Keeping Safe: At What Age Should You Stop Shoveling Snow?

Health Risks Associated With Shoveling Snow

Let us learn in detail the health risks associated with shoveling snow at an older age:

Physical Strain And Injuries

Shoveling snow can put a lot of physical pressure on you. Your muscles can be strained, and you may get sprains, too. The cold weather further worsens one’s physical state. The repetitive motion of shoveling snow can ruin your muscles or joints.

Instead of having the good effect of physical activity on the body, it does quite the opposite. It tires out the older body much faster and causes a host of injuries. Your back, shoulders, and wrists can take severe damage during shoveling in old age.

With age, your bones and muscles are significantly weakened. A body with age-related changes further takes a lot of damage from shoveling snow.

Cardiovascular Risks

Shoveling snow is physically strenuous indeed. It can thus put pressure on the heart. Your heart rate and blood pressure can get shot up at this time. It is because of the heavy physical exertion.

This is a dangerous state for those with age-related changes in the body. Studies have shown that cardiac arrest is more common during the snowy season.

Respiratory Issues

Even your respiration is significantly affected by cold weather. Older people with pulmonary diseases face a risk of various complications.

Your respiratory health can worsen due to shoveling in such times. The exertion can cause shortness of breath and even dizziness. Due to these, one can even fall down.

Factors To Consider When Shoveling Snow

Here are some factors you must consider when shoveling snow:

Personal Health And Fitness Level

You cannot make the decision of shoveling snow at an older age without assessing your health. Your personal health and fitness level determine if you can do the job or not. If you face chronic health conditions, you are not fit enough for this activity.

These can be anything from heart issues to arthritis. Even respiratory issues can restrict you from shoveling snow. If one is free from such complications, they can think of shoveling snow.

Environmental Conditions

The environment around you also plays an important role in whether you should consider shoveling or not. If there is wet and heavy snow around you, know that it is much harder to shovel. You can consider scraping it off and moving it along if it is light and fluffy snow.

Ice conditions can be a huge cause of slips and falls for older adults. In extremely cold weather, one also runs the risk of getting extreme cold or hypothermia. The weather, snow, and temperature shall always be taken into account.

At What Age Should You Stop Shoveling Snow

There is no definite answer that will fit everyone who seeks to know if they should stop shoveling snow at a certain age. Everyone has their own physical fitness levels that vary, even if they are older than others.

It makes all the difference and determines the capability one has to engage in physical activity. Experts suggest that older folk above 55 should exercise deep caution when performing challenging activities like shoveling snow.

If they have any underlying health conditions, they must be especially vigilant and not indulge in them.

When we are aging, our bodies can undergo massive changes. The strength and endurance you once had can be diminished very quickly, given you do not exercise as much as you did. Even your cardiovascular health is likely to be not as reliable as before.

Bones often become brittle with age as well. Not to mention, the muscles that you need to exert force while shoveling snow also might have lost their mass.

People who are over 55 do not get good results out of shoveling snow. Instead, they face the risk of many health problems from doing it.

The physical strain during the shoveling does not benefit you like before. Instead, you face a higher risk of a heart attack. It is important that you listen to your body as you age.

Alternatives To Shoveling Snow Yourself

Now that you realize why shoveling snow yourself can be harmful, here are some alternatives to go for:

Hiring Professional Snow Removal Services

One of the most relevant ways to remove snow around your house, garage, and car is by hiring a professional. There are dedicated professional snow removal services that work around the winter season.

Professionals under this service have the right equipment to handle the snow layers. They can efficiently and safely rid your surroundings of the hard snow.

This is an important service for those who cannot shovel around their house due to age or are not physically capable of handling thick layers of snow.

Using Snow Blowers And Related Equipment

If you wish to be part of the process without putting strain on yourself, you can buy better equipment. Instead of using a traditional shovel, you can buy snow blowers or related equipment. These are powerful machines that melt away and remove snow easily without any strain.

Community Or Volunteer Assistance

A lot of communities have younger and healthier folk volunteering for snow removal. This can be particularly useful if you are not able to clean the snow near your house due to your age. In such communities, it is okay to ask for help with the snow.

Conclusion

It is normal to wonder at what age should you stop shoveling snow. It is a physically demanding activity that can affect you with age. By considering the factors in this article, you can realize the right age at which to stop shoveling snow.