Wellness

Prisma Health On Call: Answers to your primary care questions 💬

Presented by a COLAtoday Partner

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As most people’s first point of contact, primary care physicians are pros at answering a wide variety of everyday healthcare questions. | Photo provided by Prisma Health

Welcome back to Prisma Health On Call, our Q+A series that connects you, our readers, to the healthcare professionals at Prisma Health.

This month, the physicians who are most frequently at the frontlines of your health are here to answer your primary care questions — including those about vaccines, supplements, shingles, losing weight + more.

See the full Q+A below. And big thanks to Kayla LaFaver, DO, and Jonathan Ashley, MD, for their knowledge + expertise.

What accounts for the difference in response to allergy immunotherapy and vaccines?

Allergy immunotherapy (think: allergy shots) involves exposing your immune system to tiny amounts of the substance to which you are allergic. By repeating this over time, and gradually increasing the dose of the exposure, the allergic response decreases. When we give a vaccine, we are exposing your immune system to something it hasn’t responded to yet (or recently) so that it will recognize it and respond quicker the next time it is exposed, thereby preventing infection or making the infection less severe.

Do I need a primary care physician?

It is important to have a Primary Care Physician even if you are young and/or healthy. Primary care physicians work hard to help prevent new health problems and perform important screening tests to identify new health problems early. It is also valuable to have a primary care physician when you get sick, so you can be seen by someone who already knows your medical history.

I have an adult son, aged late 30s, who was recently diagnosed with ADHD. How can our family help him?

There are many potential symptoms of ADHD such as difficulty sitting still, trouble completing tasks on time, and impulsive speech or behavior. People with ADHD often suffer from poor self-esteem and self-doubt, so it can be helpful to offer praise and positive reinforcement.

Encourage loved ones with ADHD to establish a routine and use external reminders like post-it notes and dry erase boards to remain organized and on task. For significant ADHD symptoms, speak to your Primary Care Physician for treatment options that can include medications as well as a type of therapy/counseling called CBT.

Keep reading to find out why it’s harder for women to lose weight, shingles vaccine safety, the best supplements for a middle-aged woman, and more.*

SEE 5 MORE ANSWERS

This content was created in partnership with Prisma Health and written by Bethany Harris.*

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Tuesday, October 18

Koger Center Presents Live in the Lobby Jazz: Pianist Spike Wilner | Tue., Oct. 18 | Koger Center for the Arts, 1051 Greene St, Columbia | Spike Wilner started playing piano at an early age and because he was inspired by a television program about the life of Scott Joplin, he learned to play ragtime music.
South Carolina State Fair | Tue., Oct. 18 - Sun., Oct. 23 | 12 p.m. | South Carolina State Fairgrounds, 1200 Rosewood Dr, Columbia | $10.00 - $20.00 | The South Carolina State Fair back for another year, featuring the free daily circus, concerts, exhibits, rides, fair food, and so much more.*
Focal Points Tour: Stories and Symbols | Tue., Oct. 18 | 11 a.m.-12 p.m. | Columbia Museum of Art, 1515 Main St, Columbia | The works in European Splendors: Highlights from the Kress Collection are full of symbolism: stars, dragons, cherubs, finches, gold, clothing, and more.

Wednesday, October 19

Bingo Night | Wed., Oct. 19 | 7 p.m. | Molto Vino, 2822 Devine St, Columbia | Free | Enjoy six rounds of bingo and several chances to win gift cards up to $100

Thursday, October 20

Boo at the Zoo | Thu., Oct. 20 - Sat., Oct. 22 | 6-9 p.m. | Riverbanks Zoo and Garden, 500 Wildlife Pkwy, Columbia | $12.00 - $15.00 | Trick or treat through Halloween lights, enjoy live magic, take a spin on the haunted carousel, and more.*
Brewmaster Flights $10 - Thursdays! | Thu., Oct. 20 | 4-10 p.m. | Steel Hands Brewing, 2350 Foreman St, Cayce | Brewmaster flights and all flights are $10 every Thursday, all day.
Diwali Kickoff Party | Thu., Oct. 20 | 6-9 p.m. | Columbia Museum of Art, 1515 Main St, Columbia | Celebrate the Indian festival of lights on Boyd Plaza. Throw on some colorful clothes and get ready to move as DJ Lalit spins Bollywood and bhangra tunes.*
COLAughs Comedy-Laughs Out Back | Thu., Oct. 20 | 8:03 p.m. | The Warmouth, 209 Franklin St, Columbia | $12.50 | COLAughs Comedy returns to the back patio of The War Mouth featuring New Orleans comics Amanda G and Keeda.

