How dangerous is shoveling snow? The AARP reports that a study by the American Journal of Emergency Medicine found that U.S. hospitals treat 11,500 snow shoveling-related injuries on average per year. The researchers warn that shoveling snow can place such strain on the cardiovascular system that just two minutes of shoveling can push heart rate above the recommended upper limits. Freezing temperatures contribute to constricting blood vessels, placing further stress on the heart. Wait, there's more: the study revealed that over half of the injuries reported were from acute musculoskeletal exertion, 7 percent from cardiac problems, and 20 percent were from falls. Which begs the question: How dangerous is not shoveling snow? Read more from the AARP.
Read how to shovel snow safely, from the Boston Globe,
More from the New York Times.
Here is something on snow shoveling that I have never seen mentioned but I see many people doing. That is letting their car run while they shovel snow around it. The combination of carbon monoxide plus heavy breathing and exertion just cannot be good.
WOW!!
I think the injuries are effect rather than cause. Someone who gets regular exercise for strength, flexibility and endurance should welcome the opportunity and go around shoveling out the “old folks.”
I couldn’t agree more Dana. In fact, if everyone thought like you, nobody would be stuck or stranded, and the fit would just become fitter! hee-hee…
WOW!