With winter weather on the horizon, it is important to know how to stay out of the hospital, as hundreds of heart attacks are reported each year from snow shoveling.
Lexington family practice physician Dr. Jeffery Foxx said to shovel snow is kind of like running on a treadmill. You are exerting yourself and in addition to the exertion, just the activity of picking up the snow, the weather is a little colder so your blood pressure tends to go up. Your blood vessels tend to constrict.
People who are at an increased risk for heart attacks from show shoveling include those over 45, are overweight, have a history of heart disease in addition to other factors.
Foxx advised that it is essential to stay hydrated, wearing warm, but not constrictive clothing and to take plenty of breaks.
If it becomes too much, and someone starts to experience distress while shoveling, make sure to go back to a warm place and monitor symptoms.
If the symptoms don’t go away, the chest pain persists, shortness of breath, and you are getting worse instead of better, it is time to call 911.
If possible, the best situation is to wait until the snow melt away completely.
Source: WAVE
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