Snowshoveling Can Be Dangerous, Duluth Residents Reminded Take It Easy

After a snowfall people are trying to shovel themselves out. When we get quite a bit and it is accompanied by ice, it makes it harder to shovel, and if you are not an active person, you should be careful.

There are a lot of people that see shoveling as their exercise rescue. They think this is the way to get some cardio exercise and finally get in shape, but it could be the opposite.

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Let's start with people with heart disease Premiere Health says the over-exertion of shoveling combined with cold temperatures increases your hearths workload, and the cold increases your blood pressure, which isn't good for your heart either. So even people that don't have heart disease are working hard to shovel and putting a load on your heart.

If you aren't feeling well while you are shoveling or after, here are some signs to look for:

• Slicing pain in your heart
• Shortness of breath
• Pain that starts in the left shoulder and down your left arm
• Jaw pain
• Lower back pain
• Extreme fatigue
• Nausea
• High anxiety

So what do you do to prepare? Natural Results Chiropractic says drink a lot of water, wear warm clothing especially a hat, start a low impact exercise program before the winter season, take it easy, you don't have to shovel really fast. If you feel any pain at all, stop.

Obviously, it's best to use a snowblower instead of shoveling. If you have high blood pressure, diabetes, or any kind of heart disease, set up a shoveler for the Winter. Maybe a neighbor will keep an eye out for you if there is a large snowfall. If you can afford it, teach a lesson to a kid in the neighborhood and show them what hard word pays.

If you decide to take it on and shovel your own driveway, if you have any of the above symptoms, call an emergency room or call 911 and get help. It's not worth risking your health to get a clean driveway.