CLEVELAND — Most people don’t think twice after that first big snow of the season. They grab a shovel or fire up the snow blower and head outside to clear the way. But every winter, emergency rooms report an increase in injuries and heart attacks after clearing that snow. It’s a cold reminder that a routine winter chore can actually be deadly.

Shoveling snow is one of the most physically demanding cold weather activities you can do, according to doctors.

If you’re not used to strenuous exercise, you are more prone to injuries or even worse. Freezing air, constricted blood vessels, and the sudden strain of lifting heavy, wet snow can seriously increase your heart attack risk in a short amount of time.

Cold weather causes your blood vessels to tighten. This raises your blood pressure. At

See Full Page