When you have angina, your heart has to go begging for fresh oxygen - a task that it hates. This heart complaint occurs because your pumper isn't receiving enough blood, and therefore, is not getting all the oxygen it needs. If you have what doctors call stable angina, challenging activities like fast walking or digging in the garden may cause your overworked heart to start up the protests. But there is another kind of angina, called unstable angina, in which the heart does not get enough blood even when you are doing something as simple as kicking back in a lounge chair or crossing the room. The tips below are all about stable angina because the unstable variety is no candidate for home remedies. Here are some steps to stop the pain quickly or prevent it from starting at all.

1. Stop

If angina comes on during an activity, stop whatever you are doing. Sit down and prop up your feet. Don't try to work or push through the pain. Take a few minutes to relax. If you stop the activity, the pain should go away.

2. Don't Take It Lying Down

If you are lying down or sleeping when you have angina pain, sit up or stand up. Standing up takes the pressure off your heart. When you take the pressure off, your body demands less from your heart, giving it time to recover from the angina episode.

3. Breathe Deeply

It is not a coincidence that many angina episodes get started when someone's in a tense situation. Stress often precedes a bout with angina. When in the midst of an angina attack, calm down by taking slow, deep breaths. That may help control your stress and stop the pain.

4. Can The Cigarettes

If you are a smoker, you are making it that much harder on your heart. Cigarette smoke absorbs oxygen out of your blood and nicotine constricts your blood vessels. That triggers angina because your arteries shrink and less blood makes it to your heart.

5. Keep Aspirin On Hand

Take one adult aspirin tablet a day. The adult dose is about 325 milligrams. Aspirin is thought to decrease heart damage during an angina episode. While the drug may not prevent an attack of angina all the time, studies show that men with angina who take aspirin are less likely to have heart attacks or die of heart problems than men who don't take aspirin.

6. Make It A Slow Morning

Take your time when you get up in the morning. Don't hop right out of bed. Stretch, get acclimated to being awake, and give yourself enough time to eat a nice breakfast and read the paper. Why the early morning slow down? Because the early hours of the day are the most dangerous for your heart. As people get older, their bodies can't handle the jump-out-of-bed-grab-a-quick-bite-rush-to-work routine. If you force it in the morning hours, you might put a lot of unnecessary pressure on your heart, and that additional pressure could jumpstart an angina attack. Get up a little more slowly and don't rush around.

7. Put One Foot In Front Of The Other

Walk as much as you can every day. Walking is the best exercise. This activity keeps your heart healthy, which may help offset angina. Unlike other activities, walking won't put much strain on your heart. If you like other forms of exercise such as swimming or bicycling, go ahead as long as it doesn't bring on angina. Strive for at least 20 minutes three times a week.