12 Ways To Reduce Period Pain

No matter how many periods we’ve endured and will endure in our lifetime, the side effects of menstruating will never be a walk in the park.

Periods can be highly unpredictable, and most women will experience a range of symptoms and light to heavy flow from month to month. Several factors affect your period and the symptoms you experience, many of which are completely normal in most cases. Mild to moderate cramps for one or two days during your menstrual cycle are usually normal.

Period pain is very common and is considered to be a normal part of the menstrual cycle. Nine out of ten people that have periods will experience some type of discomfort and/or pain from their periods each month. Girls experience severe period cramps occur because of an excessive amount of prostaglandins present in the body. Prostaglandins are compounds that are released during the shedding of the uterine lining. Period cramps are usually experienced in the abdomen, thighs, and back.

To relieve period cramps, there are many different options available including painkillers, heat, and even diet. Here we are sharing some remedies that can alleviate the symptoms during your period.

What can I do to relieve period pain?

Eat Healthily

Your diet plays a big part in your menstrual cramps. When it’s your time of the month you may find yourself craving fatty, sugary or salty foods such as doughnuts, chocolate, cookies, or chips. Although these things are ok to have now and again as part of a balanced diet, it’s not a good idea to be consuming large amounts of these products on a monthly basis. Instead, try and increase your consumption of foods with anti-inflammatory properties such as cherries, blueberries, squash, and capsicums, as well as calcium-rich products such as beans, almonds, and dark leafy greens.

Get rid of the alcohol or at least keep your alcohol intake to a minimum, and stay away from salt. If you smoke quit it – smoking is thought to increase the risk of period pain which increasingly can worsen as the smoking continues. Getting more fruits and vegetables, though, will support hydration and nutrient balance while lowering inflammation exacerbated by unhealthy fats.

Stay Hydrated

Try to drink a lot of water, and feel the difference. Drinking plenty of water during your period can help ease some of the symptoms causing you discomfort, such as bloating. We’re advised to drink 6-8 glasses of water a day, so try and reach this target, especially if you’re experiencing menstrual cramps.

Try Heat Therapy

Putting a heating pad or hot water bottle on your tummy can help to reduce pain by bringing blood to circulate around the area of pain. A warm bath or shower can also relieve pain and help you to relax. Just remember to put your heating pad on a timer or take it off your body before falling asleep. Prolonged use of heating pads can potentially cause burns and other safety risks.

Exercise

Regular exercise will simply have many benefits for your health, including pain relief. Exercise will produce more endorphins to boost your mood, and metabolize your prostaglandins and it will also help your uterine muscles to loosen up. Staying active all throughout the month will do wonders not only for your figure but for the quality of your period as well.

Reduce stress

Spending some time just slowing down and looking after yourself can work wonders for period pain. Some strategies that people use are staying in bed, watching television, and treating yourself to your favourite foods and drinks to lift your mood and help you relax.

Take your Vitamin and Minerals

Supplements nourish and support your menstrual health, rather than just mask its symptoms, so your period becomes easier with each cycle. Various minerals and vitamins have been found to help stop period pain. These nutritional and herbal supplements can be a safe and effective way of managing period cramps that are nearly devoid of side effects.

Massage your tummy with essential oils

Having a massage can also help relieve period cramps. The purpose of a massage is to relax your body, so it’s not crazy to think that a massage can also relax your lower abdomen and relieve the pain from menstrual cramps. For best results, try massaging your lower abdomen with essential oils such as clove, lavender, and rose in an almond oil carrier base.

Take a pain reliever

There are many over the counter medications you can take to ease the pain of cramps. Ibuprofen and aspirin can work to relieve your cramps. Paracetamol could provide pain relief, too.

Switch up your sleeping position

Sleep in the fetal position will not only help in cramp pain relief but also prevent leaks while sleeping. It takes the pressure off your abdominal muscles and is damn comfy.

Try some yoga

There are various yoga moves to ease period pain that you can try, including the child’s pose and reverse warrior pose. Yoga helps to soothe period pain by easing the muscles in your body. It also relaxes your mind through physical poses called ‘asanas’ and conscious breathing exercises called ‘pranayama’.

Acupuncture may help

Acupuncture can relieve almost all of the common complaints that women suffer from before and during their period. Acupuncture is the safest way to regulate your cycle without using any pharmaceuticals.

Orgasms

We can’t deny the fact that sex helps in everything – even with cramps. When you’re on your period, experts recommend sex, both couple and solo play. When you have an orgasm, it increases the blood flow to the uterus, relieving the cramps. Aside from that, orgasms also help release oxytocin and dopamine, which will help with pain and will even help you sleep.

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