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
BREAKING Average hourly wage in Canada now $34.95: StatCan
Average hourly wages among Canadian employees rose to $34.95 on a year-over-year basis in April, a 4.7 per cent increase, according to a Statistics Canada report released Friday morning.
From outer space? Sask. farmers baffled after discovering strange wreckage in field
A family of fifth generation farmers from Ituna, Sask. are trying to find answers after discovering several strange objects lying on their land.
This iconic Canadian song is turning 50
Andy Kim's 'Rock Me Gently' is marking a major milestone, as it celebrates its 50th anniversary.
Oprah Winfrey: I set an unrealistic standard for dieting
Oprah Winfrey said on Thursday evening that she has long played a role in promoting unhealthy and unrealistic diets.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Toronto police called to Drake's Bridle Path mansion for another alleged intruder on Thursday
Toronto police say a man who allegedly attempted to access Drake’s Bridle Path property was taken to hospital on Thursday after an altercation with security guards.
Flat tire on a highway? Here's why you shouldn't try to fix it
If you're cruising down a highway and realize you have a flat tire, you may want to think twice before stopping to fix it on the side of the road.
Storm-battered U.S. South is again under threat. A boy swept into a drain fights for his life
Dangerous storms crashed over parts of the U.S. South on Thursday even as the region cleaned up from earlier severe weather that spawned tornadoes, killed at least three people, and gravely injured a boy who was swept into a storm drain as he played in a flooded street.
Broadcaster and commentator Rex Murphy dead at 77: National Post
The National Post is reporting that Rex Murphy, the pundit and columnist who hosted a national call-in radio show for decades, has died.