Monday, February 05, 2007
News
Extreme cold brings extreme risk
By LIZ SHEPARD Argus-Press Staff Writer
Having to shovel a sidewalk can be a welcome change to a normally sedentary winter lifestyle, but certain risk factors should make some reconsider picking up their shovel.
Each year Juan Hernandez, a cardiologist at the Thoracic Cardiovascular Institute in Owosso Township, sees at least three to five heart attacks related to snow shoveling. Risk factors include a history of cardiac problems, not being physically fit, being a smoker and being older than 60.
“If you are shoveling snow, and you start having chest pain and it doesn't go away, then that could be an early sign of a heart attack,” said Hernandez.
Shoveling demands an increased amount of oxygen and can cause strain on the heart and body. Hernandez said physical fitness is a key component when it comes to the body being able to tolerate shoveling. He said 20 to 30 minutes of fast walking three to five times a week is considered adequate for cardiac fitness.
“In general for cardiac patients - and patients that experience chest pain while shoveling snow - it is strongly advisable that they of course think about disease in their arteries when it is happening, particularly when it is that first snow after they haven't done anything,” he said.
Hernandez said he will often have patients come in complaining about chest pains that were experienced for the first time while shoveling, but wait to come in until the pains return during a different activity.
As soon as chest pains begins, he recommends to stop shoveling and take an aspirin if not allergic. If the pain persists medical care should be sought.
“A lot of patients think because they are shoveling that maybe they are pulling something in their muscles. The key to understand it is if you strain a muscle while shoveling snow, it is pretty persistent,” Hernandez said. “When you have a heart disease and you quit doing it, it goes away - muscle strain doesn't go away.”
Telling the difference between muscular pain and cardiac pain can be simple, he said. A pulled muscle will stay localized and cardiac pain either stops when the activity stops or is accompanied by other symptoms.
Chest pain from a heart attack is usually experienced alongside nausea, sweating and shortness of breath. Heart attack symptoms will not go away when shoveling is stopped, he said.
Hernandez said women often have indigestion symptoms with heart attacks and have back and neck pain rather than chest pain. A common heart attack symptom for both men and women is jaw pain.
For those with possible risk factors who still shovel, Hernandez recommends avoiding extreme colds and waiting to shovel until the afternoon when normal hormone levels are reached and any medication that is taken has had time to be absorbed by the body.
Temperatures are forecasted to be below zero throughout the week.
Each year Juan Hernandez, a cardiologist at the Thoracic Cardiovascular Institute in Owosso Township, sees at least three to five heart attacks related to snow shoveling. Risk factors include a history of cardiac problems, not being physically fit, being a smoker and being older than 60.
“If you are shoveling snow, and you start having chest pain and it doesn't go away, then that could be an early sign of a heart attack,” said Hernandez.
Shoveling demands an increased amount of oxygen and can cause strain on the heart and body. Hernandez said physical fitness is a key component when it comes to the body being able to tolerate shoveling. He said 20 to 30 minutes of fast walking three to five times a week is considered adequate for cardiac fitness.
“In general for cardiac patients - and patients that experience chest pain while shoveling snow - it is strongly advisable that they of course think about disease in their arteries when it is happening, particularly when it is that first snow after they haven't done anything,” he said.
Hernandez said he will often have patients come in complaining about chest pains that were experienced for the first time while shoveling, but wait to come in until the pains return during a different activity.
As soon as chest pains begins, he recommends to stop shoveling and take an aspirin if not allergic. If the pain persists medical care should be sought.
“A lot of patients think because they are shoveling that maybe they are pulling something in their muscles. The key to understand it is if you strain a muscle while shoveling snow, it is pretty persistent,” Hernandez said. “When you have a heart disease and you quit doing it, it goes away - muscle strain doesn't go away.”
Telling the difference between muscular pain and cardiac pain can be simple, he said. A pulled muscle will stay localized and cardiac pain either stops when the activity stops or is accompanied by other symptoms.
Chest pain from a heart attack is usually experienced alongside nausea, sweating and shortness of breath. Heart attack symptoms will not go away when shoveling is stopped, he said.
Hernandez said women often have indigestion symptoms with heart attacks and have back and neck pain rather than chest pain. A common heart attack symptom for both men and women is jaw pain.
For those with possible risk factors who still shovel, Hernandez recommends avoiding extreme colds and waiting to shovel until the afternoon when normal hormone levels are reached and any medication that is taken has had time to be absorbed by the body.
Temperatures are forecasted to be below zero throughout the week.