Between 1990 and 2006, almost 200,000 Americans were treated in ERs for snow shoveling-related accidents. Professor Bethany Barone Gibbs of West Virginia University notes that shoveling puts a lot of demand on the body’s heart and muscles. People with heart conditions are more likely to experience a cardiac event, and those with impaired balance are at risk of falling. “Someone very young with a heart or musculoskeletal condition should not shovel snow, while someone who is older but very fit and without heart or musculoskeletal conditions might be fine,” Gibbs said. A spokesperson with the American Heart Association said adults over 45 should be cautious, as should those with suspected heart disease, high blood pressure, and/or high cholesterol. (AOL)
Phone Topic: Who is responsible for shoveling snow and raking leaves in your household?