There are a lot of dangerous winter activities – skiing, snowmobiling, ice climbing to name just a few. Did you know that shoveling snow is one of the most dangerous things that people typically do during the winter?
After a heavy snowfall, emergency room physicians usually notice an increase in the number of people arriving at the hospital for heart related problems. In fact, a recent study by Queen’s University shows that 7% of the people who arrived at the hospital with heart related problems over the past two winters had been shoveling snow.
People with the three main risk factors for heart attacks – male, family history of premature coronary heart disease, and smoking have to be particularly careful when they shovel snow. However, even for healthy people, the combination of heavy physical labour and cold temperatures can prove to be too much for their heart.
In cold air, blood vessels tighten up and the body has to work harder to keep its temperature up and blood flowing to hard working muscles. A spike in heart rate and blood pressure during snow shoveling can cause plaque to break loose and travel to the heart, causing a heart attack.
Aside from the threat of heart attack, snow shovelling also often results in less serious medical problems like simple muscle pulls or back pain, or even asthma attacks.
One of the reasons shovelling snow can be so dangerous is people don’t realize how strenuous it actually is – it’s just like hitting the gym.
If you’ve ever had a heart attack, stroke, or heart surgery, the Heart and Stroke Foundation recommends that you have someone shovel your snow for you.
Now that winter is upon us, 5 Star Landscaping offers a full range of snow removal services using state of the art equipment including:
- Sidewalk and driveway clearing
- Plowing parking lots and private roads
- Salting and sanding
If you’re at all concerned about the dangers of shoveling snow or you just can’t face another winter of shoveling Calgary snow, contact Five Star Landscaping for more information about the snow removal services that they provide.
