This piece warns that heavy snow shoveling during an approaching winter storm can sharply stress the heart, especially for middle-aged and older adults with cardiovascular risk factors; experts cite research showing brief, intense exertion in cold weather drives heart rate and blood pressure to dangerous levels and offer practical steps to reduce risk while urging anyone with symptoms to seek emergency care.
A 2025 Mayo Clinic review found that just 10 minutes of heavy snow shoveling can push the heart to about 97% of its maximum rate, a level most people would reach only during a maximal exercise test. Cold air was also linked to higher blood pressure and reduced coronary blood flow, making exertion outdoors a serious concern. These physiological effects explain why routine winter chores can become medical emergencies.
There is no single age at which shoveling becomes off-limits, but many cardiologists counsel increased caution once people pass midlife. “While there’s no strict age cutoff, generally above the age of mid 40s and above, we tend to be a little more cautious — particularly in people who are less active [without] regular exercise,” Dr. Navjot Kaur Sobti, M.D., an interventional cardiologist at Northwell’s Northern Westchester Hospital in Mount Kisco, New York, previously told Fox News Digital. Fitness and baseline cardiovascular condition matter more than a simple number on a birth certificate.
Risk rises significantly for those over 65 and anyone with established heart disease or risk factors like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, or a sedentary lifestyle. “Certainly in people who are above the age of 65 — and who have risk factors for heart disease, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, obesity or sedentary lifestyle — we recommend being very, very cautious about shoveling snow,” she advised. For these individuals, avoidance or delegating the task is often the safest choice.
Practicing cardiologists echo that advice and encourage people to ask for help before attempting heavy clearing alone. “Unless you are in good cardiovascular shape and condition, it may be a good idea to ask someone for help,” he said in an interview with Fox News Digital. Getting assistance can be the difference between a manageable chore and a life-threatening event.
Those with prior heart attacks, strokes, bypass surgery, or coronary interventions are singled out as especially vulnerable and are generally advised not to shovel at all. “People with these characteristics and those who have had bypass surgery or coronary angioplasty simply should not be shoveling snow in any conditions,” he said. Medical history should guide winter activities, and family members can step in when needed.
Sudden, intense effort after long periods of inactivity is a common trigger for cardiac events during snow season. “Then once or twice a year, they go out and try to shovel the driveway after a heavy snowfall, and that unexpected exertion can unfortunately lead to tragedy.” Regular activity reduces risk, while sporadic bursts of hard work on a cold day increase it dramatically.
The strain placed on the heart while shoveling mirrors what happens on a treadmill during a stress test and sometimes surpasses that effort. “It’s almost like an at-risk person is putting themselves through an unsupervised maximal exertion stress test without a cardiologist actively monitoring them,” Sobti told Fox News Digital. That unsupervised spike in demand can unmask blockages or precipitate dangerous rhythms.
Cold exposure itself narrows blood vessels and can push blood pressure higher, compounding the effect of physical exertion. Recent research reported in a major medical journal found that cold-related exposure accounted for nearly twice as many cardiovascular deaths as heat exposure, and people older than 65 experienced higher rates of temperature-related fatalities. “So the risk is very, very high,” Sobti cautioned. “It’s really that sudden rise in blood pressure coupled with the physical stress of snow shoveling itself.”
When clearing snow, choose safer techniques: recruit help, pace yourself, favor pushing or sweeping motions over heavy lifting, and protect exposed skin and airways. Cover your mouth, nose and extremities, wear a hat and gloves, and be extra careful in windy conditions to limit cold inhalation and heat loss. Mechanical assistance can reduce strain, though it too raises heart rate compared with rest.
Even using machines has impact: a powered snow blower can still raise the heart rate significantly, while manual shoveling often produces the highest peaks. Watch for warning signs like chest pain, shortness of breath, a racing heart or palpitations, and do not ignore them. If symptoms appear even briefly, call 911 for evaluation, because “It’s better really to be safe than sorry.”
