If the mere thought of shoveling snow makes your body ache, don’t worry — science shows that you’re not alone.

According to a 2020 scientific review from the American Heart Association, snow shoveling is one of the most arduous and taxing activities on the human heart, especially for those who live a sedentary lifestyle or who have preexisting health conditions.

“The strain of heavy snow shoveling may be as or even more demanding on the heart than taking a treadmill stress test, according to research we’ve conducted,” said Heart Association volunteer Barry Franklin, professor of internal medicine at Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine in Royal Oak, Mich.

According to Franklin, a combination of muscle exertion and the constriction of blood vessels due to cold air can

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