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Shoveling snow? Over-exertion and cold temps can raise your heart risks
ON SATURDAY. TIP OFF FOR THAT GAME IS EIGHT. MIGHT HAVE TO DIG OUT IF YOU’RE HEADED TO THAT GAME. THE SNOW STILL FALLING. BUT FOR A LOT OF US MAYBE ALREADY STARTED OR WILL CONTINUE DOING IS THAT TASK OF SHOVELING. AND WHILE IT MAY BE LIGHT SNOW, THERE ARE STILL IMPORTANT HEALTH REMINDERS TO KEEP IN MIND. DOCTOR JORGE PLUTZKY IS THE DIRECTOR OF PREVENTATIVE CARDIOLOGY AT BRIGHAM AND WOMEN’S HOSPITAL. DOCTOR PLUTZKY, THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE WITH US THIS MORNING. SURE. THANK YOU. WHAT DO YOU WORRY ABOUT MOST WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT PEOPLE WHO ARE HEADING OUT TO MOVE ALL OF THAT SNOW AROUND? WELL, FOR SOME PEOPLE, IT MAY BE THE FIRST TIME THEY’RE EXERTING THEMSELVES TO THAT LEVEL. AND WE KNOW THAT SHOVELING SNOW IS A VERY HIGH LEVEL OF EXERTION. YOU CAN VERY QUICKLY. STUDIES SUGGEST WITHIN TEN MINUTES REACH 100% OF YOUR MAXIMUM HEART RATE. AND SO FOR PEOPLE WITH A HISTORY OF HEART DISEASE OR JUST RISK FACTORS, THAT CAN BE QUITE AN EXERTION. IT’S LIKE SETTLING, DOING A MAXIMAL STRESS TEST AND BRINGING ON ISSUES RELATED TO THAT. DOC, WHAT ARE SOME OF THE WARNING SIGNS THAT FOLKS OUT THERE MIGHT BE? YOU KNOW, WE TOUGH NEW ENGLANDERS WILL SAY, WELL, WE’LL WORK THROUGH IT. BUT, YOU KNOW, THERE ARE SIGNS THAT SOMETHING MAY BE SERIOUSLY HAPPENING AND YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO TAKE A BREAK, HEAD ON INSIDE FOR A BIT. YES. YOU KNOW, THE CLASSIC SIGNS OF CHEST PAIN AND PERHAPS ASSOCIATED SHORTNESS OF BREATH, NAUSEA, RADIATION DOWN THE ARMS ARE CERTAINLY VERY VALID. BUT WE ALSO WANT PEOPLE TO PAY ATTENTION TO MORE SUBTLE SIGNS LIKE CHEST PRESSURE, ACHING IN THE JAW, JUST THE THE NAUSEA CAN STILL BE RELEVANT. AND SO LISTENING TO YOUR BODY SLOWING DOWN, TAKING BREAKS AND STOPPING IF YOU’RE FEELING ANY OF THOSE IS GOOD ADVICE AND HIGHLY WARRANTED, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU’RE OUT THERE IN THE COLD, WHICH MAY BE ITS OWN FACTOR FOR WHY THESE ISSUES ARISE. THE COLD CAN CONSTRICT ARTERIES AND MAKE THINGS WORSE, AND THERE REALLY IS NO MESSING AROUND WITH THIS. AND WE KNOW HEART ISSUES PRESENT DIFFERENTLY. BUT ARE THERE? AND MAYBE YOU JUST SPOKE ABOUT THIS MORE SUBTLE SIGNS THAT PEOPLE SHOULD PAY ATTENTION TO DURING THIS KIND OF WEATHER. YEAH, IT’S THINGS LIKE I’M FEELING MORE SHORT OF BREATH THAN I THAN I WOULD EXPECT TO BE. I’M HAVING AN ACHE IN MY JAW OR IN MY NECK THAT IS SURPRISING AND FEELS DIFFERENT. THESE ARE ALL SIGNS TO PAY ATTENTION TO AND TO NOT PUSH IT, TO SORT THAT OUT. THE. THERE ARE VARIOUS STRATEGIES PEOPLE CAN TAKE TO HAVE LESS OF A LOAD, LIKE TAKING BREAKS, COVERING YOUR MOUTH SO YOU WARM THE AIR THAT’S ON ITS WAY IN TO NOT NECESSARILY SHOVEL AND LIFT, BECAUSE USING YOUR ARMS IS MORE OF AN EXERTION, BUT TO PUSH AND TO TO SWIPE. BUT YOU REALLY DO WANT TO LISTEN TO ANY, ANY SENSE YOU HAVE THAT SOMETHING’S OFF. INCLUDING THESE OTHER, YOU KNOW, SOMEWHAT ATYPICAL SYMPTOMS THAT AREN’T CLASSIC CHEST PAIN. EVEN THAT CHEST PRESSURE CAN BE A SIGN. IT’S BEEN FOUR YEARS SINCE WE HAD THIS AMOUNT OF SNOW, SO MAYBE FOLKS HAVEN’T HAD TO FACE IT FOR A WHILE. DOCTOR GEORGE, THANK YOU VERY MUCH. CARDIOLOGIST WITH MASS GENERAL BRIGHAM, WE THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS MORNING.
Digging out from the weekend’s massive snow and ice storm could be hazardous to your heart.Pennsylvania health officials announced three snow-removal-related deaths on Sunday. All were between the ages of 60 and 84. The Lehigh County coroner’s office cautioned people to take breaks and avoid over-exerting themselves.Shoveling snow is heavy, hard work — research has shown that doing it for even a short time can make the heart work as hard as it does during a major workout. Adding to that stress, the cold temperatures cause blood vessels, including those feeding the heart, to constrict. That raises blood pressure, which in turn increases the risk of a heart attack, stroke, or cardiac arrest, according to the American Heart Association.Snow shoveling is especially risky for anyone with known heart disease or who’s already survived a heart attack, as well as older adults and people with risk factors, including high blood pressure or cholesterol. People who think they’re healthy can get in trouble, too, with that combination of heavy exertion in cold weather – especially if they’re generally sedentary until a snowstorm comes along.The heart association advises that if you have to shovel, go slow and try to push the snow instead of lifting and throwing it. It also urges people to learn common warning signs of a heart attack and to call 911 if they experience them.
Digging out from the weekend’s massive snow and ice storm could be hazardous to your heart.
Pennsylvania health officials announced three snow-removal-related deaths on Sunday. All were between the ages of 60 and 84. The Lehigh County coroner’s office cautioned people to take breaks and avoid over-exerting themselves.
Shoveling snow is heavy, hard work — research has shown that doing it for even a short time can make the heart work as hard as it does during a major workout. Adding to that stress, the cold temperatures cause blood vessels, including those feeding the heart, to constrict. That raises blood pressure, which in turn increases the risk of a heart attack, stroke, or cardiac arrest, according to the American Heart Association.
Snow shoveling is especially risky for anyone with known heart disease or who’s already survived a heart attack, as well as older adults and people with risk factors, including high blood pressure or cholesterol. People who think they’re healthy can get in trouble, too, with that combination of heavy exertion in cold weather – especially if they’re generally sedentary until a snowstorm comes along.
The heart association advises that if you have to shovel, go slow and try to push the snow instead of lifting and throwing it. It also urges people to learn common warning signs of a heart attack and to call 911 if they experience them.
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