How Old Is Too Old to Shovel Snow? What Heart Experts Say
As winter sets in across the U.S., many people pick up shovels to clear sidewalks and driveways. But although snow shoveling may feel like a routine chore, it can place serious stress on the heart — especially for older adults or those with underlying health conditions.
Heart experts warn that cold temperatures combined with strenuous exertion can be dangerous. Dr. Barry Franklin of the American Heart Association (AHA) notes that the strain of heavy snow shoveling can be as demanding on the heart as a treadmill stress test. Between 1990 and 2006, nearly 200,000 adults ended up in emergency rooms for snow-shoveling injuries, and more than 1,600 died during that period.
So, how old is too old to shovel?
There’s no single age cut-off, but experts agree that the risk rises significantly with age.
- Adults 65 and older should be “more wary,” says Dr. John Osborne, especially if they have heart-disease risk factors such as smoking, diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure or high cholesterol.
- Additional research shows that cold-related cardiovascular deaths are about twice as common as heat-related ones, particularly among men over 65.
- Other specialists advise caution at even younger ages. Dr. Franklin has suggested that adults over 45 may want to avoid shoveling altogether. A major 2001 study supports this concern, finding that 85% of adults over age 50 show early signs of atherosclerosis, a condition that can lead to coronary artery disease.
Why snow shoveling strains the heart
Shoveling combines several factors that make the heart work harder:
- The activity is largely isometric, meaning muscles contract without much movement, raising blood pressure.
- Arm workis tougher on the heart than leg work.
- Lifting heavy snow often causes people to hold their breath, further increasing heart rate and blood pressure.
- Limited leg movement can cause blood pooling, reducing the blood returning to the heart.
- Cold airconstricts blood vessels and coronary arteries, adding extra strain.
Warning signs of a heart problem
Stop immediately if you feel chest pressure, shortness of breath, lightheadedness, palpitations or irregular heartbeats. If symptoms continue, call 911.
How to reduce risk
If possible, ask someone else to shovel. If you must do it:
- Start slowly and pace yourself.
- Dress warmly and cover your mouth and nose.
- Push snow instead of lifting it.
- Use a snow blower, which raises heart rate far less than shoveling.
For snow-blower users, safety officials advise turning off the machine before clearing clogs, keeping hands and feet away from moving parts, and adding fuel only outdoors and when the machine is cool.