4 Ways To Get Rid of Period Cramps
- Posted on: Apr 29 2022
It’s that time of the month and you feel like your uterus is trying to drive you insane by torturing you with those dreadful period cramps. Many women all over the world, of all different ages and backgrounds, suffer from menstrual cramps. Some even have to miss out on school, work, or social activities because their period cramps are so painful. People who don’t experience one of their body’s organs trying to torment them every month just don’t understand how uncomfortable it is. Let’s dig into why you get those horrible cramps and how you can help relieve them.
What Are Period Cramps?
During a woman’s monthly menstruation, the uterus sheds the lining that it has built up during the previous month. It does this by contracting. Imagine you are working out and you are doing a bicep curl. Every time you lift your arm, your bicep muscle is working and it is contracting. Every time you lower your arm, the bicep muscle relaxes. This is what your uterus is doing when it contracts to help shed its lining. This contracting of the uterus can sometimes be painful and gives you those loathsome cramps.
Methods to Relieve Menstrual Cramps
1. Over-the-Counter Medications
Using over-the-counter NSAIDs (nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) is one of the best ways to help battle period cramp pain. Common NSAIDs include Advil and Aleve. Make sure to only take one of these types of medication at a time, follow the directions on the medication bottle, and don’t take more than directed.
2. Heat
If you don’t like taking medication or are just having a chill day at home watching Netflix, try applying heat to the area of your cramps. Using heat can help with so many different health ailments. There are multiple methods of doing this such as:
- Heating pad
- Heating blanket
- Heat patch or pack
- Hot water bottle
- Warm bath
3. Stay Hydrated and Eating Healthy
You probably already know that staying hydrated is super important to your health but did you know it could help avoid the uncomfortable bloating that goes along with your period cramps. Avoiding processed and fried foods can also help with that bloating feeling. We know this is tough, especially when those food cravings are telling you to eat a hot-fudge sundae.
4. Exercise
We know it sounds crazy, but there is evidence that regular exercise can help prevent those terrible period cramps. We aren’t saying you have to go run a marathon during your period but routine exercise is good for your health and could keep those cramps at bay. If you don’t like to work out, just try to incorporate more walking into your routine.
See Your Healthcare Provider
If your period cramping is so bad that any of these methods don’t work or your cramps are persistently preventing you from continuing your everyday life then you should see your doctor. There could be something else going on that needs to be checked out and treated that is causing your menstrual pain.
Contact Grace OBGYN today to schedule an appointment.
Posted in: Gynecology