title: Acute heart failure syndrome associated with snow shoveling.
abstract: There have been only a few reports regarding the relation between snow shoveling and acute heart failure syndromes (AHFS). We present a case series of 5 patients who presented with AHFS, all within 5 days after shoveling snow. Although all patients underwent examination at a regular out-patient clinic, no patient had prior signs or symptoms of heart failure. The condition of all patients had gradually deteriorated, with no abrupt onset of dyspnea after shoveling snow. Four of the 5 patients demonstrated a preserved ejection fraction on echocardiography. Snow shoveling may lead to AHFS in patients who are at risk for developing heart failure.
authors.affiliation: Division of Medical Education, Niigata University School of Medicine, Niigata, Japan.
authors.forename: Masahiro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ito
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Kenichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takaku
authors.forename: Nanako
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tsutsui
authors.forename: Mayumi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sasagawa
authors.forename: Satoru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hirono
authors.forename: Toshiya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Suzuki
authors.forename: Makoto
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kodama
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D004562:Electrocardiography; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D005082:Physical Exertion; D012914:Snow; D013577:Syndrome; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed