The weather outside is frightful — and so are certain snow-related activities.
Many of us enjoy waking up to a fresh blanket of snow, at least until we have to bust out the shovels to get out of our homes.
But while clearing sidewalks and driveways is an essential part of the season, a winter wonderland could turn deadly.
The American Heart Association (AHA) cautions people picking up their shovels whenever there’s significant snowfall.
Research shows that many people face a higher risk of experiencing a heart attack or sudden cardiac arrest after shoveling heavy snow.
It’s well-known that physical activity improves heart health by temporarily placing extra stress on the heart. But if you haven’t exercised in a while or don’t engage in regular physical activity — including snow shoveling — you could be doing more harm than good.
Worse than a treadmill test
While shoveling a little snow off the front porch may not seem like much work, bigger accumulation could be costlier.
“The strain of heavy snow shoveling may be as or even more demanding on the heart than taking a treadmill stress test,” said Dr. Barry Franklin, a professor of internal medicine at Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, who lead a study on the subject.
“After only two minutes of snow shoveling, study participants’ heart rates exceeded the upper limit — 85% of maximal heart rate,” he said. “The least fit subjects demonstrated the highest heart rates during shoveling.”
To put it in perspective, snow shoveling uses roughly the same amount of energy as exercises like tennis or jogging.
Why shoveling?
Another study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal found that men were more likely than women to have heart attacks and die from them after shoveling 7 to 8 inches of snow.
But it’s not just the heavy lifting that can lead to heart issues: Colder temperatures increase blood pressure by making arteries narrower, which restricts blood flow and forces the heart to work harder to get blood pumping.
And when lifting heavy objects — like a shovelful of heavy packed snow — we tend to hold our breath, which causes increases in heart rate and blood pressure.
That combined with the extra physical effort may increase the risk for cardiac events.
Who’s most at risk?
Heading out with a shovel when the snowflakes start coming down can pose increased risk to certain people, according to Franklin.
“The impact of snow removal is especially concerning for people who already have cardiovascular risks like a sedentary lifestyle or obesity, being a current or former smoker, having diabetes, high cholesterol or high blood pressure, as well as people who have had a heart attack or stroke,” he explained.
“People with these characteristics and those who have had bypass surgery or coronary angioplasty simply should not be shoveling snow,” he said.
If you’re the one who has to go out and clear the snow, take it easy and take short breaks. Pushing the snow with a shovel is also better physically than lifting and throwing it.
It’s strongly recommended by the AHA to learn the signs of heart trouble, like chest pain or pressure, lightheadedness, heart palpitations or irregular heart rhythms.
If you feel any of these, stop the activity immediately and call 911 if they don’t go away.
