Shelter from the Storm: Freeman Doctor says shoveling snow can be dangerous

Snow and cold weather can be more than an inconvenience.  They can be fatal, even to some weekend warriors trying to clear their driveways.

We hear about it nearly every winter. Someone ends up having a heart attack after going out to shovel snow.

Doctor Vigyan Bang at the Freeman Heart & Vascular Institute in Joplin says there are certain symptoms to watch out for. “Chest pain or chest heaviness,” he says. “Particularly on the left side of your chest. It frequently radiates down the left arm and goes to the neck, jaw back. It can cause you to break out in a sweat.”

While these are the most common symptoms, they are not the only symptoms,” Dr. Bang says. Some people, especially women, can display non-typical symptoms.

“If you’re short of breath, if you’re nauseous and you just don’t feel right after shoveling snow and worry or wonder if it’s your heart, it certainly can be.”

Shoveling snow can raise your heart rate and blood pressure dramatically.

What should you do if  you experience symptoms?

“The first thing to do is immediately stop shoveling and get back into warmer weather in the inside,” Dr. Bang says. “If you continue to have symptoms, I think the safest thing to do is call 911 and get to the closest Emergency Room.”

Dr. Bang says if  you have to shovel, go slowly and pace yourself, taking frequent breaks.

People who are overweight and sedentary, have medical conditions such as coronary artery disease or are elderly might be best advised to leave the snow shoveling to someone else.