Ways To Manage Period Cramps

If you suffer from painful menstrual cramps every month, your period is likely the most uncomfortable time of the month. Though period cramps are rarely an indicator of a significant health problem, they are annoying and unpleasant.

However, there are several options for alleviating the discomfort of period cramps. Check out the following ways to manage period cramps.

Exercise

Even though working out is the last thing you might want to do when you have cramps, it may help alleviate period pains. However, mild exercise can help you feel better overall by releasing endorphins that boost mood, lessen pain, and soothe muscle tension.

Light exercise like yoga, stretching, or walking may be all you need to experience the positive physical and mental effects of physical activity.

Exercise is more beneficial for pain if you are active before the period starts. For example, a study in Taiwan found that women who took yoga courses twice a week for 12 weeks experienced a decrease in menstruation cramps.

Over The Counter Anti-Inflammatory Pain Medicine

Try taking a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) to alleviate period discomfort. Common NSAIDs available without a prescription are ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve).

One of the cases of Muscle cramps and pain is the hormone prostaglandin. However, anti-inflammatory drugs can provide rapid relief from period cramps by lowering the body's prostaglandin production. While pain relievers may not permanently eliminate period cramps, they often make a considerable difference.

Apply Heat To Calm Period Cramps

Mild heat has a calming effect on the body, increasing blood flow and easing muscle tension. The uterus can benefit from treatments that aid muscular relaxation, such as heat. Applying heat to the abdomen with a hot water bottle or heating pad can ease uterine cramping and muscle tension. The muscles in your stomach, back, and legs may also benefit from a warm bath or hot shower.

A study found that topical heat application is as helpful as ibuprofen in relieving period cramps. On each of the two days of the trial, the women used either heat, heat with ibuprofen, ibuprofen, or a placebo for period cramps. The combination of heat and ibuprofen yielded the best result with more rapid recovery.

Improve Your Diet

Dietary changes can provide relief from period cramps. For example, anti-inflammatory foods can ease uterine tension, improve blood flow and help relieve cramps naturally. Anti-inflammatory foods include leafy green vegetables, almonds, walnuts, fatty fish like salmon, berries, tomatoes, pineapples, and spices like turmeric, ginger, or garlic.

In addition, replacing unhealthy fats, such as the saturated fats present in animal products and fast food, with healthy fats in foods like fish and nuts.

Drink Herbal Teas

Certain herbal teas may help ease uterine cramping by relaxing uterine muscular spasms. These herbs have anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic chemicals to relieve pain and muscle contractions.

To alleviate period cramps naturally and quickly, try drinking chamomile, red raspberry, fennel, or ginger tea. As an added bonus, these herbal teas may also assist with anxiety and sleeplessness.