Shoveling snow? Over-exertion and cold temps can raise your heart risks
[January 27, 2026]
Digging out from the weekend’s massive snow and ice storm could
be hazardous to your heart.
Pennsylvania health officials announced three snow-removal related
deaths Sunday. All were between the ages of 60 to 84. The Lehigh County
coroner's office cautioned people to take breaks and avoid over-exerting
themselves.
Shoveling snow is heavy, hard work — research has shown that doing it
for even a short time can make the heart work as hard as it does during
a major workout. Adding to that stress, the cold temperatures cause
blood vessels, including those feeding the heart, to constrict. That
raises blood pressure which in turn increases the risk of a heart
attack, stroke or cardiac arrest, according to the American Heart
Association.
Snow shoveling is especially risky for anyone with known heart disease
or who’s already survived a heart attack, as well as older adults and
people with risk factors including high blood pressure or cholesterol.
People who think they’re healthy can get in trouble, too, with that
combination of heavy exertion in cold weather – especially if they’re
generally sedentary until a snowstorm comes along.
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Gilberto Hernandez shovels snow in the aftermath of a winter storm
in Philadelphia, Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
 The heart association advises that
if you have to shovel, go slow and try to push the snow instead of
lifting and throwing it. It also urges people to learn common
warning signs of a heart attack and to call 911 if they experience
them.
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