The Unsettling Reason Shoveling Snow Is More Dangerous Than You Thought

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links.

When a snowstorm hits, most people's thoughts are about getting to work. But truly severe blizzards (there are more than one kind) bring much greater dangers than simply missing a meeting. For example, in 2022, when the "blizzard of the century" swept into New York state from the Great Lakes, the death toll surpassed 60 people in just a few days. Yet, while some of the deaths were related to exposure, many were actually not from the cold temperatures at all. Instead, several people died from heart attacks while shoveling snow.

It's difficult to put an exact number on the number of people that die from heart attacks while shoveling snow. This is partially due to how such deaths are recorded. Oftentimes, death rates go up during snow storms because emergency medical services are inaccessible or delayed by the icy conditions. In such cases, an otherwise treatable medical event can become deadly, since EMS personnel are unable to reach the crisis in time. Based on data from the Nationwide Children's Hospital, around 100 people in the U.S. die every year from cardiac arrest while shoveling snow. And because such events are hard to quantify, some experts believe the death toll is much higher.

The statistics are grim, but that doesn't mean everyone should get rid of their snow shovels. A 2025 research study published in Mayo Clinic Proceedings investigated the groups most at risk of suffering from cardiac arrest or acute myocardial infarction from shoveling snow. The researchers discovered that older men are more likely to succumb to the unique winter exercise. The paper's lead author Barry A. Franklin recommends that those over 55 years of age avoid shoveling snow altogether.

Shoveling snow is exhausting. Research has shown that even healthy young men experience a spike in blood pressure and heart rate that exceeds that from running on a treadmill. But the activity can be deceiving. Hauling wet, heavy snow in a chilly morning, when the body's circadian rhythm is most sensitive to cardiac events, puts a strain on the metabolic processes that drive our cardiovascular system. It's partially the same reason we equate seasonal dropping of temperature with low energy.

In order for a blizzard to form, it needs a specific mix of low temperature, air pressure, and humidity. Unfortunately, all those conditions are taxing to the cardiovascular system. The cold air that follows a snow storm makes arteries constrict, while the strenuous work of shoveling snow increases blood pressure. To make matters worse, many people feel the need to shovel snow as fast as possible, perhaps to uncover their cars to get to work on time. But the arm-intensive workout isn't something most people are used to, and oftentimes shovelers will hold their breath as they toss the heavy cargo.

The difficult truth is that many of us live sedentary lives. When older folks tackle a heavy snowfall once or twice a year in their race to get to the office, their bodies are simply unaccustomed to the job. Even fit people will experience an unusual spike in blood pressure and heart rate, so it's nothing to be ashamed of. However, it's important that older folks recognize the dangerous toll that shoveling snow puts on the body. Perhaps getting a snow blower isn't such a bad idea.