title: Effect of age and coronary artery disease on response to snow shoveling.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of age and coronary artery disease on responses to snow shoveling.
  
  
  BACKGROUND
  Little information is available on the hemodynamic and metabolic responses to snow shoveling.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixteen men with asymptomatic coronary artery disease and relatively good functional work capacity, 13 older normal men and 12 younger normal men shoveled snow at a self-paced rate. Oxygen consumption, heart rate and blood pressure were determined. In nine men with coronary artery disease left ventricular ejection fraction was evaluated with an ambulatory radionuclide recorder.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Oxygen consumption during snow shoveling differed (p < 0.05) among groups; it was lowest (18.5 +/- 0.8 ml/kg per min) in those with coronary artery disease, intermediate (22.2 +/- 0.9 ml/kg/min) in older normal men and highest (25.6 +/- 1.3 ml/kg/min) in younger normal men. Percent peak treadmill oxygen consumption and heart rate with shoveling in the three groups ranged from 60% to 68% and 75% to 78%, respectively. Left ventricular ejection fraction and frequency of arrhythmias during shoveling were similar to those during treadmill testing.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  During snow shoveling 1) the rate of energy expenditure selected varied in relation to each man's peak oxygen consumption; 2) older and younger normal men and asymptomatic men with coronary artery disease paced themselves at similar relative work intensities; 3) the work intensity selected represented hard work but was within commonly recommended criteria for aerobic exercise training; and 4) arrhythmias and left ventricular ejection fraction were similar to those associated with dynamic exercise.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53295.
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Sheldahl
authors.forename: N A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Wilke
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Dougherty
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Levandoski
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Hoffman
authors.forename: F E
authors.initials: FE
authors.lastname: Tristani
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004734:Energy Metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D005080:Exercise Test; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000503:physiopathology; D010807:Physical Endurance / Q000502:physiology; D005082:Physical Exertion / Q000502:physiology*; D012914:Snow; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000502:physiology