If there were ever any doubts, winter is underway. A sprawling winter storm is predicted to spread ice and snow across much of the country later this week.
The major winter storm system, which includes heavy snow, sleet and freezing rain, will impact much of the southern and eastern parts of the country Friday, Jan. 23, through Sunday, Jan. 25, the National Weather Service advised on Jan. 20. Folks from Colorado and Wyoming through the mid-Atlantic and New England should prepare for forecast updates.
With snowfall right around the corner, people may be digging back out the snow shovels and snow blowers to ensure driveways, sidewalks and porches are clear.
While snow shoveling may not seem like hard work, the strain of the activity can be more demanding on the heart than taking a treadmill stress test, Dr. Barry Franklin, a former American Heart Association volunteer, said in an AHA news release.
Nearly 200,000 adults were treated in emergency rooms for snow-shovel-related accidents between 1990 and 2006, with more than 1,600 reported deaths, according to the American Journal of Emergency Medicine.
While preparing for the storm ahead, here’s what to know about keeping your body in shape, and safe, while clearing winter weather.
How old is too old to shovel snow?
An exact age for when it’s best to put up the snow shovel hasn’t been pinned down by experts, and recommendations vary widely.
AHA volunteer Dr. John Osborne said adults 65 and older should be “more wary” of snow shoveling. Individuals with risk factors for heart disease, such as tobacco use, diabetes, obesity, hypertension or high cholesterol should be extra mindful.
Osborne pointed to a 2025 study in Annals of Internal Medicine, which found that cold-related deaths are roughly double the rate of heat-related cardiovascular events (65% to 35%), especially in male patients above 65.
Franklin, on the other hand, previously advised a younger cut-off. He has said anyone over age 45 should avoid the snow shoveling. This recommendation was backed by a 2001 study, which found that about 85% of adults over the age of 50 already experience atherosclerosis, which can lead to coronary artery disease.
A worker shovels snow in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina on Jan. 8, 2026.
How does snow shoveling strain the heart?
There are five main stressors on the heart when shoveling snow, Franklin said in an AHA news release:
Snow shoveling involves mostly isometric or static exertion that causes the contraction of muscles without any movement in the surrounding joints.
Shoveling snow requires arm work, which is more taxing on the heart than leg work.
Straining the body while lifting heavy loads, during which most people unknowingly hold their breath, increases heart rate and blood pressure.
Legs not being in motion or frequent motion can lead to pooling of blood in the lower part of the body, which means it is not getting back to the heart for oxygenation.
Cold air can constrict blood vessels, disproportionately raising blood pressure and constricting coronary arteries.
What are common symptoms of a cardiac event?
Common symptoms of a cardiac event, like a heart attack, include chest pain or pressure, lightheadedness, heart palpitations and irregular heart rhythms, according to the AHA.
If you experience any of these symptoms while doing yard work this winter, stop. If the symptoms don’t stop immediately, call 911.
How to reduce injury while snow shoveling
Perhaps the most obvious way to avoid injury during the winter is to have someone else do the yardwork for you. However, if that’s not possible, Franklin advised the following, per an AHA news release:
Start gradually and pace yourself.
Cover your mouth and nose and wear layered clothing, including a hat and gloves.
Push or sweep the snow rather than lifting and throwing it.
Be careful when the wind is blowing. The wind makes the temperature feel colder than it is and increases the effects of the cold on your body.
Franklin also recommended using a snow blower instead of a shovel. Using a snow blower raises the heart rate to roughly 120 beats per minute, compared to a heart rate of about 170 while shoveling, he said.
How to prevent unsafe exposure to the cold while snow shoveling
If older folks must snow shovel, the National Institute of Aging recommends the following tips for staying extra warm:
If you must go outside on windy, cold or damp days, don’t stay out for too long.
Let others, like family members, friends or neighbors know you plan to spend time outdoors.
Carry a fully-charged phone in case of an emergency.
Wear a hat, scarf and gloves or mittens to protect extremities and prevent loss of body heat. Consider using disposable or rechargeable hand- and foot-warmers too.
Wear warm, loose layers. Air between layers helps keep the body warm.
Wear a waterproof coat or jacket if it’s snowing or raining.
Change out of damp or wet clothes as soon as possible.
Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@usatoday.com.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: How old is too old to shovel snow? Here’s what experts say.
