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❤️ Your heart health questions, answered
Presented by Prisma Health
This is your sign to get outside and hit a local trail. | Photo by 6AM City
Just because Valentine’s Day is over doesn’t mean you should stop thinking about your heart — it keeps you alive, after all. This vital organ, which is about the size of a clenched fist, provides your body with the oxygen and nutrients it needs to function. Pro tip: Take this short heart risk assessment to see where you stand.
To help us gather your need-to-know questions, we recently asked our readers (aka you) to send us their heart health questions for this month’s installment of Prisma Health On Call. Here’s what the local cardiology experts said:
Does anxiety actually cause heart issues?
Persistent stress can increase your chances of experiencing heart disease risk factors such as high blood pressure, chest pain, and irregular heartbeat. Studies have even linked stress to changes in blood clots, which increase the risk of heart attacks. Learn more.
Is chocolate good for your heart?
According to research, there are nutritional benefits that come from eating pure, unsweetened cacao (psst... look for chocolate that includes 60-70% cacao). It’s a good source of fiber and is high in magnesium, which helps regulate blood pressure and insulin. Bonus: It also helps improve your mood.
Does high cholesterol cause heart failure? What can I do to lower cholesterol?
High cholesterol can lead to heart disease (and we’re already at a higher risk here in the south), which can increase your risk for heart failure. To lower your cholesterol, avoid eating foods that are high in saturated fats such as butter, dairy, eggs, and meat. Plus, consider these three additional tips.
What dietary supplement is best for cardiovascular health?
It really depends on the person, so it’s best to talk to your doctor before starting any supplements. Familiarizing yourself with some of the more common supplements + when they might be helpful is also a good place to start.
Is sea salt OK to use for heart health?
One type of salt is not better than any other. All salt can raise the amount of sodium in your body and negatively affect your blood pressure. Here’s how to actually reduce your salt intake.
Family Storytime | 6 p.m. | Gaston Branch Library, Gaston | Free | Experience children’s books and nursery rhymes as they come to life with storytelling techniques and songs.
Tokyo Joe | 7:30 p.m. | Polliwogs | Free | The local band performs rockin’ covers of classic songs.
Thursday, Feb. 27
Oscar Shorts 2025: Documentary | 2 p.m. | The Nick | $10 | Get captivated by the five short documentaries nominated for an Academy Award, screened back-to-back.
Black History Month Jubilee Celebration | 6-7:45 p.m. | Richland Library Northeast | Free | Observe Black History Month with African dance, food, poetry, and a cooking demonstration by Chef Floyd.
Friday, Feb. 28
Last Call Networking Event | 4-6 p.m. | Hazelwood Brewing Company | Free entry | Spend the final Friday of the month meeting new faces, making business connections, and sipping local beer.
Bilmuri | 7 p.m. | The Senate | $44+ | Experimental rocker Johnny Franck brings his sounds to the downtown stage with guest Ally Nicholas.
Saturday, March 1
St. Practice Day Party | 12 p.m. | Tin Roof | Free | Wear green and give St. Patrick’s Day a test run with this annual event that includes drink deals, games, competitions, and live music.
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State officials joined USC staff yesterday to break ground on its new School of Medicine building. The 315,000-sqft facility will contain classrooms, labs, and a library, and will be central to the forthcoming $300 million health sciences campus. The building is expected to be completed in 2027. (WISTV)
Environment
The City of Columbia + Dominion Energy will host the annual Tree Trimming Community Meeting on Monday, March 3 at the Busby Street Community Center starting at 6 p.m. Attendees will get to the root of questions about Columbia’s tree canopy, pruning guidelines, and where trimmings will take place.
Announced
Charter bus company Southeastern Stages is relocating its local hub to Platt Springs Road in West Columbia at the former home of Steve’s Deli. The business is saying fare-well to its Buckner Road site due to its lease expiring; it hopes to operate in the new location by the start of May. (WLTX)
Plan Ahead
Sunday, March 9 is the lucky day that the 10th Annual Shamrock Parade will return to downtown Lexington starting at 3 p.m. US Army Major General Daryl Hood will serve as grand marshal and lead the procession that includes floats, Irish dancing, marching bands, and Mr. + Mrs. Shamrock. (Cola Daily)
Biz
Fiberglass manufacturer Joshi USA has leased over 200,000 sqft at Pineview Trade Center, an industrial building in southeast Columbia. The Chinese company will use the space as a distribution center to serve industries like transportation, construction, and alternative energy.
Edu
Goodwill Industries of Upstate/Midlands SC announced a new date for its NxLevel Business Accelerator program, a partnership with Benedict College’s Women’s Business Center. The 10-week course will start with orientation on Tuesday, March 4 and aims to help entrepreneurs learn skills and grow successful businesses.
Ranked
Columbia is home to some great places to work, and two local businesses were featured on Forbes’ list of “America’s Best Large Employers.” The University of South Carolina placed No. 248 while BlueCross BlueShield of SC was rated No. 506. (Forbes)
Asked
What are you looking forward to doing in March? COLAtoday is working on next month’s plan ahead, and we’d love to include your suggestions on the list. Let us know which events you’re planning to attend in March.
Sports
The Gamecocks had an incredible weekend with wins from men’s basketball, women’s basketball, softball, and baseball. Go beyond the scoreboard and behind the scenes of the South Carolina Gamecockswith Locked On’s daily, team-focused podcasts.
Eat
Cherries meet chocolate in this decadent brownie recipe. Grab your favorite brownie mix, swap out the water for Cheerwine, and voilà — you’ll discover your new favorite sweet treat. Try it out.*
Shop
Mood’s Rapid Onset THC Gummies take effect in as little as five minutes — no lighter, lingering smells, or coughing required. Get 20% off with code FIRST20.*†
Category
Watch
🎥 Consider this your preview
The festival hit the marquee before it hits the big screen. | Photo via @nicktheater
The Nick is observing International Women’s Day in a reely big way — with its inaugural Femme Film Fest. This celebration of women in cinema will honor filmmakers, creators, and actors over the course of three days starting Friday, March 7 through Sunday, March 9.
The schedule features a lineup of 13 films including Greta Gerwig’s solo directorial debut “Lady Bird,” Dana Flor’s feminist music documentary “1-800-ON-HER-OWN,” and the classic 1990s comedy “Clueless.” Some screenings will also feature additional short movies, experimental films, or speeches.
The festival aims to amplify the female voices in film while showcasing their visions in different genres. Festival passes are now available for $75 for the entire weekend or at a daily rate. Attendees can also purchase individual tickets for specific films.
The Buy
The Buy
A Diamond Dazzle Stick — aka, a travel-sized diamond cleaner pen that keeps jewelry sparkling on the go. Keep it in your purse for quick touch-ups so your rings will gleam. Bonus: It’s got 30,000+ five-star reviews.
Recently, we shared the fairly new mural outside of Cromer’s P-Nuts on Instagram, and I must say, I love all of the local pride on this post card-style display. As a huge mural fan, I know there are many more to explore in the city, and I recommend a self-guided tour.
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