Snow Shoveling 101: How Not to Kill Yourself
The trick to safe shoveling? Push the snow, don’t lift it, and avoid the 6am to 10am window if possible. (Photo by Getty Images)
By Arden Dier, Newser.com
Before you break out the snow shovel this season, doctors say there are a couple of things to keep in mind lest clearing your walk turn deadly.
At least two people have died from heart problems while shoveling snow this week in Buffalo and about 100 Americans meet the same fate each year, the BBC reports. A boosted heart rate and artery-constricting cold air make “a perfect storm for a heart attack,” Barry Franklin, director of preventative cardiology and cardiac rehabilitation at William Beaumont Hospital in Michigan, told BBC News.
If you’re over 55 or “habitually sedentary,” Franklin says you shouldn’t pick up a shovel at all. Shoveling snow is also risky for smokers and people with coronary disease.
But if you absolutely have to shovel, remember this expert advice:
Breathe during the exercise; keep checking yourself to make sure you’re not accidentally holding your breath.
Push the snow, don’t lift it.
Avoid the 6 a.m. to 10 a.m. window if possible, as hormone levels make people particularly prone to heart attacks during this time frame.
Dress warmly and take regular breaks inside.
Skip big meals right before or after shoveling, as a heavy meal can tax the heart.
In terms of your shovel, use a smaller one; the less snow you move at once, the safer you’ll be.
If you’re looking to warm up, avoid alcohol, as it will put your heart at an increased risk.
This advice, which also applies to those who use snow blowers, will come in handy if you’re planning to help out the Buffalo Bills.
(See more shoveling tips, here!)
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This article originally appeared on Newser: Snow Shoveling 101: How Not to Die
