Shoveling Snow Can Put a Strain on Your Heart
Cardiovascular DiseasesHeart Attack

Shoveling Snow Can Put a Strain on Your Heart

Shoveling Snow Can Put a Strain on Your Heart
Maria Sbytova/Adobe Stock; Elena Brovko/iStock
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Updated on February 25, 2026
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A fresh snowfall may make your neighborhood look like a winter wonderland, but it can come with a hidden danger. The task of shoveling all that snow can pose a major risk to your health. According to the American Heart Association (AHA), the exertion from shoveling may lead to an increased risk of a heart attack or cardiac arrest.

“The cardiac dangers of snow are woefully underestimated, and people should think twice if they’re middle aged or older about going out and shoveling heavy wet snow,” says Barry Franklin, PhD, the director of preventive cardiology and cardiac rehabilitation at Beaumont Health in Royal Oak, Michigan, and a spokesperson for the AHA.

Year after year, snow shoveling has been linked to a spike in cardiovascular events soon after major snowstorms.

 Understanding the potential risks and how to protect yourself can go a long way in keeping you safe this winter.

Certain People Have a Higher Risk

Shoveling snow may not seem like a big deal, but it’s often a strenuous task. Research suggests the activity can even provide good winter exercise, if done safely.

Dr. Franklin, however, calls shoveling a “double-edged sword” because too much can overtax the heart.

Depending on your circumstances, shoveling can involve moving hundreds of pounds of snow. This type of intense physical strain can be a threat, especially for certain populations. Risk factors include:

  • Age, particularly 45 years old or older
  • Health history, including heart attack or stroke
  • Previous heart surgery, such as angioplasty or bypass surgery
  • Preexisting conditions, like heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, and obesity
  • Lifestyle factors, including a sedentary lifestyle or smoking
Keep in mind, even if you haven’t received a diagnosis of heart disease, that doesn’t guarantee you don’t have it. This condition often goes undetected until noticeable symptoms, like chest pain, occur.

How Shoveling Strains the Body

The act of shoveling snow requires a unique set of motions that can especially challenge the heart. Primarily, it involves arm work, which is more demanding on the heart than leg work.

“Upper body exertion from lifting snow is extremely vigorous,” says Sharonne N. Hayes, MD, a cardiologist with Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. “We have less muscle mass in the upper body [compared with our legs], so when we use our upper body to do vigorous exercise, it places a bigger demand on our heart.”

Because you’re not moving your legs much when shoveling, blood can pool in the lower extremities and not get back to the heart, which relies on the oxygenated blood.

You may also unconsciously hold your breath while lifting heavy loads, which increases your heart rate and blood pressure.

On top of these factors, cold air constricts the coronary arteries, raising your blood pressure even higher.

Dr. Hayes adds that a mental aspect to shoveling may compel individuals to push themselves beyond their limits.

“People want to finish the driveway or the walk, so even when they start to feel super tired or even get a little chest pain, they don’t listen to their bodies and just keep going,” she says. “Some of these heart events may be attributed to stubborn people who just want to get their work done.”

Ways to Protect Your Heart While Shoveling

Franklin, who lost two close friends who died of cardiac events brought on by snow shoveling, offers these tips to avoid major heart trouble:

  • If you must shovel the snow, start gradually and pace yourself. Don’t try to clear the driveway all in one shot.
  • Know the common symptoms of heart problems. If you experience chest pain or pressure, lightheadedness, or heart palpitations or irregular heart rhythms, stop the activity immediately. Call 911 if symptoms don’t subside shortly after you stop shoveling or snow blowing.
  • Have someone keep an eye on you. If you do collapse from a cardiac event, a person monitoring you can quickly call for emergency help and start hands-only CPR if you’re unresponsive with no pulse.
  • Always cover your mouth and nose so you’re not directly inhaling cold air. Also, wear layered clothing, as well as a hat and gloves, to stay warm.
  • Ideally, push or sweep the snow rather than lifting and throwing it. This action involves less exertion.
  • Be extra careful when the wind is blowing. The wind makes the temperature feel even colder and will increase the effects of the cold on your body.
  • Use an automated snow blower, if possible. “If you’re wrangling a heavy snow blower though, it can still cause some risk,” cautions Hayes.
  • Stay active in general. Try walking or doing some type of aerobic exercise 30 minutes several days a week. Your heart will thank you.
  • If you have known or suspected heart disease or risk factors for heart disease, get someone else to remove the snow for you. “I recommend that all high-risk older persons put a label on their shovel that says, ‘Warning: Use of this instrument for snow removal may be hazardous to your health,’” says Hayes.

The Takeaway

  • Shoveling snow is more intense physical activity than many people realize, and it can put extra strain on your heart.
  • People with certain conditions, like heart disease or obesity, are at higher risk of having a heart attack or stroke from shoveling.
  • Taking precautions, like resting frequently, dressing warmly, and knowing the signs of heart problems, can help you stay safe.
EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. Snowstorm in the forecast — be careful out there to stay heart-healthy. American Heart Association. January 29, 2026.
  2. Franklin BA et al. Exercise-Related Acute Cardiovascular Events and Potential Deleterious Adaptations Following Long-Term Exercise Training: Placing the Risks Into Perspective–An Update: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association. Circulation. March 2020.
  3. Sato Y et al. Snow Removal Maintains Physical Function in Hemodialysis Patients after One Year: A Pilot Study. Progress in Rehabilitation Medicine. November 12, 2022.
  4. Shoveling snow can be dangerous in extreme cold. American Heart Association. February 5, 2026.
  5. What Is Coronary Heart Disease? National Heart, Blood, and Lung Institute. December 27, 2024.
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Chung Yoon, MD

Medical Reviewer
Castle Connolly Top Doctor
Chung Yoon, MD, is a noninvasive cardiologist with a passion for diagnosis, prevention, intervention, and treatment of a wide range of heart and cardiovascular disorders. He enjoys clinical decision-making and providing patient care in both hospital and outpatient settings. He excels at analytical and decision-making skills and building connection and trust with patients and their families.
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Don Rauf has been a freelance health writer for over 12 years and his writing has been featured in HealthDay, CBS News, WebMD, U.S. News & World Report, Mental Floss, United Press International (UPI), Health, and MedicineNet. He was previously a reporter for DailyRx.com where he covered stories related to cardiology, diabetes, lung cancer, prostate cancer, erectile dysfunction, menopause, and allergies. He has interviewed doctors and pharmaceutical representatives in the U.S. and abroad.

He is a prolific writer and has written more than 50 books, including Lost America: Vanished Civilizations, Abandoned Towns, and Roadside Attractions. Rauf lives in Seattle, Washington.

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