Think twice before picking up that snow shovel. Doctors say
working in cold weather can set you up for disaster. Studies
show that heart attacks occur more frequently in the winter than
the summer and the fatality rate is higher, says Dr. William
Towne, an interventional cardiologist with Cadence Physician
Group Cardiology at Delnor Hospital in Geneva, though both
seasons increase the risk of a heart attack because extreme
weather can lead to overexertion. Towne compares snow shoveling
to weightlifting and explains that muscles and blood vessels
constrict when someone shovels in the cold. As a result of the
constriction, blood pressure rises and the heart is forced to
work harder. “If people have a heart condition, I don’t think
they should be shoveling snow at all because of the increased
risk,” he says. Snow shoveling should be done at a slow pace for
five to seven minutes at a time, with rest periods of two to
three minutes, Towne says, noting one should drink a lot of
water to stay hydrated. Proper body p