MTD Joins Forces with the AHA to Promote He...( CLEVELAND Nov. 2 /- What do sipping c...),Health

CLEVELAND, Nov. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- What do sipping cocoa, snuggling under blankets and heart attacks all have in common? They are all more common during the cold winter months.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 1,200 Americans die annually from a heart attack or similar cardiac event during or after a big snowstorm, and shoveling is often the trigger. To help create awareness, work to lower that number, and highlight other ways to stay safe during winter, MTD Products Inc, a global manufacturer of outdoor power equipment, and the American Heart Association have partnered to promote heart health and winter safety during the snow shoveling season.

"The American Heart Association has demonstrated a commitment to helping people build healthier lives, free of cardiovascular disease and stroke. MTD is committed to promoting winter safety, including safe snow removal," said Jessica Gardner, marketing communications manager for MTD. "We are proud to work with the American Heart Association's Start! initiative to help educate people on the impact shoveling heavy snow can have on your heart and other ways to stay safe and healthy during cold winter months."

Research shows that cardiovascular events like sudden cardiac arrest often increase during cold months. Activities that require sudden exertion like heavy snow shoveling, especially if performed by habitually sedentary individuals with underlying heart disease, can pose unique health risks and may trigger cardiac events.

"For inactive people with heart disease, the combination of cold air, strenuous lifting and excessive cardiac demands can disproportionately increase blood pressure and heart rate, which increases the risk of a heart attack," said Barry Franklin, Ph.D., spokesperson for the American Heart Associati
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