Doctors: Listen To Your Body When Digging Out Of Snow Mess
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The heavy snow presents many challenges for residents of the region, and shoveling is a big one. Health officials say make sure to listen to your body when digging out of the mess.
"In the emergency department, with a storm like this, certainly our biggest concern is dealing with heart attacks," Main Line Health Deputy Chief of Emergency Medicine Dr. Ben Usatch told KYW Newsradio.
Usatch says people frequently overexert themselves and put their lives in danger.
"People who are not the most fit go out into the street and start shoveling heavy snow. If you start to get short of breath, if you start to have pain, if you start to get excessively sweaty, dizzy, nauseaous, immediately stop what you're doing."
He says they also see a lot of strains and pulled muscles.
There's also the occiasional ugly snowblower accident.
"Just take your time. There's no rush. Just take it easy," Usatch said.
And if possible, he says find someone young and strong to handle the heavy lifting.