Dr. Al Qahwash shares tips and insights on how to take care of our hearts, while keeping our driveways and sidewalks clear of snow
Kitchener-Waterloo, ON – December 17 – Whether scraping, sweeping, shoveling, or blowing, many of us have had to deal with moving snow this season. And so we bundled up, and set out to huff and puff our way through the work, some of us starting the countdown clock to summer already. And many of us were reminded in the following days of the work we did, through muscle aches and pains in shoulders, backs, and chests. Dr. Al Qahwash, Director, Cardiac Program and Critical Care, at St. Mary’s General Hospital and Grand River Hospital, has important tips to help keep our hearts strong all winter long.
“Age, blood pressure, cholesterol, weight, stress, and family history of heart attacks combine to increase your risk of exercise-induced heart attack. And, like it or not, shoveling is exercise,” Qahwash explains. “There’s a lot we can do to keep our hearts healthy and prevent heart disease. Moderate exercise, healthy eating, reducing stress, and maintaining a healthy weight can all help improve heart health.”
“Each snowfall we see more patients presenting with chest pain or heart attack in our Emergency Departments,” he continues. “We would never throw on a pair of runners and tackle a 10K without training – and yet, after the snow settles on our driveways, sidewalks, and vehicles, we grab a shovel and head out to do strenuous, repetitive exercise in the cold. Your heart rate increases. Your blood pressure rises. Blood vessels might constrict.”
There are steps each of us can take to help ourselves – and our loved ones – stay healthy and strong all winter long.
- Stretch. Don’t just bundle up, and jump to it. Take a moment to stretch your arms, chest, and back before digging it.
- Shifts. Tackle small sections and take rests in between. By shoveling in shifts, you reduce stress on your heart, muscles, and joints.
- Size. While using a smaller shovel may seem counter-intuitive, it helps ensure you have the stamina to complete the job. Smaller, lighter loads help further reduce strain, and help to improve stamina.
- Stop smoking. By now, we all know the health impacts of smoking and vaping. Stopping smoking significantly improves heart health and circulation.
- Signs. Know the signs of heart attack: chest tightness, light-headedness, dizziness. If you suspect you or a loved one are experiencing a heart attack, call 911.
At the St. Mary’s PREVENT Clinic, powered by Manulife, a multi-disciplinary team works with patients to prevent cardiovascular disease. We see unattached (no family Doctor or nurse practitioner) patients that present with either a combination of high cholesterol, high blood pressure, Diabetes, or a family history of early-onset coronary disease in a first-degree relative. We are finding that people don't know they have these conditions, and we have an opportunity to manage it to mitigate future complications or death. This will only be helpful to the patient and the general health of our community.”
To learn more visit St. Mary’s PREVENT Clinic (smgh.ca/areas-of-care/prevent-clinic) or heartandstroke.ca.
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Media Contact
Victoria Ott
Integrated Director, Strategic Engagement
Grand River Hospital & St. Mary’s General Hospital victoria.ott@grhosp.on.ca
519-588-4698
About St. Mary’s General Hospital
Located in the heart of Kitchener, St. Mary’s is home to the Regional Cardiac Centre, Regional Chest Program and Regional Eye Program. As leaders in our field recognized globally for world-class, innovative healthcare, our vision of “Inspiring Excellence. Healthier Together” is not just about our approach to patient-centred care, it’s also about our commitment to our staff. Celebrating a century of care this year, St. Mary’s provides compassionate care to our community serving over 1.4 residents locally and beyond each year. We are the second-largest acute care hospital in the St. Joseph’s Health System with a team of over 2,000 staff, physicians and volunteers dedicated to ensuring patients receive the highest-quality care possible. Learn more about Our Mission, Values & History.
About Grand River Hospital
Grand River Hospital is building a world-class health system for all in the communities we serve. One of Ontario’s largest community teaching hospitals, we’re delivering exceptional, patient-focused quality care by a team of dedicated healthcare workers and volunteers. Located in one of the province’s most diverse and rapidly growing regions, we provide services and support to more than 840,000 residents of Waterloo Region and Guelph Wellington at our two campuses (KW and Freeport) and satellite locations. Driven by innovation, we’re proud of our partnerships and collaborations with health system partners, our region’s academic and innovation communities, and diverse community partners. grandriverhospital.ca | Twitter and Instagram @grhospitalkw | YouTube: griverhosp | Facebook and Linkedin: Grand River Hospital