Winter storms in Helena, Montana, can create more than travel problems and snow-covered roads. Severe cold, heavy snow, icy conditions, power outages, blocked roads, and prolonged periods indoors can all create significant health risks. Some dangers are obvious, such as frostbite after spending too much time outside. Others are less visible, including carbon monoxide poisoning from improperly operated generators or the physical strain placed on the heart while clearing snow.

Montana winter storms can also make routine health care more difficult to access. A road closure or hazardous driving conditions may prevent someone from reaching a pharmacy, physician, urgent care clinic, or hospital. For people who depend on daily medications, oxygen equipment, or regular medical treatment, these interruptions can become serious quickly.

Residents should therefore think about winter storm preparation as a health issue as much as a weather issue. Before a major storm arrives, it is useful to monitor local weather information and understand whether conditions are expected to worsen. If you have a heart condition or another health concern that could make outdoor exertion dangerous, check the Helena winter storm warning today before deciding whether to shovel.

The following health risks deserve particular attention during prolonged winter storms in Helena.

Heart Attack Risk From Snow Shoveling

Snow shoveling can look like an ordinary household chore, but it can become strenuous cardiovascular exercise. The combination of heavy snow, cold temperatures, bending, lifting, pushing, and repeated upper-body exertion can place substantial stress on the cardiovascular system.

The American Heart Association warns that snow removal can increase the risk of heart attack and sudden cardiac arrest, particularly among people who are not accustomed to strenuous physical activity. Cold temperatures can cause blood vessels to constrict and increase blood pressure, while the physical effort required to move snow raises the heart's workload.

This is particularly important for Helena residents who have high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol, obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, a history of smoking, known heart disease, or a previous heart attack or stroke. Older adults may also face greater risks from sudden strenuous activity in freezing conditions.

Heavy or wet snow can make the problem worse. Lifting a large shovel full of snow requires considerable force, and people may unconsciously hold their breath while pushing or lifting. This can cause sudden increases in heart rate and blood pressure.

If you need to clear snow, consider asking a family member, neighbor, or professional service to do the heavy work if you have cardiovascular risk factors. When shoveling is necessary, start slowly, take frequent breaks, avoid lifting unnecessarily heavy loads, and push snow rather than repeatedly lifting and throwing it when possible. Dress in layers and keep your hands, head, feet, and face protected from the cold.

Do not ignore warning signs while clearing snow. Chest pressure or pain, unusual shortness of breath, severe weakness, dizziness, fainting, unusual sweating, or a racing or irregular heartbeat can signal a medical emergency. Stop immediately and call 911 if symptoms suggest a heart attack or another serious condition. The American Heart Association emphasizes that people should not wait to seek emergency care simply because they are uncertain about the cause of symptoms.

Hypothermia: Symptoms and Emergency Response

Hypothermia occurs when the body loses heat faster than it can produce it, causing the core body temperature to fall to dangerously low levels. Although the condition is associated with extreme cold, it can also occur in less severe temperatures when someone becomes wet, sweaty, exhausted, or exposed to cold conditions for an extended period.

During a Helena winter storm, hypothermia can affect people who are stranded outdoors, working outside, walking through deep snow, dealing with a vehicle breakdown, or living in a home that has lost adequate heat.

Early warning signs include intense shivering, tiredness, clumsiness, and difficulty performing normal tasks. As hypothermia becomes more severe, a person may become confused, develop memory problems, speak with slurred speech, become increasingly drowsy, or lose coordination. A person with severe hypothermia may eventually stop shivering and become unconscious.

A body temperature below 95°F is considered an emergency. Medical attention should be obtained immediately when hypothermia is suspected.

While waiting for medical help, move the person into a warm and dry location if it can be done safely. Remove wet clothing and replace it with dry clothing or blankets. Focus on warming the center of the body, particularly the chest, neck, head, and groin. If the person is awake and able to swallow safely, warm non-alcoholic drinks may help. Never give liquids to someone who is unconscious or unable to swallow normally.

Severe hypothermia requires particularly careful handling. A person may appear unconscious and have very slow breathing or a weak pulse. Emergency assistance should be called immediately, and CPR may be necessary when the person is not breathing normally.

Frostbite and How to Treat It Safely

Frostbite is another serious cold-weather injury. It happens when body tissue freezes, most commonly affecting the fingers, toes, ears, nose, cheeks, and chin. People who have poor circulation or who are inadequately protected from cold temperatures are at increased risk.

The earliest warning signs can include redness or pain in exposed skin. As the injury progresses, the affected area may become numb. Skin can appear white, grayish-yellow, or unusually pale, and it may feel firm or waxy. Because numbness can reduce awareness of the injury, someone may not realize how serious the condition has become.

If frostbite is suspected, get out of the cold as quickly as possible and seek medical care. Do not rub or massage the affected skin. Do not rub it with snow, even though this is sometimes suggested as a traditional remedy. Rubbing can cause additional tissue damage.

If immediate medical care is not available, the CDC recommends warming frostbitten areas in warm, rather than hot, water. The water should be comfortable to the touch for an unaffected part of the body. Body heat can also be used to gently warm areas such as frozen fingers.

Do not use a heating pad, heat lamp, fireplace, stove, radiator, or other intense direct heat on numb frostbitten skin. Because the affected tissue may have little or no sensation, the person can suffer a serious burn without realizing it.

If the feet or toes are frostbitten, avoid walking on them unless absolutely necessary. Walking on frozen tissue can increase damage. Frostbite can result in permanent tissue injury, so even when the initial symptoms appear mild, medical evaluation is important.