Shovel Snow Safely by Knowing Your Heart Disease Risk Factors

CHICAGO, Jan. 5, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The temperatures are well below freezing and Chicago's famous snow is starting to accumulate. Snow belt residents can use the winter weather as a reminder to be aware of any risk they may have for heart disease, and to take appropriate precautions when shoveling snow, Northwestern Medicine^® experts say.

Common risk factors include hypertension, obesity, diabetes, family history of heart disease, smoking and inactivity, said Micah Eimer, MD, co-director of Northwestern Medicine's sports cardiology program.

"It's the same kind of trouble you get into when you've never exercised before and all of a sudden you decide to start training for a marathon – it's completely analogous," said Eimer, who is also the medical director of Northwestern Medicine's Glenview Outpatient Center. "If you are not accustomed to exercise, shoveling a driveway or sidewalk covered in heavy, wet snow is not the place to start."

Eimer recommends speaking with your physician about possible risk factors and taking the following precautions when hauling out your trusty shovel:

• Dress appropriately. Cold temperatures slow circulation to the body's extremities. Wear layered clothing, gloves and a hat to help maintain body temperature and circulation.
• Don't procrastinate. The longer the snow sits on the ground, the more compact it becomes. The more compact the snow is, the more exertion it takes to move it. Get out there at first snowfall and plan to make repeat trips.
• Take it easy. Start slowly, take breaks as necessary and try not to do the entire job at once.
• Hydrate. Your body needs hydration, even in frigid weather. Drink water regularly to prevent dehydration and don't drink alcohol before shoveling.
• Avoid heavy meals. Digestion strains the heart, so don't eat a meal before shoveling. Choose a protein-rich snack instead for a quick energy source.
• Lift small amounts. Use a small shovel and lift with your legs and buttocks instead of your back to avoid strain on the heart, back and neck. Aim to clear four to six inches per shovel load.
• Listen to your body. Your body knows best. If you are feeling winded or overexerted while shoveling, go inside and rest. Be on the lookout in particular for shortness of breath, chest, throat or arm discomfort or tightness, or lightheadedness. Seek medical attention if those symptoms persist.

For more tips on managing heart disease, visit the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute at heart.nm.org or call (312) NM-HEART. To take an online personalized heart health and risk factor assessment, click here.

Northwestern Medicine's cardiology and heart surgery program, the Bluhm Cardiovascular Institute, ranked 13th nationally in the 2014-15 U.S. News and World Report "Best Hospitals" list released in July 2014. For the seventh consecutive year, the report ranked BCVI the top heart program in Chicago, Illinois and the Midwest. 

About Northwestern Memorial HealthCare
Northwestern Memorial HealthCare (NMHC) is an academic health delivery system whose entities operate as Northwestern Medicine^®. NMHC consists of 60 sites of outpatient care services throughout Chicago and Illinois' northern and western suburban regions, including four hospitals; Northwestern Lake Forest Hospital in Lake Forest, Central DuPage Hospital in Winfield, Delnor Hospital in Geneva and its flagship Northwestern Memorial Hospital in Chicago, which is rated No. 1 in Chicago and Illinois, as well as 10^th in the nation according to the U.S. News & World Report 2014-2015 Honor Roll of America's Best Hospitals. Additionally, the health system includes Northwestern Medical Group, more than 1,000 physicians who hold faculty appointments at NMHC Northwestern Medicine partner Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine; Cadence Physician Group, a local network of more than 250 primary care physicians and specialists on the medical staffs at Central DuPage Hospital and Delnor Hospital; and approximately 2,800 affiliated physicians.

About Northwestern Medicine^®
Northwestern Medicine^® is the collaboration between Northwestern Memorial HealthCare and Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine around a strategic vision to transform the future of healthcare. It encompasses the research, teaching, and patient care activities of the academic medical center. Sharing a commitment to superior quality, academic excellence and patient safety, the organizations within Northwestern Medicine comprise a combined workforce of more than 25,000 among clinical and administrative staff, medical and science faculty and medical students. The entities involved in Northwestern Medicine remain separate organizations. Northwestern Medicine is a trademark of Northwestern Memorial HealthCare and is also used by Northwestern University.

SOURCE Northwestern Medicine

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