Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Snow Shoveling Minus the Hazards

By Douglas Cordell

It's true; shoveling for about fifteen minutes counts as moderate physical activity, according to the 1996 Surgeon General's Report on Physical Activity and Health. We are all advised to perform at least thirty minutes of moderate activity each day to stay healthy.

While these statistics tell us a lot, another statistic about snow shoveling may make you hesitate. It has been shown that a significant number of Americans suffered a heart attack while performing this seemingly mundane chore. The simple truth is that the general populace is no longer used to physical activity, having desk jobs for the past few years of their lives. So, exercise buffs will not have a problem with shoveling snow, but the rest of us humans would need to be a bit more careful.

There are a variety of methods to prevent heart attack while you are clearing snow. You may, for example, decide to stretch your muscles a bit by walking for a few blocks. By warming up those muscles, there will be no shock of sudden physical activity. Another thing that you should remind yourself to do is remembering to take a break here and there. Drink some cold water while you're at it; you get dehydrated just as easily in cold as you do in hot climate. Try to regulate your breathing as well.

One other interesting alternative would be shopping around for modern shovels. In particular, I think that the design wherein a bungee cord is attached to the main snow shovel is the best design. By holding the handle at the end of the cord rather than the midsection of the normal handle, you are able to shovel while maintaining upright, and thus you would be able to breathe more properly. The material's elasticity also spends energy on your behalf as you toss away the snow that you have collected.

Snow shoveling, when done right, becomes a healthy habit during winter. But, if done rashly, it may actually be the cause of your deteriorating health. Make sure you avoid this by choosing the best snow shovel available in the market today. A little exercise before the deed helps, as well.

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