KDKA-TV: Snow Shoveling Stressful For Your Heart

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ? Snow shoveling can put stress on the heart similar to a stress test that doctors would do to check how well your heart tolerates exertion.
 

Snow shoveling can put stress on the heart similar to a stress test that doctors would do to check how well your heart tolerates exertion.

The conditions outside don't make it easy for your body.

"The cold makes it that much tougher for the heart to work," Dr. George Gabriel with Allegheny General Hospital Cardiology, said.

He says he usually has one or two patients come in because of snow shoveling.

"There are those people who go out there and try to shovel snow despite their cardiac conditions," he said. "People end up with chest pain, with cardiac events."

When shoveling snow:

Take frequent breaks
Stay well-hydrated
Stop shoveling if you feel any kind of chest pain
If you don't exercise or if you have a medical condition, check with your doctor first – jumping in to dig out may not be the best thing to do.

"I'd say if you're older and you don't normally do physical activity, pay somebody to shovel your snow," Dr. David Chuirazzi with Allegheny General Hospital said.

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