Heavy snowfall is a recipe for serious heart attack risk, experts say: What to know

In addition to travel and logistical challenges, heavy snowfall can be detrimental to people’s health.

As the Northeast faces a historic accumulation of snow this week, experts warn of the physical risks of shoveling heavy snow, particularly for those who don’t exercise regularly or have pre-existing health problems.

“The combination of heavy, wet snow and strong winds makes it a bigger health risk because it’s much harder to get around,” Dr. Marc Siegel, News senior medical analyst, told News Digital.

“After the storm, as temperatures drop, heavy, wet snow forms ice, making walking and driving dangerous.”

According to Siegel, heavy, wet snow can get inside clothing and cause “more chills,” which could lead to hypothermia in severe cases.

In an appearance Monday on “News & Friends,” the doctor stressed the importance of dressing appropriately in these conditions.

“This morning I saw people who weren’t covered properly…they weren’t wearing gloves, they weren’t wearing the full hat or the type of coat they needed,” he said.

“The combination of heavy, wet snow and strong winds increases the health risk.”

“They weren’t taking care of each other either. You have to take care of each other. With this kind of wind, you get confused very easily.”

Siegel urged people to stay home unless it is absolutely necessary to leave the house.

“Be careful if you’re outside for short periods of time, for downed power lines or downed trees. That’s also very, very dangerous,” he warned. “That’s where a lot of the injuries come from.”

There is also an increased risk of falls, as well as electrocution due to heavy snowfall weighing down power lines. Running out of power poses its own health risks, Siegel mentioned.

Dr. Joshua Latzman, a cardiologist at White Plains Hospital Physician Associates in White Plains, New York, shared with the American Heart Association (AMA) that research has shown that shoveling a lot of snow can place “significant stress on the heart.”

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“In frigid temperatures, that extra stress can increase the risk of a heart-related event,” he said. “This can be especially dangerous for people who are not in shape or used to strenuous activities.”

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Shoveling into the wind can also increase the risk of a health problem, as exposure to colder air can raise blood pressure and constrict coronary arteries, according to the AMA.

“Many heart-related problems occur in people who are normally inactive,” Latzman continued. “When someone who is sedentary suddenly starts shoveling a lot after a storm, that unexpected stress can unfortunately lead to a serious emergency.”

Straining to lift something heavy can have the same effect if normal breathing is affected.

Other risk groups include people who are obese, those who smoke or have smoked in the past, people with diabetes, and those who have high cholesterol or high blood pressure. Anyone who has previously suffered a heart attack or stroke is also at increased risk, the AMA reported.

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“Anyone with these characteristics, including people who have had bypass surgery or coronary angioplasty, should not shovel snow,” Latzman concluded.

Siegel urged those who may be at risk to avoid going out with their shovels and “be a hero.”

“This is the highest cardiac energy expenditure you can have,” he said. “So if you’ve been sedentary, don’t go shoveling. Get a younger person or someone who’s in much better shape to do it.”

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If shoveling is unavoidable, experts advise doing it gradually and at a comfortable pace. The AMA also suggests covering your mouth and nose and dressing in layers, including a hat and gloves.

Pushing or sweeping snow is safer than lifting and throwing it because it requires less energy.