Whether the blanket of snow outside beckons you to a winter playland of skiing and sledding or to the mundane tasks of shoveling or snow blowing, consider your health and safety before you venture out. “Realize your limitations,” said Dr. Jeff Lubin, an emergency medicine physician at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center. “Just because it snowed doesn’t mean you should jump on a snowmobile or grab a shovel if you haven’t done these activities in a while.” For those who normally live a sedentary lifestyle, shoveling snow can be the equivalent of a stress test, kicked up a notch. “Cold weather will cause the body to constrict blood vessels to maintain warmth, which can then raise blood pressure and the risk for heart attack,” said Dr. Chad Zack, a cardiologist at Penn State Heart and Vascular Institute. As with most things, moderation is key, and that’s especially important when shoveling snow, which claims 100 lives every year in the U.S. People with heart or lung issues or who are elderly with underlying health conditions should avoid shoveling if possible and ask a friend or hire someone to do it, the doctors said. However, it’s important for everyone to practice shoveling safety. “Shovel only what you need to shovel,” Zack said. “Shovel the walk if you’re facing a fine if you don’t, but don’t shovel the driveway if you don’t need to go out. Shovel small amounts of snow rather than heavy loads at once, and take frequent breaks.” Use an ergonomic shovel, which can be easier on the back and the heart, and make sure you keep hydrated to replace fluids lost by sweating. “Pay attention to the classic signs of a heart attack – chest pain; shortness of breath; pain that radiates to the jaw, arm or back; nausea or cold sweats – and stop if you experience any of them,” Zack said. “If they persist, call 911.” The same is true with any winter weather sport that can be physically taxing – pay attention to your body’s signals, doctors say. Source
