Stay safe while shoveling snow

Cardiologist Dev Vaz has seen the effects of overly stressing heart muscles already strained by heart disease, high blood pressure and more. One cause of heart attacks not often talked about here in the South is shoveling snow. It doesn’t come up that often, but when it does, it’s essential to know how to stay safe while shoveling snow from your driveway or the sidewalk.

“My first concern would be for those who are living with risk factors like obesity, high blood pressure, heart disease, living a sedentary lifestyle, family history of heart problems and more,” said Dr. Vaz. “One scenario I can think of is an elderly person who has been fairly sedentary who has several risk factors or pre-existing heart disease, like a prior heart attack or stroke.”

All the risk factors you live with stack up to mean that your body just isn’t ready for the strain of shoveling snow, and it could lead to dangerous results.

“When a snowstorm or ice storm comes along, people feel like they have to step out to shovel snow,” said Dr. Vaz. “That’s a very strenuous activity. It is mostly upper body, which is much more demanding on the heart. You’re using your arms a lot, lifting a lot and the cold air you inhale causes your blood vessels to constrict.”

Whenever snow falls, there’s an uptick in heart attacks, arrhythmias and sudden death specifically associated with shoveling snow.

In this video, Dr. Vaz describes how you can shovel snow safely, and what symptoms of heart attack or other heart problems to watch for, just in case.