DeKalb residents can breathe a little easier following recent warmer weather and the melting snow on the driveway that comes with it.

Although it is not uncommon to have one or two people report chest pains or die each year from snow removal, there are no recent deaths in DeKalb immediately attributable to related tasks, said Bruce Harrison, assistant fire chief and operations officer for the DeKalb Fire Department.

Those at risk for heart disease should still have someone else remove snow for them, he said.

“Anyone with cardiac history should definitely avoid it,” said Estelle Shippert, cardiopulmonary manager at Rochelle Community Hospital, 900 N. Second St. in Rochelle.

Exposure to the cold constricts blood vessels and places a great amount of strain on the body, particularly the heart, Shippert said.

Wearing protective clothing, such as scarves over the face, also can help keep cold air out, Shippert said.

To help prevent potential health problems, people should rest while shoveling and keep from doing too much work at once, Shippert said. The elderly and obese should avoid it altogether.

As people age, their ability to maintain a normal internal body temperature often decreases, said Sylvia Maldonado, senior communications director for the American Heart Association.

This can place them at risk for hypothermia, which occurs when the body cannot produce enough energy to keep the internal body temperature warm enough, she said.

Maldonado said symptoms of hypothermia can include lack of coordination, mental confusion, slowed reactions, shivering and sleepiness.

A few swigs from the bottle won’t help before a venture into the cold either, despite feelings to the contrary.

“Don’t drink alcoholic beverages before going outdoors or when outside,” Maldonado said.

Maldonado said alcohol may give an initial feeling of warmth, but the sensation is caused by expanding blood vessels in the skin and can draw away heat from vital organs.