Shoveling Snow May Increase The Risks For a Heart Attack

(KVRR) — With these piles of snow to come, experts say you should ask for help shoveling to avoid the risk of a heart attack.

The wet, heavy snow can be hard on your heart while shoveling.

It is especially harder for people who aren’t used to regular exercise.

A cardiovascular surgeon at Essentia Health points out that if you know you have risks, you should take more breaks in between shoveling.

“If you have cardiac risk factors like you’re diabetic and you’re high cholesterol, high fat, you have family history or if you had chest pain. I think those patients and also if you are generally you don’t do much exercise, probably you shouldn’t be shoveling snow and you should ask for help,” said Dr. Charles Canver, Cardiovascular Surgeon at Essentia Health Fargo.

For more information on your cardiac health, visit Essentia Health’s website.