Snow Shoveling-Not for the Faint of Heart
If your patient asks you whether it is safe for him to get out there and shovel, here are some tips from the American Heart Association you might want to pass along.
If your patient asks you whether it is safe for him to get out there and shovel, here are some tips from the American Heart Association you might want to pass along.
A study in the American Journal of Emergency Medicine reported that on average, 11,500 people are treated at US emergency departments every winter for snow shovelingârelated injuries and medical emergencies. While most are treated for soft tissue injuries, lacerations, and fractures, cardiac-related events account for every fatality. Men over age 55 are at highest risk.
If you have risk factors, consider alternatives, such as salts, deicing sprays, snow blowers-or hiring someone else to to the heavy lifting.
Don’t eat a big meal before or soon after shoveling. Eating a large meal can put an extra load on your heart. And avoid alcohol before or immediately after shoveling. Alcohol can increase your perception of warmth and may cause you to underestimate the extra strain your body is under in the cold.
Learn about the warning signs of a heart attack and listen to your body. Even if you’re not sure it’s a heart attack, get it checked out. Carry your cell phone when you are shoveling and call 911 immediately if you experience any signs of a heart attack.
A study in the American Journal of Emergency Medicine reported that average of 11,500 people are treated at US emergency departments every winter for snow shovelingârelated injuries and medical emergencies. While most people are treated for soft tissue injuries, lacerations, and fractures, cardiac-related events account for every fatality. Men over age 55 are at highest risk.If your patient asks you whether it is safe for him to get out there and shovel, here are some tips from the American Heart Association you might want to pass along.Â
