Local Doctor: Shoveling Snow In Cold Weather Could Be Bad For The Heart
By Hadas Kuznits
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Those out there shoveling snow this winter should do so with caution.
Dr. Thomas Metkus, a cardiologist at Nazareth Hospital, says shoveling snow out in the cold is one of the most strenuous workouts of all:
"It represents one of the most intense workloads on the heart that you can have."
He says some folks are surprised to find that they can only shovel for a few minutes at a time:
"In cardiac patients particularly, you know, they can get chest pain, they can get dizzy, short of breath."
The reason, he says, is that the cold weather constricts blood vessels:
"Pace yourself and take breaks if you feel short of breath, if you feel fatigued, certainly, if you have any pain or dizziness you need to stop what you're doing right away and probably go in and rewarm and call it a day at that point."
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