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How Is Snow Shoveling Linked To Heart Attack? Winter is the coldest season of the year. In many regions, winter is associated with snow and freezing temperatures. After a blizzard, there will be a large snowfall accumulation all over the areas. Some people would start shoveling snow either to clear their driveway or just for fun. Snow shoveling is a unique form of exertion that can be vigorous. There is no doubt that physical activity performed over the long term could actually benefit one’s health by lowering the risk of heart disease and other medical disorders. But vigorous exercise might also acutely increase the immediate risk of cardiac event. While the risk of having a cardiac event when one is in a rested state is low, the risk might most likely be raised when one is performing a vigorous exercise. In fact, a study that examined data from 1990 to 2006 by researchers at the United States Nationwide Children's Hospital found 1,647 fatalities from cardiac-related injuries linked to shoveling snow. When shoveling snow, the upper body workout can put harder strain on the heart than walking. In other words, the cardio demands are greater. The risk of getting a heart attack and cardiac arrest for people who already have heart disease is higher. The oxygen supply to the heart is generally not challenged very much at rest. But during vigorous exercise like snow shoveling, the heart’s oxygen demands increase dramatically. At the same time, the coronary vessels open up and supply the additional blood flow that is needed to feed the heart’s increased demand as the heart beats faster and harder.
A healthy person does have the ability to increase the oxygen supply to meet the increased demand. For a person with coronary heart disease, the blockage in the coronary arteries could limit the blood flow, leading to inadequately oxygen supply. When the heart muscle (the myocardium) does not receive sufficient oxygen, it can rapidly fail. If the heart muscle becomes starved for oxygen, it can also become vulnerable to abnormal electrical activity that can lead to arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats) or a heart attack. Many people are not aware of the danger of being outdoors in cold weather. People who are exposed to cold weather without taking any precaution can suffer so-called accidental hypothermia. Hypothermia means the body temperature has fallen below 95 degrees Fahrenheit. It occurs when your body cannot produce enough energy to keep the internal body temperature warm enough. This can be deadly. Symptoms of hypothermia include lack of coordination, mental confusion, slowed reactions, shivering and sleepiness. Children, the elderly and those with heart disease are particularly at high risk. People’s ability to maintain a normal internal body temperature often decreases with age. Because elderly people seem to be relatively insensitive to moderately cold conditions, they can simply suffer hypothermia without knowing they are in danger. It should be noted that snow shoveling is mostly done without a warm up. As it includes considerable arm work, it might increase blood pressure drastically. As blood pressure rises, the work of the heart rises, too. The leg muscles are typically performing isometric work that might increase blood pressure more than, say, walking or jogging. For most people, snow shoveling is neither an easy nor a dangerous exercise. But people with prior heart attack, known heart disease, high blood pressure or high cholesterol should get a green light from the doctor. Smokers, those have a sedentary lifestyle, and those who are not accustomed to vigorous exercise should be extremely cautious before engaging snow shoveling. Some tips of safe shoveling include warming up muscles before starting, shoveling many light loads instead of fewer heavy ones, taking frequent breaks and drinking plenty of water. If one feels the chest starts hurting, the heart starts racing, lightheaded or short of breath or any other physical change that makes one nervous, one should head indoors right away. He or she should seek immediate emergency medical assistance when suspecting a heart attack has occurred.
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