Dr. Keith Churchwell of the American Heart Association speaks with AccuWeather about the dangers of cold weather, which includes the health risks of snow shoveling.
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00:00Dr. Keith Churchwell is the volunteer president
00:02for the American Heart Association.
00:04Thanks so much for joining us, Dr. Churchwell.
00:06As we make our way deeper into this winter season,
00:10we know those frigid temperatures,
00:11they can bring serious health risks to many.
00:13So what are some of those dangers
00:15and what is important for people to remember?
00:18That's a great question and good morning to everybody.
00:20You know, I've spent the last few days outside
00:24during the morning and afternoon
00:25and was reminded to a great degree,
00:28the amount of physical stress and emotional stress
00:31that frigid weather brings to the body and to the heart.
00:34It's like having a high-grade stress test
00:35every time you walk out the door.
00:38You know, the body compensates
00:39by increasing your blood pressure and heart rate,
00:43and that can actually have a significant increase
00:44in the amount of stress on the heart and on the body.
00:46Also, blood vessels tend to constrict actually in the cold,
00:49and especially not only the blood vessels throughout the body
00:52but also the vessels that feed the heart.
00:54So if you have any significant blockage
00:56or a history of heart disease,
00:58that can lead to symptoms and also to events
01:00in the midst of actually in the cold.
01:04And along with the cold is the snow in many states.
01:08Why is shoveling so often dangerous and even deadly?
01:13And who is at cardiovascular risk?
01:17So shoveling is major physical exertion,
01:19and it comes at a time where for many people,
01:22they've been sedentary in front of their computers
01:24or in front of the TV going out
01:26and actually shoveling snow.
01:28So there is a major amount of exercise and stress,
01:31both emotional and physical, that's put on the body.
01:34And that's gonna lead to, again, in the cold,
01:38the problems of elevated heart rate and blood pressure.
01:40Also, blood will tend to pool in the lower extremities
01:43because you're upright,
01:45and that's gonna decrease the amount of oxygen
01:46getting back to the heart,
01:48and that's vital to the issues of oxygenation
01:52for vital organs.
01:55And also to the heart and to the brain.
01:56So shoveling is a major, major exercise,
02:00and a significant amount of stress to the body
02:02that comes at a time
02:03that people aren't really prepared for it.
02:06So what can we do?
02:07What are some tips to help protect yourself?
02:08And what should you do if you start to feel
02:10any kind of chest pain or shortness of breath
02:12or any other symptoms?
02:14That's a great question.
02:15Number one, think about what your overall risk
02:18from a heart standpoint is going to be
02:20when you walk out the door and pick up that shovel.
02:22For middle-aged and older individuals,
02:24be very thoughtful about whether this is an activity
02:27you should be doing.
02:28There's an opportunity to actually allow
02:31folks in the neighborhood who actually may be a bit younger
02:34and actually may be more,
02:36from an exercise standpoint, in better shape,
02:38may be able to do this activity for you.
02:40Also, instead of shoveling, get a snowblower
02:43if you've got to do it yourself.
02:45It's still some degree of exertion,
02:47but less stress and strain on you.
02:49And if you've got to use that shovel,
02:51don't so much lift that snow,
02:52but actually try to push it around
02:54and take frequent breaks during that particular time
02:57and make sure that you are wearing the appropriate apparel
03:00when you walk out the side of the doors
03:01that you stay warm,
03:03so that you are putting a greater degree of stress
03:05on your body by actually embracing that cold.
03:09Dr. Keith Churchwell, with some excellent information
03:13to keep everybody safe,
03:14thank you for joining us,
03:16and you stay warm over the next couple of days as well.
03:19I'm gonna give it my best shot.
03:21Take care.
03:22Okay, good to talk with you, sir.