-to-person interaction to communication via technology-related devices.

Between 2003 to 2020, Americans spent less time with family and friends and more time alone, according to a published study from the University of Rochester’s Department of Psychiatry. The authors felt that the pandemic increased social isolation while decreasing social engagement. The closing of schools and the workplace during the pandemic kept many people at home and away from family and friends. The average person in the study spent about 60 minutes a day with friends in 2003. This was reduced to 20 minutes a day in 2020, during the beginning of the pandemic. They found that the 15-24-year-old age group spent 70% less time with friends.

Dr. Murthy’s call to action is for Americans to be more social in order to combat loneliness. Increased connectivity can be achieved by joining organizations and groups. He recommends that people spend less time on the phone and social media and encourages time spent at the office. He suggests that social media companies develop methods to keep children’s time on social media at acceptable levels.

He has described a 6-point plan to build social connectivity and reduce loneliness:

1. Develop community social infrastructure and access, like organizations to join, transportation, and public spaces for people to congregate
2. Create public policies that promote equitable social connection
3. Sensitize public health & health care systems to this growing epidemic
4. Reform digital communication systems
5. Repeat evaluations of loneliness and the effect of interventions
6. Create a culture of connectivity

The report was written to raise awareness about this overlooked but very significant health problem. Dr. Murthy says that loneliness is a feeling like hunger and thirst. People have always relied on each other for survival. If a person feels the ‘loneliness’ signal, then he/she engages in social activity. However, if the signal persists without anything being done to take care of the need for social connection, then health problems can arise. “There is really no substitution for interpersonal interaction,” says the Surgeon General.

 

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