Winter Storms Bring Warnings About Heart Attack Risk Of Shoveling Snow

Respect winter.

It’s a dangerous season, a time when, along with mounting snow, emergency room visits see an increase in patients with a range of maladies from injuries from slips, falls and car accidents to heart attacks and cardiovascular stress from shoveling snow.

The risk shoveling heavy snow poses was underscored last weekend’s colossal winter storm underscored the risks of shoveling snow, which the American Heart Association says is something everyone should keep in mind, whether they have a history of cardiovascular disease or are generally healthy.

Although the causes of their deaths haven’t been determined, a handful of the more than 50 people whose deaths were attributed to last weekend’s colossal storm were shoveling snow when they collapsed.

‘Bomb Cyclone’

A "bomb cyclone" is expected to hit parts of the East Coast this weekend. A “bomb cyclone” is a meteorological term for a low-pressure system that undergoes extremely rapid, intense or “explosive” strengthening.

Along with the forecasted storm, it’s not going to warm up. Record lows are forecast as far south as Florida, which could see the coldest weather in years.

“This could be the coldest temperature seen in several years for some places and the longest duration of cold in several decades,” the National Weather Service’s Weather Prediction Center warned earlier this week.

Shoveling A Risk For Healthy People, Too

Shoveling snow is among the most strenuous physical activities that can strain the heart, especially for individuals who do not exercise regularly, the American Heart Association said in a 2020 report. In a recent updated warning, the Heart Association cited multiple studies that show snow shoveling exertion may increase the risk of heart attack or sudden cardiac arrest, even for those without existing heart disease.

During and after last weekend’s storm, a 67-year-old Verona, New Jersey, man was found dead with his shovel after a heavy snowfall, Verona Patch reported. A 60-year-old Floral Park, New York, man also collapsed and died while shoveling, New Hyde Park Patch reported. In Pennsylvania, at least four people died from cardiac emergencies while shoveling, including three people ages 60 to 84 in separate incidents in Lehigh County, and a man in his 50s in Adams County.

“If you’ve ever taken a treadmill stress test or seen one on TV, imagine that same strain on your heart while you are trying to clear your driveway of heavy snow,” Dr. Stacey E. Rosen, the association’s volunteer president, said in a statement. “That strain combined with the arctic cold expected this winter could lead to a heart-related emergency — especially for those who aren’t physically fit or people with existing heart conditions.”

The combination of bitterly cold temperatures and the exertion of shoveling snow can cause the heart to work harder, sometimes dangerously so, Rosen said. Here’s why:

• Shoveling is primarily arm work, which is harder on the heart than leg work.
• Lifting heavy loads often causes people to hold their breath without realizing it, spiking heart rate and blood pressure.
• Cold air constricts blood vessels throughout the body, raising blood pressure and tightening coronary arteries.

Follow These Shoveling Tips

The Heart Association says people have heart disease or risk factors are better off making arrangements for someone else to shovel the snow. Some tips to make shoveling safer include:

• Start slowly and pace yourself. Wear layers, a hat, gloves, and cover your mouth and nose.
• Push or sweep snow instead of lifting and throwing it to reduce exertion.
• High winds make the temperature feel much colder, increasing the cold's effect on your body; exercise extra caution.
• Research shows snow blowing raises your heart rate less than shoveling, but still proceed with caution and monitor your body.

Symptoms of a heart attack include chest discomfort; pain or discomfort spreading from the arms (especially the left arm), neck, jaw, back or stomach; shortness of breath; lightheadedness; unusual fatigue; sweating and nausea; and a racing heart or palpitations.

Use A Proper Shovel

Other dangers associated with shoveling snow include lower back injuries, muscle strains, ligament and tendon tears, and fractures.

To avoid orthopedic injuries, Spine Health, published by Veritas Health, offers a range of tips, including investing in a long-handled ergonomic shovel that allows pushing snow without having to bend, which protects the lower back from sudden movements associated with shoveling and tossing snow.

Keep Your Back Straight, More Tips

Techniques matter most. Tips include:

• Keep your back straight, leading with your hips, chest out and pointing forward. Bend your knees and lift with your legs. Stand with feet hip-width apart for better control.
• Stabilize your spine by placing one hand on the handle and the other 12 inches lower on the shaft, keeping your back straight.
• Dump snow by pivoting your whole body in the direction you are throwing the snow, rather than twisting your spine. For example, if throwing left, keep your left foot facing left and pivot your body left.
• Minimize arm movement when dumping snow by keeping the load close to your body to reduce strain on your back, shoulders, and arms.

When Neighbors Can’t Shovel …

Snowstorms like last weekend’s offer a chance to be neighborly and help out people who aren’t physically able to shovel snow and may not have the financial means to hire it cleared.

After about a foot of snow fell on Long Island’s Babylon Village last weekend, neighbors rallied with their shovels and snow-clearing equipment in tow, Babylon Village Patch reported.

“We are small but mighty,” Rachel Fasciani, who organized the effort on social media, told Patch. “We helped four houses total, but what really stood out was seeing how many people in the community were quietly helping their neighbors, too.”

If Babylon Village is slammed again this weekend, Fasciani and her shovel brigade plan to show up for their neighbors.

“It was just a really good moment of community coming together,” she said.

Related

• Babylon Village’s ‘Small But Mighty’ Snow Shoveling Brigade Spreads Kindness
• ‘He Was Better Than All Of Us,’ Friends Recall Of Man Who Died Shoveling Snow
• New Jersey Man Found Dead In Snow With Shovel In His Hand