Ladies! Life’s too short to spend another day curled up in pain. Get up, take charge, and live your best life!
Cramps are the worst. About 50% of women deal with this agony every month. Cramps are SO painful and are medically known as DYSMENORRHEA.
Period cramps are basically your womb suffocating itself. It contracts to shed its lining, but sometimes it squeezes so hard that it cuts off its own oxygen supply. That’s when the pain kicks in (ouch!). Plus, it releases chemicals called prostaglandins that encourages more contractions.
But hey, if the pain is so bad that it’s messing with your life, go see a doctor. It could be much more than cramps.
The Key Takeaway.
Want to beat those period cramps? Drink more water, workout, take pain relief meds before your period starts, and use heat. Try and see what works for you. If nothing helps, it’s time to see a doctor. It could be anything from cramps to endometriosis, fibroids, pelvic inflammatory disease, adenomyosis, ovarian cysts, or something else. So, don’t wait. Get it checked out!
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Drink Much More Water.
Just so you know, if you experience bloating during your period, you should know that bloating during your period is totally normal, but it can make those cramps even worse.
Drink more water before and during your period to help reduce bloating and ease some of that pain. Keep a water bottle with you and refill it throughout the day. If you stay hydrated, you’d feel better.
Take Pain Relief Meds When You Feel Your Period Coming.
Pain relief medication is the first way to treat dysmenorrhea. They block prostaglandin production, and are very good for cramps.
So, it can be SUPER helpful to start taking those medicines before your period starts. If you know it’s going to start on a Sunday, pop that pill on Friday. Thank me later!
Heating Pads Should Be Your Bestie When Menstruating.
The relief from heating pads is almost immediate. It’s like a reminder for your muscles to relax for a bit. Get a heating pad or if you are cramping up badly right now, boil some water and put it in a bottle. Make sure it’s just warm, not too hot, and lay it on your belly. Drinking hot water helps too. Again, thank me later!
Workout Before Your Period.
Women who exercise regularly and stay fit tend to have less cramps. So girl, if you don’t already, at least work out for a few days before your period shows up. Exercise releases endorphins (your body’s natural painkillers). To add, working out on your period might helps too. It just doesn’t work for everyone. Make sure you’re doing gentle workouts like yoga, stretches, or short walks because high-intensity ones will NOT make you feel better. At least, not right away.
Don’t Smoke On Your Period.
It’s pretty obvious. Smoking is bad enough and doing it on your period is similar to saying you absolutely don’t like yourself. I don’t smoke but if you do, avoid it during your period.
Visit A Spa And Get A Full Body Massage.
Massages are SO soothing. They can help relax your uterus and reduce those painful spasms. Ask your masseur to focus on your abdomen for extra relief. A full body massage that melts away stress will also work wonders for those cramps.
Between 7am and 9am, Spend 10 Minutes In The Sun.
Why? For vitamin D, of course! You can get some vitamin D tablets over the counter. They help reduce prostaglandins (the chemicals that cause painful periods). Vitamin D supplements are what you take for bad menstrual cramps just so you know! So, if you’re dealing with cramps, make vitamin D your go-to.
