Period Pain
May 10th 2010 06:11
Today I had the worst kind of period pain - the kind that leaves you curled up in a ball, racked with feverish chills, and in desperate need of an aspirin. Thankfully, these types of episodes are pretty rare for me, but for some women, its a continuous battle, month after month.
So, where do these cramps come from, and how can we avoid them without vast amounts of un-ethical painkiller?
Apparently the pain stems from hormones which your body releases to initiate cramping - the same hormones released during labor.
Some common ways of reducing cramps are to take birth control, using anti-inflammatory drugs a day or two before your period, or, the good old Aspirin popped into your mouth as soon as you wake up, and as often as needed to keep you going.
But can we avoid cramps and medication at the same time?
It's common knowledge that a healthy diet and exercise can help keep the pain at bay, in fact, some women have only a few periods a year and next to no cramping because of their diets and exercise - sounds good to me!
But while your new running routine gets in place, we need some immediate relief. Here are a few ways to minimize the pain you already have:
1. Just placing a hot water bottle over the area can comfort your body and help relax the muscles during those painful bouts.
2. Remember that comfort food you ate when you were sick as a kid? Try it again. Warming foods like soup, and drinks like tea or hot chocolate are especially good as they help relax the abdominal muscles.
3. Take a bath - again, relaxation is key!
4. Get a massage - sometimes, just having your lower back massaged will help reduce period pain. I recommend a massage a day or two before you think your cramps will begin, since it can be hard to lie on your stomach afterwards.
5. Avoid eating salt in the lead up to your period - it can help to relieve bloating and thus cramping.
Eat some organic, fairtrade chocolate, and treat yourself to a few extra hours of sleep. You deserve it!
So, where do these cramps come from, and how can we avoid them without vast amounts of un-ethical painkiller?
Apparently the pain stems from hormones which your body releases to initiate cramping - the same hormones released during labor.
Some common ways of reducing cramps are to take birth control, using anti-inflammatory drugs a day or two before your period, or, the good old Aspirin popped into your mouth as soon as you wake up, and as often as needed to keep you going.
But can we avoid cramps and medication at the same time?
It's common knowledge that a healthy diet and exercise can help keep the pain at bay, in fact, some women have only a few periods a year and next to no cramping because of their diets and exercise - sounds good to me!
But while your new running routine gets in place, we need some immediate relief. Here are a few ways to minimize the pain you already have:
1. Just placing a hot water bottle over the area can comfort your body and help relax the muscles during those painful bouts.
2. Remember that comfort food you ate when you were sick as a kid? Try it again. Warming foods like soup, and drinks like tea or hot chocolate are especially good as they help relax the abdominal muscles.
3. Take a bath - again, relaxation is key!
4. Get a massage - sometimes, just having your lower back massaged will help reduce period pain. I recommend a massage a day or two before you think your cramps will begin, since it can be hard to lie on your stomach afterwards.
5. Avoid eating salt in the lead up to your period - it can help to relieve bloating and thus cramping.
Eat some organic, fairtrade chocolate, and treat yourself to a few extra hours of sleep. You deserve it!
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