Shoveling snow and digging after a heavy snowfall is good exercise for most people. But for people with heart conditions, it’s best to leave snow shoveling to someone else.
Mayo Clinic cardiologist Dr. Sharon N. Hayes encourages exercise, but says that cold weather combined with strenuous exercise can put extra strain on the heart, which can lead to a heart attack. To tell.
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Shoveling snow can be a good workout, but it’s not for everyone.
“Snow shoveling is one of the riskiest cardiovascular stress tests for a variety of reasons,” says Dr. Hayes.
She tells heart patients, “I don’t want you to do that anymore. You can mow the lawn, you can go for a hike or a walk. I want you to exercise.”
The reasons are both physiological and psychological, she says.
Physiological ones include blood vessels constricting and blood pressure increasing in the cold.
“In a vulnerable person, that’s enough to cause chest pain. For example, if there’s any kind of blockage, it can cause angina or chest pain,” Dr. Hayes says.
Add to this the work of digging through heavy snow…
“…It’s the psychological part. And when I say this, everyone, all my patients, smile because they know, ‘Oh, yeah, that’s right.’ ,” says Dr. Hayes.
Once you start something, it can be difficult to stop.
“It’s a combination of cold and extreme exercise, and then you have to finish the walk to reach the end point, so you may end up going on longer than is wise,” explains Dr. Hayes.
Dr. Hayes says it’s best to check with your medical team to see if shoveling heavy snow is appropriate.
