TODAY’S MEDICAL ALERT. WELL, SNOWSTORMS LIKE THE ONE HEADING OUR WAY. WE’VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT CAN BE DANGEROUS FOR OUR HEALTH, PARTICULARLY HEART HEALTH. RESEARCH SHOWS A HEAVY SNOWFALL AND COLD TEMPERATURES MEAN A 34% INCREASED RISK OF DYING. AND FOR MEN IN PARTICULAR, A 6% HIGHER LIKELIHOOD OF BEING HOSPITALIZED FOR A HEART ATTACK, A LOT OF THAT HAS TO DO WITH THE PHYSICAL STRAIN OF SHOVELING SNOW. A MEDSTAR HEALTH EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN HAS THIS ADVICE. BEFORE YOU GO OUTSIDE, THINK LIKE YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE A WORKOUT STRETCH. PREPARE. BE THOUGHTFUL ABOUT HOW YOU’RE DOING IT. YOU DON’T NEED TO PICK UP THAT WHOLE BIG PILE OF STUFF. WE GET A FOOT, DO IT IN INCREMENTS, DO THREE INCHES AT A TIME, TRY TO PUSH IT AND NOT LIFT IT BECAUSE ALL OF THOSE THINGS ADD UP AND THEY CAN REALLY STRESS OUT YOUR BODY. AND DOCTOR FISHER SAYS THE COLD IN AND OF ITSELF IS HARD ON YOUR HEART. IT CAUSES BLOOD VESSELS TO TIGHTEN, INCREASIN
Shoveling heavy snow in cold weather can endanger your health | Be mindful of your heart
Consider heart health: Heavy snowfall, cold weather mean 34% increased risk of dying
Snowstorms can be dangerous for health, particularly heart health.Research shows heavy snowfall coupled with cold temperatures can pose a 34% increased risk of dying. For men, in particular, there’s a 6% higher likelihood of being hospitalized for a heart attack.Much of that has to do with the physical strain of shoveling snow, so sister station WBAL-TV asked MedStar Health emergency physician Dr. Miriam Fischer for some advice.”Before you go outside, think like you’re going to have a workout. Stretch. Prepare. Be thoughtful about how you’re doing it. You don’t need to pick up a whole big pile of snow,” Fischer said. “If we get a foot, do it in increments. Do 3 inches at a time. Try to push it and not lift it because all of those things add up and can really stress out your body.”Fischer said the cold in and of itself is hard on your heart as it can cause blood vessels to tighten, which increases blood pressure. The cold weather also makes your blood thicker, which can increase the risk of a blood clot.
Snowstorms can be dangerous for health, particularly heart health.
Research shows heavy snowfall coupled with cold temperatures can pose a 34% increased risk of dying. For men, in particular, there’s a 6% higher likelihood of being hospitalized for a heart attack.
Much of that has to do with the physical strain of shoveling snow, so sister station WBAL-TV asked MedStar Health emergency physician Dr. Miriam Fischer for some advice.
“Before you go outside, think like you’re going to have a workout. Stretch. Prepare. Be thoughtful about how you’re doing it. You don’t need to pick up a whole big pile of snow,” Fischer said. “If we get a foot, do it in increments. Do 3 inches at a time. Try to push it and not lift it because all of those things add up and can really stress out your body.”
Fischer said the cold in and of itself is hard on your heart as it can cause blood vessels to tighten, which increases blood pressure. The cold weather also makes your blood thicker, which can increase the risk of a blood clot.
