Digging out from the weekend’s massive snow and ice storm could be hazardous to your heart.
Pennsylvania health officials announced three snow-removal related deaths Sunday. All were between the ages of 60 to 84. The Lehigh County coroner's office cautioned people to take breaks and avoid over-exerting themselves.
Shoveling snow is heavy, hard work — research has shown that doing it for even a short time can make the heart work as hard as it does during a major workout. Adding to that stress, the cold temperatures cause blood vessels, including those feeding the heart, to constrict. That raises blood pressure which in turn increases the risk of a heart attack, stroke or cardiac arrest, according to the American Heart Association.
Snow shoveling is especially risky for anyone with known heart disease or who’s already survived a heart attack, as well as older adults and people with risk factors including high blood pressure or cholesterol. People who think they’re healthy can get in trouble, too, with that combination of heavy exertion in cold weather – especially if they’re generally sedentary until a snowstorm comes along.
The heart association advises that if you have to shovel, go slow and try to push the snow instead of lifting and throwing it. It also urges people to learn common warning signs of a heart attack and to call 911 if they experience them.
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The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
Katherine Schneider shovels out a vehicle for the fourth time during the storm on Route 100 on Monday, Jan. 26, 2026, in Jamaica, Vt., after Winter Storm Fern dropped several inches of snow. (Kristopher Radder/The Brattleboro Reformer via AP)
Brandon Sherwood shovels his walkway on Route 121 on Monday, Jan. 26, 2026, in Westminster, Vt. after Winter Storm Fern dropped several inches of snow. (Kristopher Radder/The Brattleboro Reformer via AP)
Gilberto Hernandez shovels snow in the aftermath of a winter storm in Philadelphia, Monday, Jan. 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
WATERLOO, Iowa--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan 26, 2026--
HOMELINK ®, a leading provider of integrated specialty services for the workers’ compensation and group health industries, is pleased to announce the appointment of Jeff Brock as vice president of account management. Brock is a seasoned executive with more than 25 years of leadership experience in insurance, managed care, and workers’ compensation.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260126258951/en/
“Jeff’s experience and leadership will be a great asset for HOMELINK and for the clients we serve,” said Danny Real, chief revenue officer at HOMELINK. “In addition to a deep understanding of managed care, he is a relationship-driven leader who excels at building trust and partnerships that deliver meaningful value.”
Throughout his career, Brock has led teams and operations across the managed care and workers’ compensation landscape, most notably during his more than two decades with CorVel Corporation. There, he advanced through multiple leadership roles, ultimately serving as area vice president overseeing 10 profit centers and 125 employees across several states. His leadership emphasized accountability, service excellence, collaboration, and integration across all client services.
Brock has experience leading organizational initiatives that drive operational growth, strengthen client relationships, and build high-performing teams. His experience spans national account management, network development, and cross‑functional collaboration, giving him a holistic understanding of the operational and strategic factors that shape successful outcomes in the workers’ compensation and managed‑care space.
“I am excited to join the HOMELINK team and to build on our strong tradition of partnering with clients to achieve great outcomes,” said Brock. “Our focus will be on deepening those relationships through a highly communicative and collaborative approach that delivers on our mission of improving the lives of everyone we serve.”
For more information about HOMELINK, visit vgmhomelink.com.
About HOMELINK
HOMELINK ® is an innovative national provider of integrated specialty services to the healthcare and workers’ compensation industries. As a privately held, employee-owned company, our associates are naturally motivated to help the payors, patients, and providers we service achieve great outcomes. Our commitment to delivering superior customer service is backed by our proprietary technology to ensure that information is received in a timely fashion for a coordinated and efficient offering across the continuum of care.
Jeff Brock, Vice President Account Management, HOMELINK
