With snow predicted to fall across large portions of Indiana this week, the American Heart Association encourages Hoosiers to protect their hearts while shoveling snow and to seek immediate treatment if they experience any signs or symptoms of a heart attack.

     “Shoveling snow can be a very vigorous activity, and you’re basically doing it ‘in a freezer,’” says Dr. William Gill, a cardiologist who is president of the American Heart Association board of directors in Indianapolis. “Those conditions can very quickly lead to stress on the heart.”

To help make snow removal safer, the American Heart Association suggests:

• Give yourself a break. Take frequent rest breaks during shoveling so you don’t overstress your heart. Pay attention to how your body feels during those breaks.
• Don’t eat a heavy meal prior or soon after shoveling. Eating a large meal can put an extra load on your heart.
• Use a small shovel or consider a snow thrower. The act of lifting heavy snow can raise blood pressure acutely during the lift. It is safer to lift smaller amounts more times, than to lug a few huge shovelfuls of snow. When possible, simply push the snow.
• Learn the heart attack warning signs and listen to your body, but remember this: Even if you’re not sure it’s a heart attack, have it checked out (tell a doctor about your symptoms). Minutes matter! Fast action can save lives — maybe your own. Don’t wait more than five minutes to call 9-1-1
• Don’t drink alcoholic beverages before or immediately after shoveling. Alcohol may increase a person’s sensation of warmth and may cause them to underestimate the extra strain their body is under in the cold.
• Consult a doctor. If you have a medical condition, don’t exercise on a regular basis or are middle aged or older, meet with your doctor prior to the first anticipated snowfall.
• Be aware of the dangers of hypothermia. Heart failure causes most deaths in hypothermia. To prevent hypothermia, dress in layers of warm clothing, which traps air between layers forming a protective insulation. Wear a hat because much of your body’s heat can be lost through your head.Heart Attack Warning Signs
  Some heart attacks are sudden and intense — the “movie heart attack,” where no one doubts what’s happening. But most heart attacks start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort. Often people affected aren’t sure what’s wrong and wait too long before getting help. Here are signs that can mean a heart attack is happening:
  • Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.
  • Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
  • Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.
  • Other signs may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness

  As with men, women’s most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women are somewhat more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting, and back or jaw pain.
  Source: American Heart Association. 

  Related Articles . . . 
  

   

  Sledding in Northwest Indiana
       It can get boring during the Pandemic during the winter months, however Sledding happens to be a socially distant activity for Family Fun in Northwest Indiana. In spite of the Pandemic, we suggest getting out and having some good, clean outdoor fun. Here’s a list of places to go sledding for your winter pleasure Continue Reading . . .

   

  

  Best Practices for Winter Recreation

  Getting outside and working out can seem like a Herculean task, as the days get colder and the nights get longer. Most of us hit the pavement or gym and only the most dedicated of us can still tie up their running shoes. If you are going to do any sort of workout outside, you’re… Continue Reading →
  

  3 Safety Tips for Outdoor Fun This Winter

  Does your family take annual ski trips? Do you like to hit up the sledding hills or build a magnificent snowman after the first big snow of the season? What about winter hikes or runs through the neighborhood? No matter how you like to spend your time outside, winter is full of opportunities. However, you… Continue Reading →

  

  Common Car Problems During the Winter

  Driving in the snow is beautiful and exhilarating, but it can also be a nightmare. If you do not have the know-how or tools, you can have serious problems with winter driving. Before you hit the road, here are a few of the most common car problems during the winter you should prepare for. Deflated… Continue Reading →

  
  Ice Fishing Locations and Safety Tips
  Get the Indiana rules for catching fish, such as quantity, size, and licensing. This information is available Fishing and safety tips, Continue Reading . . . . 

  

  
  Winter Travel Tips

  Most people don’t think about what items to put in your car when going on a winter road trip, or just simply traveling in the winter when the roads are hazardous. Below  you will find what small items can save your life, and what to do when you find yourself in trouble on the road.

  ITEMS TO KEEP IN YOUR CAR:
  • Gloves & Hat Continue reading. . . 

  
  3 Reasons To Go on a Winter Camping Trip This Year

  Does your camping gear tend to spend the winter packed away? Many people go on vacation in the summertime, but cold weather shouldn’t prevent you from doing the things you love. There are many joys to winter camping you shouldn’t miss. Whether you’re a cold-weather junkie or you just want to mix things up this… Continue Reading →

  

  
  2 Ideas for a Pandemic-Safe Winter Vacation

  For many people, the holidays are the highlight of the year. Even beyond the magnificent feasts and heartwarming family gatherings, the break from school or work brings a great opportunity for unforgettable trips and experiences. Of course, like many things in 2020, COVID-19 has changed a lot of winter travel plans. You don’t have to… Continue Reading →

  

  Top Reasons Why Your House Is Always Cold

  The time of year where we turn our thermostats up and look forward to cozy nights in our homes has come. Although, if you turned your thermostat up and found you still have to bundle up for warmth, you may have a bigger problem on your hands. These top reasons why your house is always… Continue Reading →

  

  Winter Is HERE: How To Prepare Your Car for Snow

  If there is a part of the country that knows winter, it’s this one. We don’t complain about our cold, snowy winters. We use them as bragging rights. (And after the polar vortex of 2018, can you blame us?) But just because we are used to the snow doesn’t mean that we are always quite… Continue Reading →

  

  How To Get Your Home Ready for Winter

  Winterizing your home may be tedious, especially in older homes. Checking the furnace and its filter, closing all your storm windows, cleaning out the gutters, and so on is a lot to remember. What happens when winter sets in, the temperature drops, and you’re getting hit with precipitation left and right? One day it’s rain… Continue Reading →

  Essential Work Out Equipment for Cold Weather

  As the days get colder and the nights get longer, getting outside and working out can seem like a Herculean task. Only the most dedicated of us can still tie up their running shoes and hit the pavement or gym. If you are going to do any sort of workout outside, you’re going to need… Continue Reading →

   

Sue Baxter

Susie Young Baxter, CEO, has published PanoramaNOW Magazine for 31 years. Her hobbies are Camping, Boating, Hiking, Nature, Gardening and Outdoor Activities. She is an Artist, Graphic Designer, an Avid Seamstress, Dabbles in Homemade Crafts and Landscaping. Since her Father was a Health Teacher, she also likes homeopathic Health Solutions. Since blogging started over 10 years ago, PanoramaNow has been added to Newsbreak – a national news affiliate.