What is ‘heart attack snow’ and how to take precautions against it

A winter storm impacting the nation’s Central, Northern and Southern regions carries a different risk — heart attacks.

Reports estimate that hundreds of people die each year in the U.S. from a heart attack, either during or immediately after snow removal, according to the American Heart Association. 

This is partially because many people who shovel snow rarely exercise, according to Harvard Medical School. After several months of inactivity, the resistance of tossing shovels-full of snow or pushing a heavy blower can strain the heart. 

One 2020 study from the American Heart Association study found that after only two minutes of snow shoveling, participants’ heart rates exceeded 85% of maximal heart rate. That’s a similar level of exertion that’s usually prescribed for aerobic exercise studies, according to the American Heart Association. The entire story can be read on ozarksfirst.com.