Recent snowstorm led to uptick in heart attacks overnight
The University of Ottawa Heart Institute saw an uptick in heart attack patients Monday night directly related to shovelling snow, a local cardiologist says.
Monday's storm brought 48 cm of snow to Ottawa in a single day. It was the snowiest day in the city since 2016 and snow shovels were out in force.
Unfortunately, as cardiologist Dr. Hassan Mir of the Divisions of Cardiology and Cardiac Prevention and Rehabilitation at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute says, the task of shovelling sent several people to hospital.
"We've had several not just minor heart attacks, but several major heart attacks that have required emergency treatment with stenting and we saw several of them overnight," Mir told Newstalk 580 CFRA. "Several directly related to people shovelling their driveway and having to call 911."
Speaking on Ottawa Now with Kristy Cameron, Mir said snow shovelling is a perfect storm of risk factors for cardiac issues.
"It's a combination of the fact that it's very cold outside, which causes constriction or narrowing of the blood flow to the entire body but especially the heart and, at the same time, you're doing heavy lifting, which drastically increases the amount of workload of the heart by driving the heart rate and blood pressure up," he explained. "That results in a bad mismatch of a lack of blood flow and an increased requirement of blood flow."
While Monday's storm was unique in terms of its sheer size, Mir said these issues are common every winter.
"Any sort of stressor to the heart can cause extra undue stress on the coronary arteries—that is, the arteries in the heart—and that subsequently causes a small tear and can cause that massive heart attack. We see this every year in the winter and especially after a large snowstorm," he said.
Men over the age of 55, smokers, people with high blood pressure or high cholesterol, and people with diabetes are at increased risk of severe illness from shovelling, Mir said, but even people without a history of heart problems can end up suffering a heart attack while shovelling.
"Speaking of the last 24 hours, at least three of the patients have never had any cardiac issues and then have now come in while shovelling snow and had their first heart attack and first issue with the heart," he said.
The weight of the snow does make a difference, Mir said, though the activity of shovelling can still be strenuous regardless.
"If it's fluffy and soft, there's a lot less weight and a lot less workload on your body, your muscles, and your heart, but if it's a heavy and wet snow, that typically makes it much worse," he said. "Our advice is usually don't lift the snow; push it to the side rather than heavily lifting it."
And if you experience any symptoms, seek help immediately.
"If you feel chest discomfort, shortness of breath, dizziness, light-headedness, palpitations, please stop, call 911, call for help," Mir said. "We say there's an increase in hospitalizations, but that's by no means a suggestion that you shouldn't call for help. We always have room for our patients, so please, if you're feeling symptoms, seek medical attention immediately."
Here are some tips from the Public Health Agency of Canada to keep you safe while shovelling:
- Warm up. Give your muscles the chance to get ready for the exercise you’re going to put your body through. Do some basic stretches to limber up and increase circulation.
- Don’t dig on a full stomach. Give yourself some time to digest before picking up a shovel, since exercising right after a meal can cause strain on the heart.
- Shovel with a buddy. If possible, get some help clearing the snow. It will cut down on your shovelling and let you keep an eye on each other.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
Quebec police hand out hundreds of tickets to Hells Angels and other bikers before 'first run' meeting
Quebec provincial police handed out hundreds of fines to Hells Angels members and other supporting motorcycle clubs who met for their 'first run' in a small town near Sherbrooke, Que.
Grandparents killed in wrong-way crash on Hwy. 401 identified
A 60-year-old man and a 55-year-old woman killed in a wrong-way crash on Highway 401 earlier this week have been identified by the Consulate General of India in Toronto.
Auston Matthews skates ahead of Game 7, status unclear with season on the line
Centre Auston Matthews of the Toronto Maple Leafs hasn't been ruled out of tonight's Game 7 against the Boston Bruins.
Snakes almost on a plane: U.S. TSA discovers a bag with small snakes in passenger's pants
According to an X post by the Transportation Security Administration, officers at the Miami International Airport found the small bag of snakes hidden in a passenger's trousers on April 26 at a checkpoint.
A Chinese driver is praised for helping reduce casualties in a highway collapse that killed 48
A Chinese truck driver was praised in local media Saturday for parking his vehicle across a highway and preventing more cars from tumbling down a slope after a section of the road in the country's mountainous south collapsed and killed at least 48 people.
Russia puts Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on its wanted list
Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list, Russian state media reported Saturday, citing the interior ministry’s database.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.