KEY TAKEAWAYS:
• Cold weather stress: Freezing temperatures can cause blood vessels to constrict, making your heart work harder to pump blood through your body.
• High-risk groups: Adults over 55, people with heart disease or family history, men and those with sedentary lifestyles should use extra caution.
• Safe shoveling practices: Push snow rather than lift, use a smaller shovel, take frequent breaks and consider multiple sessions rather than one intense effort.
• Warning signs: Watch for chest pressure, nausea and excessive shortness of breath. Symptoms may be serious and require medical attention.
SUMMARY:
Shoveling snow combines cold-induced vessel constriction and strenuous physical activity, both of which increase cardiac stress. The risk is higher for people over 55, those with heart disease or a family history, men and the sedentary. To stay safe, take breaks, push instead of lift, use a small shovel, avoid shoveling right after eating and watch for warning signs like chest pressure, nausea or severe shortness of breath.
We all know shoveling snow can be quite the workout. For some, it’s a healthy activity, but for many, cold weather, heavy snow and the strenuous effort pose real danger to your heart.
“Just like any exercise, it’s important to be thoughtful before jumping in, and for some people, the risks may be too high,” says Dan Mudrick, MD, MPH.
According to Mudrick, a cardiologist at OhioHealth Heart & Vascular Physicians, shoveling snow can be more dangerous than other workouts for many reasons:
- Working in the cold puts extra stress on the heart, because peripheral blood vessels in the body constrict to conserve heat, forcing the heart to work harder.
- Many people are sedentary in their normal lives, but jump straight into very strenuous work, shoveling snow out of necessity or pride.
- Unlike other types of exercise, where it is easy to slow down or stop when one feels tired, shoveling snow is a goal-directed activity, and many people get into the mindset of pushing through until they finish the task. Sometimes, this leads to ignoring the feelings or symptoms that might warn someone they are overdoing it.
- Arm exercises that require lifting and straining can also put extra strain on the heart than leg exercises.
These factors together increase the risk of a cardiac event.
“Research suggests that people with coronary artery disease or a family history of coronary artery disease, people over age 55, men and people who are normally sedentary are at the highest risk for cardiac events related to shoveling snow,” Mudrick says.
Depending on the snow — is it a dusting or deep, wet snow — the level of exertion required to shovel may range from mild to very heavy. To shovel safely, Mudrick recommends doing some warm-up exercise indoors before heading out into the cold, staying hydrated (which can be easy to forget in the cold) and taking frequent breaks. It can also reduce the risk of injury to shovel or plow multiple times during a snowfall, instead of waiting to remove a deep accumulation all at once.
“Pushing snow off the walk rather than lifting and shoveling can be less of a strain on the heart; similarly, using a small shovel or a snow blower can be safer,” he says.
Mudrick also warns about the risks of shoveling snow right after a large meal: “Digestion requires energy, and also diverts blood flow away from the peripheral blood vessels, like cold does.”
Always remember to look out for symptoms of chest pressure, nausea and excessive shortness of breath. Stop immediately if these symptoms develop, and seek emergency attention if they persist.
If all this sounds like too much of a risk, Mudrick reminds us not to forget about the neighborhood kids.
“You can make a kid’s day by paying them to shovel for you!”
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: Why are heart attacks more common when shoveling snow?
A: Snow shoveling increases cardiovascular stress. Cold temperatures constrict blood vessels, and the lifting and pushing motions can strain arm and leg muscles, putting extra pressure on the heart.
Q: What’s the safest way to remove snow from my driveway?
A: Push snow rather than lifting it, use a smaller shovel to prevent strain, take frequent breaks and consider clearing the snow multiple times during snowfall rather than waiting for a large accumulation. Snow blowers or additional help can eliminate risk entirely.
Q: When should I call 911 while shoveling snow?
A: If you experience chest pressure or pain, nausea, unusual shortness of breath or lightheadedness while shoveling, stop immediately. If these symptoms persist, seek emergency medical attention.
