January 7, 2014, ST. LOUIS - With the St. Louis area facing as much as 15 inches of snow in some areas, some may be venturing outside to shovel.
When many who rarely exercise grab a shovel and lift hundreds of pounds of snow, their heart rate increases quickly and puts them at increased risk of heart attack.
“There are some people out there who don’t necessarily know they have blockages in their arteries,” says Michael Lim, MD, co-director of the Center for Comprehensive Cardiovascular Care at Saint Louis University Hospital and a SLUCare physician. “They might not exert themselves that much and then all of a sudden there’s a snowfall … they go out and try to clear their driveway or sidewalk and they exert themselves to a point they don’t normally do and that may cause a heart attack.”
Bottom line: be careful out there
“We would ask people to pay attention to how they’re feeling,” says Dr. Lim. “They should exert themselves in moderation. If they feel tightness of pressure in their chest they should stop and come inside and seek medical attention.”
Give yourself a break. Take frequent rest breaks during shoveling so you don’t overstress your heart. Pay attention to how your body feels during those breaks.
Don’t eat a heavy meal prior or soon after shoveling. Eating a large meal can put an extra load on your heart.
Use a small shovel or consider a snow thrower. The act of lifting heavy snow can raise blood pressure acutely during the lift. It is safer to lift smaller amounts more times, than to lug a few huge shovelfuls of snow. When possible, simply push the snow.
Learn the heart attack warning signs and listen to your body, but remember this: Even if you’re not sure it’s a heart attack, have it checked out (tell a doctor about your symptoms). Minutes matter! Fast action can save lives — maybe your own. Don’t wait more than five minutes to call 9-1-1
Don’t drink alcoholic beverages before or immediately after shoveling. Alcohol may increase a person’s sensation of warmth and may cause them to underestimate the extra strain their body is under in the cold.
Consult a doctor. If you have a medical condition, don’t exercise on a regular basis or are middle aged or older, meet with your doctor prior to the first anticipated snowfall.
Be aware of the dangers of hypothermia. Heart failure causes most deaths in hypothermia. To prevent hypothermia, dress in layers of warm clothing, which traps air between layers forming a protective insulation. Wear a hat because much of your body’s heat can be lost through your head.
If anyone does feel they are having a heart attack, call 911 … lie down and wait for emergency medical staffers to arrive.
For more advice, Richard Lee, MD, co-director of the Center for Comprehensive Cardiovascular Care at Saint Louis University Hospital, talked about it in the above video with KSDK’s Dana Dean.