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]

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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