Heart attack snow: Why shoveling can be dangerous

When winter storms hit like they did this past weekend, many people grab a shovel to clear their driveways and sidewalks.

But did you know that heavy, wet snow is sometimes called “heart attack snow?”

That’s because shoveling heavy snow can put a lot of stress on your heart.

“Shoveling snow is like doing intense exercise in freezing weather. If you’re not used to it, your heart has to work much harder, and that can lead to serious problems,” said Dr. Abraham Thomas, an internal medicine specialist with Silver Cross Medical Group in Mokena, in a news release.

Here’s why it happens: Cold air makes your blood vessels tighten, which raises blood pressure, the release said.

At the same time, lifting heavy snow quickly increases your heart rate. For people who have heart disease—or don’t kn