“The Shaving Effect”: The Winter Complications That Could Kill You |New York Post

Clearing snow from sidewalks and driveways is an essential part of the season.A winter wonderland can be deadly.

The "shovel effect" is the simple winter complication that could kill you

The weather outside is scary - and other things that have to do with snow are scary too.

Most of us like to wake up to a fresh snow, until we have to get out the shovels to leave our houses.

But while clearing sidewalks and driveways is an important part of the season, winter landscaping can be deadly.

The American Heart Association (AHA) reminds people to bring shovels whenever there is heavy snowfall.

Research shows that many people face a higher risk of having a heart attack or sudden cardiac arrest after experiencing heavy snow.

Exercise is known to improve heart health by temporarily putting more strain on the heart.But if you haven't exercised in a while or don't do regular exercise, including shoveling snow, you're doing more harm than good.

Worse than the treadmill test

While shoveling snow off the front porch may not seem like a lot of work, a larger accumulation can be more expensive.

"The stress of trampling snow may be more demanding on the heart than stress testing on a treadmill," said Dr. Barry Franklin, MD, professor of internal medicine at Oakland University's William Beaumont School of Medicine, who conducted research on the topic.

"After just two minutes of snowshoeing, the study participants' heart rates exceeded the upper limit: 85% of their maximum heart rate," he said."Less fit subjects showed higher heart rates during rowing."

In short, snow shoveling uses the same amount of energy as tennis or jogging.

Another study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal found that men are more likely than women to suffer heart attacks and die from them after shoveling 7 to 8 inches of snow.

But it's not just heavy lifting that can cause heart problems: Cold temperatures increase blood pressure by constricting the arteries, which restricts blood flow and forces the heart to work harder to pump blood.

And when we lift heavy objects - like a packed snow shovel - we tend to have shortness of breath, which causes an increase in heart rate and blood pressure.

That along with additional physical effort can increase the risk for cardiac incidents.

Who is most at risk?

According to Franklin, shoveling when the snow starts to fall can cause more harm to some people.

The effects of snow removal are especially relevant for people who already have cardiovascular problems, such as living a sedentary lifestyle or being overweight, current or former smokers, diabetes, high cholesterol or high blood pressure, heart attack or stroke, he explained.

"People with these characteristics, as well as those who have undergone bypass surgery or coronary angioplasty, should not shovel snow," he said.

If you have to go out and clear the snow, relax and take a break.Pushing snow with a shovel is also physically better than picking it up and throwing it.

The AHA strongly recommends knowing the signs of a heart attack, such as chest pain or pressure, lightheadedness, palpitations or an irregular heart rhythm.

If you notice any of these, stop the activity immediately and call 911 if it persists.