As many already know, Merry Maids of Beaufort proudly supports the American Heart Association (AHA) and American Heart Month in February. Like many other businesses and individuals, Merry Maids is spending the month of February “going red for women” to shine a light on heart disease: the leading killer of women in America, and more deadly than all forms of cancer combined.

Some of the things they are doing this month include replacing the usual Merry Maids green T-shirts with red shirts and raising money by collecting spare change in special Raise the Roof banks distributed to customers.

But they also wanted to share a few things that you can do to help safeguard your own heart — this month and for many years to come.

<b>Exercise at least 30 minutes a day, five times a week. </b>You may think you don’t have time, but this is one of the most important things you can do for your future and that of your family. You probably wouldn’t think twice before committing to an extra 150 minutes a week to helping a loved one. Committing to your own health is even more important.

<b>Get Regular Health Screenings.</b> Women of all ages should get annual checkups, including blood pressure screenings. After age 40, it becomes especially important. By the time you’re 45, you should have a baseline test for each of the following, then a follow-up for each at least once every three years after that: Weight and Body Mass Index; Waist Circumference; Blood Pressure; Cholesterol; Heart Exam; and Fasting Blood Glucose.

<b>Eat For Life:</b><b> </b>You know all about the latest fad diets, but the one that the American Heart Association recommends is not only a proven heart-helper, it can also help your entire family maintain a healthy weight: “Focus on including foods that are nutrient-dense like colorful veggies and fruits, fiber-rich, whole-grains, lean meats, skinless chicken and fish rich in omega-3s, and fat-free, 1 percent fat and low-fat dairy. These foods can give your heart the nutrients it needs as well as improve your cholesterol and blood pressure.”

<b>Get Enough Sleep.</b> The AHA recommends adults get six to eight hours of sleep per night. Again, it may seem like an impossible goal given what you have on your plate, but just remember that everything gets much harder when you’re operating on a sleep deficit.

<b>Take One Thing Off Your Plate:</b> Not literally, but delegating one task to free you up to exercise, sleep more or spend more time doing something you love could make all the difference in the world.

And, of course, if it’s something around the house that Merry Maids can help with, why, they’d be happy to help.

For more information, please contact Merry Maids of Beaufort at 843-522-2777 or email at custsrv4632@merrymaids.com or visit the website at merrymaidsbeaufort.com.
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