This February marks the 57th annual American Heart Month, dedicated to drawing attention to the risks of hypertension (high blood pressure). Hypertension can increase your risk of stroke, heart disease, heart failure, kidney failure, vision loss, pregnancy complications and more. Read on to learn what you can do to improve your heart health.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. In fact, half of all Americans are currently considered “at risk” for heart disease, and that figure continues to rise.