Why Do Some People Drop Dead While Shoveling Snow?

It happens every winter: Otherwise healthy men and women die from a sudden heart attack while shoveling snow, while thousands of other Americans go to emergency rooms with cardiovascular problems.

So, medically speaking, why are some people more likely to drop dead while shoveling heavy snow from their walkways or driveways than, say, jogging on a treadmill?

The answer has as much to do with cold weather’s effects on the body as it does with overall cardiovascular health, experts say.

Heart attacks and deaths from heart disease tend to peak in winter months, according to experts. Colder temperatures can affect your blood vessels in ways that increase the odds of cardiovascular problems.

Cold induces higher blood pressure and, when coupled with physical exertion like shoveling snow, can create a dangerous scenario for people susceptible to a heart attack or stroke, notes Lawrence Phillips, a cardiologist at NYU Langone Medical Center.

“Physically, what happens when you get really cold is you have constriction of the blood vessels,” Phillips recently told the Washington Post. “It decreases the blood supply you’re getting to your vital organs.”

That’s especially bad news for people with pre-existing heart problems, diabetes, or high blood pressure. But another major factor is that many people overexert themselves while shoveling, despite not having exercised for months or even years.

“If you haven’t been exercising and you haven’t been exerting yourself, this is not the time to start,” Phillips said. “The amount of work that goes into shoveling snow is tremendous. … People will underestimate the amount of work they are doing.”

But even health individuals can fall victim. Last year veteran Capitol Police Officer Vernon J. Alston, only 44-years-old, died after collapsing outside his home in East Delaware. Alston had spent nearly 20 years working on Capitol Hill.

So who is most at risk for a heart attack from show shoveling? People with these conditions should be especially careful:

• A history of heart attack, cardiovascular problems, or peripheral arterial disease.
• Bypass surgery patients or heart stent implant recipients.
• At least two of the following: Smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol.

People with these conditions may have a partial blockage of the arteries in their heart. Vulnerable plaques create these blockages and when subject to stress they can rupture. This can lead to the formation of a blood clot that completely blocks the artery.

When that happens a heart attack follows. If any of these conditions apply to you, don’t shovel – get someone to do it for you.

Unfortunately, the risk of shoveling isn’t just vascular – it can be orthopedic. Shoveling can cause back, neck and joint trouble, especially in the cold. If you have a history of back or neck trouble lay down the shovel.

A few tips that can prevent orthopedic injury while shoveling:

• Dress warmly in layers.
• Warm up by marching in place.
• Start slowly.
• Use a lightweight shovel.
• Shovel in small scoops.
• Rest every ten minutes.
• Stay hydrated.

If you feel pain in the chest, neck or left arm, or shortness of breath regardless of what activity you’re doing, stop immediately and go inside. If your symptoms don’t go away in five minutes call 911.