ASHEVILLE, NC – April 19, 2023 – The CDC reports that the community level for Buncombe County remains at a low level for the week ending April 10^th. Every county in North Carolina is low. About 97% of the counties in the U.S. are at a low level with less than 1% at a high level.

The CDC reports that the community transmission level for Buncombe County is at a moderate level for the week ending April 9^th. Most counties in North Carolina are at a moderate level. Less than 25% of the counties in the U.S. are at a high level with fewer than 15% at a low level.

The Buncombe County COVID-19 metrics are on the North Carolina COVID Dashboard. Data from the week ending on April 8^th indicate:

• Last week’s total cases are down by 34 (40%) from the previous week
• 68% of the total population have received their initial vaccination series.
• 33% of people with their initial vaccination series have had the updated booster.
• The seven-day daily average of COVID-19 hospitalizations has decreased by 2 and of ICU patients has increased by 1 from last week.

An updated COVID-19 booster is now available for eligible persons 6 months and older. It is more effective at protecting against severe illness 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 booster.
• People with any COVID symptoms should get tested
• People who are positive for COVID-19 or do not feel well should stay home

For a county at a low community level, like Buncombe County, the CDC recommends:

• If you are at high risk for getting sick, wear a high-quality mask in a public indoors space.
• If you plan on being with someone at high risk for getting sick, consider self-testing for COVID-19 infection and wear a high-quality mask when indoors with them.

Listen to the full report below:

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

UNITED STATES  – April 12, 2023 – New diabetic and weight-loss drugs may be the answer to the obesity epidemic in the United States. Ozempic, (with the active ingredient semiglutide), made by Novo Nordisk, was originally developed to treat diabetes by controlling blood sugar. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Ozempic for treating diabetes in 2017. However, rapid weight loss after taking the medicine dramatically increased its popularity. In 2021, the FDA approved Wegovy, a similar drug made by the same company with a higher dose of the active ingredient, to treat obesity. Qualifying patients must be obese, with a Body Mass Index (BMI) at 30 or greater, or overweight, with a BMI greater than or equal to 27. They also must have at least one weight-related medical problem. Another medicine, Mounjaro (with the active ingredient tirzepatide), made by Eli Lilly, is a new medicine to help control diabetes. It may be approved for weight loss later this year. More than 4 in 10 Americans are considered obese, putting them at risk for the development of related health problems like high blood pressure, arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, and some cancers. Studies have shown that obese patients can lose about 15% of their body weight taking Wegovy and up to 20% with Mounjaro.

Each of the 3 drugs are appetite suppressors. They work by binding with the GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) receptors located in the beta cells of the pancreas to stimulate insulin production which in turn lowers blood sugar that is abnormally high in diabetes. The drug also binds to these receptors in the appetite control center within the brain, in the hypothalamus, to suppress hunger. Ozempic has been proven effective in treating high blood sugar associated with diabetes and it can also lessen the risk of cardiovascular disease in diabetics. Most people will have to take the drugs their entire life or they will gain their weight back. These medicines are administered with a weekly shot. They should be used in combination with exercise and eating well.

Common side-effects are nausea, diarrhea, vomiting and constipation. Other known side effects include dehydration, fatigue and headaches. Long-term complications are small but include a higher risk of thyroid cancer, acute pancreatitis, gallbladder disease, low blood sugar, damage to kidneys, injury to the retina, and suicidal thoughts.

The weight loss drugs will have to be taken indefinitely, so these medicines become a costly expense. Each drug cost about $1 thousand a month. The annual cost can be more than $12 thousand. Most insurers do not cover the cost of these medicines for weight loss. The pharmaceutical companies are heavily lobbying commercial insurers and government-funded Medicare to cover the cost.

The medicines are so popular that they have been worldwide shortages for the past 6 months. The diabetes medicine Ozempic has been frequently prescribed off-label for weight loss. Pharmaceutical companies have succeeded in influencing the prescription habits of doctors by persuading them to prescribe the new weight-loss medicines. The companies paid almost $15 million for educating and training doctors in 2021.

Many muscular athletes and healthy people may have an elevated BMI. For people who may be obese but do not have any associated medical issues, Dr Kimberly Dennis, a psychiatrist that specializes in addictions and eating disorders, said that the drugs “stand to do a lot more harm to a lot more people than good.”

Listen to the full report below:

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