 Hi, I'm Dr. Aditi Bussells, at-large Councilwoman for the City of Columbia. February is Heart Month, one that is near and dear to my heart as a woman and a public health researcher. According to the American Heart Association, heart disease claims the life of a woman about every 80 seconds, but almost 80 percent of heart disease can be prevented. Cardiovascular issues like heart disease and stroke can affect women at any age, making it so important for all women to understand their risk factors, learn about their family history, and to recognize the symptoms of heart attacks and strokes. It's also important to know that the best way to prevent heart disease is by taking care of yourself. There's a lot of research to show that lifestyle changes like moving more and eating healthy and getting those preventive checkups can make a huge difference in reducing your risk. So know your numbers, educate yourself on your family history, get your regular checkups, move more and make healthy choices. Take care of yourselves.