{"id":127670,"date":"2025-11-28T12:38:51","date_gmt":"2025-11-28T17:38:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/?p=127670"},"modified":"2025-11-29T08:29:36","modified_gmt":"2025-11-29T13:29:36","slug":"listen-to-your-heart-when-battling-winter-weather","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/2025\/11\/28\/listen-to-your-heart-when-battling-winter-weather\/","title":{"rendered":"Listen to your heart when battling winter weather"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Whether you\u2019re out shoveling snow or exposed to cold temperatures, listen to your heart, as winter weather can be a source of major stress on your cardiovascular system.<\/p>\n

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Article from Parkview Health:<\/p>\n

Listen to your heart when battling winter weather<\/strong>
\nSnow shoveling, extreme cold can stress your cardiovascular system<\/em><\/p>\n

Fort Wayne, Indiana (November 28, 2025) \u2013 Whether you\u2019re out shoveling snow or exposed to cold temperatures, listen to your heart, as winter weather can be a source of major stress on your cardiovascular system.<\/p>\n

With up to a foot of snow forecast this weekend in some parts of northeast Indiana, Dr. Mark O\u2019Shaughnessy, Parkview Physicians Group \u2013 Cardiology, wants to remind you to take it slow, listen to what your body is telling you and take breaks as needed when you\u2019re fighting back against Old Man Winter.<\/p>\n

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Parkview Health Cardiologist Dr. Mark O’Shaughnessy. Courtesy photo.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cShoveling snow is a vigorous exertion and way more than walking or regular activities during the daytime,\u201d O\u2019Shaughnessy said. \u201cIt increases your risk of having a coronary incident, and if you have unknown coronary disease and you go out and stress yourself, it can create a serious problem.\u201d
\nShoveling snow is much harder on your body than most people probably think, because snow can be deceptively heavy. The average snow shovel can hold around 1 cubic foot of snow per scoop, and snow can weigh as little as 1 pound per cubic foot for light, fluffy snow to around 20 pounds per square foot for heavy, wet snow. Since clearing your driveway will likely take multiple- dozens of scoops, lifting snow can be even more strenuous than hitting the weight machines at the gym.<\/p>\n

According to the National Weather Service, Fort Wayne receives an average of 34 inches of snow each year, with January being the heaviest month. Areas to the north, like LaGrange County, may receive closer to 40 inches (including some heavy lake effect snow), while more southerly communities like Logansport only see about 20 inches per year.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re not a person who regularly exercises or lifts weights, the sudden overload of work on your body from shoveling can push your cardiovascular system to its limits.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you take a couch potato and send them into the gym and do a full-strength workout, that\u2019s a stress on the heart,\u201d O\u2019Shaughnessy said.<\/p>\n

The physical exertion of shoveling snow can be strenuous enough, but cold temperatures are also a stress factor on your cardiovascular system.<\/p>\n

\u201cYour heart has to work harder to pump the blood to keep you warm,\u201d O\u2019Shaughnessy said. \u201cIn cold, our blood vessels will constrict, most notably in a person\u2019s hands and feet. That cold causes vasoconstriction, which causes constriction in the coronary arteries too.\u201d<\/p>\n

When your blood vessels narrow and your heart must push harder to pump through narrower channels, that\u2019s going to cause an increase in your blood pressure. And if you\u2019re someone who already has blockages from high cholesterol or other coronary issues, it\u2019s more likely that something will rupture and cause a heart attack, O\u2019Shaughnessy said.<\/p>\n

So, what should you look out for when you\u2019re out shoveling?<\/p>\n

\u201cAny chest discomfort, chest pain \u2014 it\u2019s a misnomer, it\u2019s not typically pain but more of a pressure or aching sensation in the chest \u2014 any symptom from the waist-up that\u2019s persistent, including shortness of breath, fatigue, dizziness. lightheadedness or passing out,\u201d O\u2019Shaughnessy said.<\/p>\n

Cardiac systems can sometimes be hard to distinguish from more common issues like indigestion or fatigue from exertion. If you\u2019re feeling off, go inside and take a break and warm up. If the symptoms go away, take it easy and make a note to mention it to your doctor.<\/p>\n

But if symptoms persist, you need immediate medical attention.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf they go away but you go back out and experience it again, then please seek emergency help,\u201d O\u2019Shaughnessy said.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Related links<\/strong>:<\/p>\n