Winter Heart Attacks – David's Path to Health and Fitness

While I was clearing heavy, wet snow from my driveway a few days ago, it wasn't long before I noticed that my breathing, although effortless, was heavier than when I was at rest. This was due to the nature of the 8 to 10 inches of snow we received, and I actually had to push my snow blower as it crossed from the bottom of my car to the top. This made me think of the poor souls who have no choice but to use a shovel to remove snow. If a snow blower requires effort from my healthy body, I know it would be a very tiring activity for those who only have a shovel to use. Add obesity and sedentary living on top of that, and you have a tragedy in the making.

American Heart Association urges caution!

The American Heart Association, the world's leading nonprofit organization focused on heart and brain health for everyone, urges caution when picking up that shovel or even operating a snowblower. Research shows that many people may face an increased risk of having a heart attack or sudden cardiac arrest after shoveling heavy snow. Shoveling snow combined with other physical activities can put increased stress on the heart, especially among people who are not used to regular exercise.

Better health should trump appearance with weight loss!

People often think that losing weight is about changing a person's appearance, while they do not take into account the health effects that come from gaining weight and changing shape. If this is your mindset, you should seriously consider changing it. When you lose weight and increase your fitness level through regular exercise, your focus should be on increasing your quality of life. Looking better is just the icing on the cake.

Cold winter weather in general can contribute to an increased risk of heart attacks. Cold temperatures can increase blood pressure while constricting the coronary arteries. These two factors, in addition to the increased heart rate resulting from physical exertion, are known to increase the risk of severe heart disease. There are even studies that show an increased risk of heart attacks among people who use automatic snow blowers!

According to Harvard Health, about 100 people — mostly men — die during or after snow removal each year in the United States. Many people are hospitalized with chest pain or other heart problems. Just think, being in top physical condition can significantly reduce the risk of falling from clearing snow from sidewalks and driveways. Most heart attacks can actually be prevented just by keeping your body in optimal condition.

Then consider this as well, the sedentary lifestyle combined with the unhealthy food choices that most obese people consume is part of the price you pay for an early funeral.

The connection between shoveling snow and heart attacks is clear for several reasons.

• Shoveling snow (or perhaps other means of snow removal, including pushing a heavy snow blower) can raise your heart rate and blood pressure more quickly and dramatically than many other types of exercise.
• Shoveling snow requires the use of arm muscles, which for most people is more strenuous than other exercises.
• Snow removal is done in a cold environment. This is important because cold temperatures may cause blood vessels to constrict.
• Many snow shovels are usually stable. Sudden and strenuous exercise can tax a system that it is not prepared for.

How healthy is your cardiovascular condition?

We know that exercise keeps our bodies in good cardiovascular condition. However, if you're not used to a challenging routine and are trying to do too much too soon, it can disrupt the way your heart pumps blood and oxygen through your system.

When multiple people are shoveling snow, they may be in a rush to finish. Sudden exertion, such as moving hundreds of pounds of ice after sitting for months, can put a lot of stress on the heart. Unfortunately, tragedy strikes many families every winter as a result of snow removal.

Cardiovascular disease affects more than 27 million people in the United States and kills more than 600,000 people each year. An obese person needs a heart that can pump larger volumes of blood, so the volume of the chamber – the actual cavity of the heart – expands and the muscles become thicker as well. Over time in some individuals, the heart cannot compensate, and after a while it begins to lose some of its ability to relax or its ability to pump blood to the rest of the body. Both can lead to heart failure. (1)

When we become obese, all that extra weight can put you at risk for coronary artery disease and eventually a heart attack. Losing weight should be the obvious solution, but that doesn't mean you should try to lose weight too quickly because that could also make the problem worse. You didn't gain your extra weight overnight, so don't think you have to lose it overnight. Healthy weight loss is no more than 1 to 2 pounds per week. Any faster than this, and you should be under the supervision of your doctor.

(1) Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis

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