Can shoveling snow give you a heart attack?
Those who are about 40 and older or have risk factors or who smoke or live a sedentary lifestyle should think twice before shoveling.
Is it true that shoveling snow can give you a heart attack?
The science: Snow shoveling can be dangerous. It can place stress on the heart and has been associated with increased cardiovascular events, particularly after heavy snowfalls, research shows.
One study showed that from 1990 to 2006, about 195,000 people in the United States were treated in emergency rooms for injuries and medical emergencies from snow shoveling. Of those, 6.7 percent were cardiac related, including all 1,647 deaths.
“Snow shoveling causes excessive demands on the heart while simultaneously compromising blood flow with the cold, which leads to heart attacks and sudden death every year,” said Barry Franklin, a spokesperson for the American Heart Association. “In my opinion, it’s the single most dangerous activity people can do.”
Snow shoveling is a vigorous workout primarily for your arms, and upper-extremity exercise is more strenuous and puts more stress on your heart than lower-extremity exercise, said Franklin, a professor and director of preventive cardiology and cardiac rehabilitation at Corewell Health William Beaumont University Hospital in Royal Oak, Mich.
You’re also largely standing still, which can cause blood to pool in your lower extremities, depriving your heart of oxygenated blood; there is an inclination to hold your breath when straining, which causes a disproportionate rise in heart rate and blood pressure; and cold temperatures can cause blood vessels to constrict, limiting blood flow to the heart and raising blood pressure, he said.
Steven Brooks, head of emergency medicine at Cleveland Clinic’s Akron General, said he does not typically see heart attacks related to snow shoveling, but each winter, people - mainly men - come into the ER with chest pain.
“People often think that snow is very light and fluffy until they go out and start shoveling it,” he said.
Those who are about 40 and older or have risk factors such as diabetes, obesity, high cholesterol and high blood pressure or who smoke or live a sedentary lifestyle should think twice before shoveling snow, experts say. And, they say, those with a history of cardiovascular problems, including chest pain, heart disease or previous heart attacks, or those who have had procedures such as an angioplasty or bypass surgery should not do it.
What else you should know
Snow removal is hard work. In a 1995 study, 10 healthy men, with an average age of 32.4 years, shoveled snow for 10 minutes, averaging 12 lifts per minute for an average of 16 pounds per load of snow.
If you do the math, “Middle-aged and older people who are shoveling heavy, wet snow may be moving approximately 2,000 pounds in 10 minutes,” said Franklin, the lead author of the study. “That’s the weight of a midsize car.”
If you are shoveling snow, experts suggest these precautions
Warm up, pace yourself by doing small sections at a time and take frequent breaks. Drink plenty of water.
Dress in warm layers, a hat and gloves, and cover your nose and mouth to avoid breathing in the cold air.
Use your legs, too, to keep blood from pooling in your lower extremities.
Push the snow rather than lifting and throwing it. Some shovels are designed to push snow. Some even have wheels to make it easier.
If you start experiencing dizziness, lightheadedness, chest pain or shortness of breath, stop immediately and go inside, Brooks said. If you develop chest pain that does not quickly resolve when you stop shoveling, call 911 or have someone drive you to the ER to be evaluated.
Bottom line: Snow shoveling can be a dangerous chore, especially for those at higher risk. If you or your doctor is concerned whether your heart can handle the task, get someone else to do it.