If you've ever been tasked with being the lucky soul that gets to shovel the sidewalk or driveway, you know it's best not to wait until after the snowstorm is over.

To keep up with the snow and reduces the strain and stress on your body, you should actually be scooping quite often. It's recommended to scoop snow every 2-3" during the storm.

Your heart will thank you for taking it easy.

Heart.org says that in a study from a few years ago, a heavy snowfall of 7-8" was associated with 16% higher odds of a man being sent to the hospital with a heart attack and 34% increase in dying.

You should stop shoveling if you feel off or showing signs of a heart attack.

When doing hard labor, you should always know the signs of a heart attack.

  • Chest pain
  • Shortness of breath
  • Pain or discomfort in jaw, arm, back or shoulder
  • Nauseous feeling
  • Light Headed
  • Unusually tired

Scooping snow isn't an easy job and if you're not used to that type of physical labor, you need to be careful.

  • Take short breaks
  • Pushing the snow is easier than lifting and throwing
  • Shoveling fresh, powdery snow is easier
  • Do not shovel right after eating or while smoking
  • Use a smaller shovel or only fill your shovel half way to lighten the load
  • Lift with your legs, not your back
  • Go slow and stretch before beginning

To cut down on the physical demands of shoveling, you should shovel snow after every couple inches that falls.

Continue shoveling throughout the day, as long as the snow keeps falling.

If you fall behind on shoveling, take on the challenge in small increments and in layers.

Start shoveling early, so when the storm is over and the sun comes out, it should begin to melt the ice and snow.

Be safe, don't over do it and take it slow.

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