{"id":74480,"date":"2025-12-04T01:42:26","date_gmt":"2025-12-04T04:42:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ubirataonline.com.br\/how-old-is-too-old-to-shovel-snow-heres-what-heart-experts-say\/"},"modified":"2025-12-04T01:42:26","modified_gmt":"2025-12-04T04:42:26","slug":"how-old-is-too-old-to-shovel-snow-heres-what-heart-experts-say","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ubirataonline.com.br\/en\/how-old-is-too-old-to-shovel-snow-heres-what-heart-experts-say\/","title":{"rendered":"How old is too old to shovel snow? Here’s what heart experts say."},"content":{"rendered":"

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Kickstarting December, several inches<\/a> of snow<\/a> have covered the United States this week; however, while some may be enjoying time off from school or work, others are busy cleaning driveways, sidewalks and porches.<\/p>\n

As frigid winter nears, more people will gather up their snow shovels (or blowers) to take on the vigorous\u00a0task. While shoveling snow may sound like a common household chore to some, it can be dangerous, and in some cases, fatal for those who do not exercise regularly and\/or have pre-existing heart conditions.<\/p>\n

“Shoveling a little snow off your sidewalk may not seem like hard work. However, the strain of heavy snow shoveling may be as or even more demanding on the heart than taking a treadmill stress test,” Dr. Barry Franklin, a former American Heart Association volunteer, said in a news release<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Between 1990 and 2006, nearly 200,000 adults were treated in emergency rooms for snow-shovel-related accidents, with more than 1,600 deaths reported in that time frame, according to the American Journal of Emergency Medicine<\/a>.<\/p>\n

With winter on the horizon, here’s what to know about keeping your body in shape while getting yard work done.<\/p>\n

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More snow pummels Midwest. See the winter storm’s impact<\/h2>\n

1<\/span> of 18<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Harper Martinez, 13, plays with her 1-year-old dog, Franky, in the snow on Monday, Dec. 1, 2025, in South Bend, Indiana.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

More winter weather: <\/strong>Snow storm flirts with bomb cyclone status<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

How old is too old to shovel snow?<\/h2>\n

Experts have not pinned down an exact age for when it’s best to retire from snow shoveling, and recommendations they do have can vary widely.<\/p>\n

Dr. John Osborne, AHA volunteer, said adults 65 and older should be “more wary” of snow shoveling and individuals with risk factors for heart disease, such as tobacco use, diabetes, obesity, hypertension or high cholesterol should be extra mindful.<\/p>\n

Osborne pointed to a recently published study<\/a> in Annals of Internal Medicine, which found that cold-related deaths are roughly double the rate of heat-related cardiovascular events (65% to 35%), especially in male patients above 65.<\/p>\n

On the other hand, Franklin previously advised<\/a> a younger age cut-off. He has said that anyone over age 45 should avoid the task. This recommendation is backed by a 2001 study<\/a>, which found that about 85% of adults over the age of 50 already experience atherosclerosis, which can lead to coronary artery disease.<\/p>\n

How much snow has fallen? <\/strong>Track winter storms barreling across the US<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

How does snow shoveling strain the heart?<\/h2>\n

There are five main stressors on the heart when shoveling snow, Franklin said in an AHA\u00a0news release<\/a>:<\/p>\n