New York, NY – Snow shoveling: U.S. hospitals treat on average about 11,500 injuries and medical emergencies a year related to shoveling snow, according to a study in the American Journal of Emergency Medicine that analyzed data from 100 emergency departments from 1990 to 2006.
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The study, the first national survey of snow-shoveling injuries, said the activity places extraordinary demands on the cardiovascular system and can raise heart rates above recommended upper limits after only two minutes. Freezing temperatures also constrict peripheral blood vessels, further stressing the heart. Two-thirds of shoveling injuries occurred in men, and 15% of injuries were in children under 18 years old. More than half of injuries resulted from acute musculoskeletal exertion, 20% from slips and falls, and nearly 7% from cardiac problems, such as heart attack.
The study said most shovels contribute to injuries because of their non-ergonomic design, which hasn’t changed in over a century. Researchers recommend shovelers under 18 be supervised, people should warm up with light exercise before shoveling and sedentary individuals should consider hiring someone for the task.
If you are over 55 or over 50 and not in good shape DO NOT SHOVEL. This can be life threatening.
During my training as a doctor, I saw quite a few cases of men who experienced angina and even heart attacks from the sudden exertion of shoveling snow. Also, there were those who injured their backs.
Moral of the story for those who are in very good shape:
Spend a few dollars. Dont’ take the risk.
Perhaps THIS was the reason for the Sanitary Department workers not clearing the snow during the last big storm?
I’m 45 and when I shovel, I pace myself. I shovel three loads and then stop to rest for 5-10 seconds. This way, I don’t exert myself too much. After a while, I reduce it to two loads and then rest. It takes longer but its worth it. I recognize that I’m not as young as I was and I need to be careful.
Seriously, I noticed that during the blizzard, people were forced to walk. This is in stark contrast to our everyday life when we take the car to the corner store!
Perhaps if we walked more a whole year, we wouldn’t have to worry about not being in shape to shovel!
Another idea is to invest a few hundred dollars in a snow thrower.
invite the neighborhood kids to your driveway for a snowball fight. they will clear it quickly at no cost. just give them hot chocolate afterward and dont move your car till all the kids have gone home
am i reading this correctly. according to the article ONLY 7% of the injuries are related to heart issues. 7%!!. You wouldn’t think so from the tone of the article and comments. Please correct me if i am wrong.
I am a 59 year old woman B”H, and I do all my own shoveling. I am careful and don’t over work myself. The only problem I have is I get tendinitis near my elbow sometimes.
use a snowblower ,salt or whatever .or pay someone but make it clean as people have to walk & might fall.