Ernie McDonald is busy clearing the snow off his driveway on Day Road in St. Joseph County.

"I'm 75-years-old and I keep this drive clean," Ernie says. "It's quite a job at times."

Ernie recently had a stress test and his doctor says his heart is strong. But he advises people who don’t have the same diagnosis to take it easy as they shovel.

"If you've got any kind of heart problem at all or if you're overweight, don't do it," Ernie says.

"We see a lot of snow shoveling related injuries," explains Dr. Kurtis DeJong, St. Joseph Regional Medical Center Emergency Room physician. "People are just doing more than they’re used to doing. You have this task--all this snow that's piled up--and you've got to get rid of it, be able to be mobile. And you're not used to doing that activity and you push yourself more than you normally would."

Dr. DeJong advises people shoveling to be aware of chest pain, shortness of breath or light headedness. He says every winter, patients come into the emergency room with heart attacks from exerting too much energy. Dr. DeJong says if you feel those systems, go inside and rest. If they persist, call a doctor or ambulance immediately.

Dr. DeJong says other common problems are people falling on the ice or hurting their backs from the shoveling motions. Hardware stores sell shovels specifically designed to be easier on your lower back. Also, salt will melt the snow as it falls to help prevent someone from slipping.

If you decide hiring someone to clear your snow is a better option, here are some tips.

-Be careful of companies that only take cash. Consumer advocates advise that you pay with a credit card.
-Agree on a set rate before your driveway gets plowed. You should pay per visit.
-Make sure the plowing company has insurance.

"If I run into your car or your house and its clearly marked, then obviously we want to make sure we have insurance for that," says Ben Hubbard, 3 Points, as he plows a customer’s driveway.

Hubbard suggests calling a plowing service before the snow actually starts, but if you haven’t, before it piles up very deeply.