This story originally ran on Jan. 28, 2026. It has been lightly edited to update.
Cardiologist Youssef Rahban was alarmed during a shift in late January at UMass Memorial Hospital in Worcester, when ICU nurses saw an unexpected spike in heart attack patients.
But the spike shouldn’t have been surprising at all, Rahban said. Most of the heart attacks were triggered by shoveling snow in the aftermath of the massive storm Jan. 25-26, which dropped nearly two feet of the white stuff in the Worcester and Boston areas.
For years, doctors have studied the link between snow shoveling and increased incidence of heart attacks, said Jorge Plutzky, director of preventive cardiology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Several studies have found that less than a foot of snow on the ground can lead a community to record a more than 10 percent increase in heart attacks, he said.
“It is certainly associated,” Plutzky said.
People who aren’t accustomed to intense exercise are more likely to experience a heart attack while shoveling because of a combination of factors, Rahban said.
“It’s a sudden intense workout, often a heavy workload, you’re holding your breath, and that can increase your blood pressure and heart rate, creating a perfect storm for an adrenaline surge that can trigger a heart attack,” he said.
On Jan. 26 at UMass Memorial, seven people whose heart attacks were precipitated by snow shoveling ranged in age from their mid-fifties to late seventies, the hospital said.
Five patients were men and two were women. None of the cases were fatal.
“I want to give credits to the emergency medical services that really are the first call and have to triage those patients and bring them to our emergency rooms,” Rahban said.
Over the course of a year, UMass Memorial treats around 270-300 severe heart attacks, or less than one per day, said spokesperson Kristy Lee.
Who is most at risk?
People with sedentary lifestyles may be more at risk, and the coldest days of winter are usually when people are the most sedentary of the year, said Plutzky.
“A snow storm can represent a perfect storm of things that can lead to problems,” Plutzky, 66, said.
During any lifting activity, using the arms often requires more exertion than using the legs, he pointed out, which in turn puts more strain on one’s heart.
“In particularly if it’s heavy snow and wet, it’s quite an exertion,” Plutzky said.
People with underlying health issues such as heart disease, including heart stints or prior heart surgeries, are most vulnerable to heart attacks during or after shoveling snow, Rahban said.
Other risk factors for heart disease to watch out for include uncontrolled diabetes, high blood pressure, smoking cigarettes or high cholesterol, he said.
Very cold air can increase the danger
Besides the physical nature of shoveling snow, cold weather plays a role, said Rahban, who works as a heart failure specialist.
Freezing air causes a person’s blood vessels to tighten and their heart rate to increase, which can contribute to a heart attack, he said.
“It can also make your blood a little more prone to clotting,” Rahban said.
Older adults with chronic health problems need to be aware of their risk, Plutzky said, and stop shoveling immediately if they feel chest pain or discomfort.
“Ultimately if you have a history of heart problems, think about not taking on a shoveling project, get help,” Plutzky said.
Do not wait to get medical care
The longer someone waits to seek medical care, the more of their heart muscle is at risk of suffering damage.
“The longer it takes to open up a blocked artery from the heart attack, the more heart muscle may be at risk of having permanent damage,” Rahban said.
People hoping to prevent cardiac problems triggered by snow removal should warm up and stretch prior to the chore, Plutzky said.
Take plenty of breaks, retreat indoors where it’s warm and wear a scarf over your mouth to heat air before breathing it in, he said.
Rahban recommends pushing snow without lifting it, and using a smaller shovel to decrease the load’s weight.
“There’s a lot you can do well before the storm hits to make sure you’re ready,” Plutzky said. “And find people around to help.”
Claire Thornton can be reached at claire.thornton@globe.com. Follow Claire on X @claire_thornto.