(ABC 6 News) – Today might be the first time this season you’ll need to break out the snow shovel, but health experts advise the importance of safety out in the cold.

For people with heart disease, it’s best to sit out on shoveling snow. The combination of cold weather and strenuous exercise could trigger a heart attack.

“And that’s enough, in a vulnerable individual sometimes, to give them chest pain,” said Dr. Sharonne Hayes, a Mayo Clinic cardiologist. “Say they have some blockages, it might give them angina, or chest pain.”

Experts at Mayo Clinic say it’s best to check with your healthcare provider about your potential risk while shoveling heavy snow.