It’s that time of the year for heart attacks due to the flu and snow shoveling. Strain on the heart can come from physical activity or illness.
According to the New England Journal of Medicine, there is a significant association between respiratory infections, especially influenza and heart attacks.
What you can do:
- Get your flu shot
- Avoid sick people
- Wash your hands
- Keep hydrated
- Get plenty of rest.
A study by the National Institute of Health showed a significant link between the amount of snow, length of the storm and admissions for chest pain and heart attack.
What you can do:
- Take frequent breaks
- Keep hydrated
- Listen to your body
- Hire someone
- Get permission from your provider.
If at any time you feel chest pain, stop the activity. Heart attack symptoms can be chest pain, pressure or a squeezing feeling that can travel to your arms, neck, jaw and/or back. Also look for sweating, nausea or shortness of breath. If you are experiencing these symptoms, do NOT delay! Call 911 and request to be taken to the St. Elizabeth Campus of the Mohawk Valley Health System.
Sources:
www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1702090?query=featured_home
www.heart.org/en/health-topics/consumer-healthcare/cold-weather-and-card…
www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5305403/
