why do so many people die of heart attacks while shoveling snow?

Question

I wouldnt think it would be any more strenous then running on a treadmill or chopping wood etc.... is it because of the cold air?

Answer 1

Shoveling snow stresses the heart while the body is trying to stay warm. They die because it happened then. There is no sense or rhyme or reason for it.

Answer 2

It's probably because those people would NOT run on a treadmill or chop wood! They shovel snow because they have to and are elderly or out of shape. It doesn't LOOK strenuous (snow is light, right?), and they often hurry, since it's a task, not exercise for fun. That's a recipe for disaster. I even heard of one guy who had a heart attack while using a snow-blower!

Answer 3

Cold air could have something to do with it. Also, older people don't realize how strenuous shoveling snow really is. And older people are the majority of patients who suffer from heart attacks.

Answer 4

I thinl because it is strenuous and in the winter people just arent as active so when they do go out to shovel the heart just cant take it and it depends on the age of the person and the condition that the body is in. It is really sad. but things like that just happen i have a neighbor across the street in his 60's he was mowin his yard last summer when he collapsed in his driveway my kids saw him fall I ran across the street to him and had his wife call 911 luckily he survived he had some blocked arteries and they did surgery on him.

Answer 5

I am one of those older people.....which surprises me in a way....I exercise and try to eat right but before I do anything that I think could be strenuous,,,,I always take an aspirin.... and breaks while on task...When I break into a sweat in the winter weather it's time to cool off for a while....

Answer 6

I agree with the first two responders. And by the way, snow is HEAVY!