Friday, October 21

Palimpsest Live | Fri., Oct. 21 | 7-8:30 p.m. | Columbia Museum of Art, 1515 Main St, Columbia | $10.00 - $15.00 | In celebration of the podcast Palimpsest’s fifth anniversary this Halloween, join creators Jamieson Ridenhour and Hayley Heninger for an intimate live performance featuring two complete stand-alone *
Picnic in the Park with Forest Acres + Town Theatre | Fri., Oct. 21 | 6 p.m. | Pinetree Park , 4626 Winthrop Ave., Columbia | $5.00 | Grab dinner from your favorite Forest Acres restaurant to bring to this concert series featuring well-known Town Theatre and Midlands performers.*

We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

100+ MORE EVENTS

Weather

60º | Sunny | 0% chance of rain ☀️

Coming Soon

Ruby Sunshine — a brunch chain from Louisiana — is coming soon to the former Yesterdays Restaurant & Tavern location in Five Points (2030 Devine St.). The brunch restaurant plans to serve southern favorites and creative cocktails beginning next summer. 🍳 (The Post and Courier)

Announced

Journey, the legendary rock and roll band, is coming to Colonial Life Arena on Fri. Feb., 10 during their 50^th Anniversary Celebration Freedom Tour 2023. Tickets will go on sale this Fri., Oct. 21 at 10 a.m. but Citi cardholders have access to presale tickets today. 🎟

Closed

The Local Buzz (631 Harden St.) will no longer be open to the public for walk-ins. All pre-planned orders and activities will be honored. The local cafe will hold a rummage sale soon + encourages locals to stay tuned for details. 👀

Community

Bierkeller Brewery will be at Soda City Market this Sat., Oct. 22. The brewery is encouraging locals to come by to chat about updates in person + will pour you a sample of beer while you listen about the development process. Psst — we’ve heard it’ll be open by next spring. 🍻
The Main Street District is celebrating 21 years in Columbia. The community is invited to the annual meeting happening on Mon., Nov. 7 at 5:30 p.m. in the Bourbon Lounge (1214 Main St.). Recap this year’s success + honor two Chairman’s Award recipients. RSVP here by Nov. 2. (Soda City Biz)

Cause

The Cayce-West Columbia Junior Chamber of Commerce created a haunted house called Hall of Horrors, which raises money for Jaycee Camp Hope every year. Visit the longest-running nonprofit haunted attraction in SC (1153 Walter Price Rd.) to be spooked for a cause. Tickets start at $15. 👻

Concert

The SC Philharmonic is turning the Koger Center into Hogwarts for a night, featuring fun wizarding + Halloween activities in the lobby. Enjoy popular music from the Harry Potter films and wear your costumes to this magical afternoon happening on Sun., Oct. 30 at 3 p.m. Buy tickets here. 🪄

Number

$1,760 — the amount Columbia residents spend on the 10 most common household bills, according to Doxo Insights. The national average is $2,003, making Columbia 12.1% lower. Check out other surrounding cities here. Sneak peek — Cayce residents spend $1,835 + West Columbia residents spend $1,790. 💰
$80 million. That’s how much it cost to open the UPS hub at Columbia Metropolitan Airport (CAE) in 1996. Take a peek at other CAE milestones (and photos) from the 90s. ✈️ *

DYK

Did you know we want to see your artwork on our products? We’re looking for freelance graphic designers in COLA to work with us through our online retail store, and yes, you’d be getting paid for it. First, let’s get to know each other.

Beauty

Want glowy, model-off-duty skin? Try this serum by responsible luxury beauty brand MERIT (that one you’ve seen all over Instagram recently). It contains hyaluronic acid + niacinamide to instantly hydrate and plump skin for a healthy glow that’s lightweight and layerable under makeup. Bonus: Free bag with first purchase.*

The Buy

Everyone should love their smile. Enter: SmileDirectClub, the easiest way to straighten your teeth in just 4-6 months — for 60% less than Invisalign or braces. Your results are guaranteed for life, and getting started is easy with their free, 30-second smile assessment. 🦷 *

Health

The Medicare Annual Enrollment Period is here, which means it’s time to ask yourself a big question: keep your coverage, or change it? Fidelity Medicare Services can help. Fidelity’s licensed Medicare advisors provide customized advice based on your situation — and if you choose a new plan, they’ll help you enroll.*

Content marked with an * is brought to you by our advertising partners and helps make this newsletter free.

When are you trick-or-treating? 🍬

When are you trick or treating this year in Columbia?

Get your costumes prepared and your sweet teeth ready. | Photo by @barbarefilmandphoto + @turntopaige7 ⁠

Because Halloween falls on Tuesday, Oct. 31 this year, knowing when to take your kids trick-or-treating can be tricky. Well, you’re in for a treat because we’re going to get to the bottom of the spooky schedule by asking you.

When do you plan to trick-or-treat this year?

Friday, Oct. 27
Saturday, Oct. 28
Sunday, Oct. 29
On Halloween — Tuesday., Oct. 31

We also want to know what time you think is best to trick-or-treat. Take this survey here and we’ll share the results with our readers so you’ll know when to suit + sugar up around town with your family.

THE WRAP

Today’s issue was written by Sam.

Editor’s pick: If you don’t know what to eat at the fair because there are so many options, I recommend trying the deep-fried frosted flake chicken on a stick, the roasted corn, and a deep-fried moon pie (which is a new food item this year). Oh, and wash it all down with ice-cold lemonade. Grab tickets to the fair here.

Missed Friday’s newsletter? Check out the history of UofSC’s mascot, Cocky, here.

Connect with us.

Editorial: Samantha Robertson, David Stringer, Jessalin Heins-Nagamoto, Kaylee Holland, Ashlea Hearn, Emily Shea| Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Lindsey Rhinesmith| Advertise with us.

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