We know, it sucks so let us get straight to the point! Here are some tips to help.
Based on experience and research. Not a medical professional.
Regardless of if your menstrual cycle is regular or irregular, 84% of women suffer from menstrual pain. Some of the pain symptoms include vomiting, diarrhea, severe abdominal cramps, heat flashes, headache, muscle pain, nausea, and more. These symptoms can be a massive disruption to one's schedule.
Here is a list of tips that can reduce your period cramps
1) Use always tracker; This tracker from experience is always accurate and helps keep track of the flow. When you know what day your cycle will occur you can better prepare and adjust your diet during the days leading up to your flow. As well as plan your days ahead, pick up pads and snacks to prepare.
2) Fresh berries, berry juices, broccoli, and ginger are your friends, and you may be thinking "yuck," but it helps me, and hopefully it helps you too. The anti-inflammatory properties aid in muscle relaxation and help with nausea.
3) If financially possible, switch to organic pads because they are free of chemicals like BAP and BPS, which are linked to rashes, itching, hormone disruption, and cancer. Organic pads are 100% cotton and do not contain phthalates, a family of chemicals uses to make plastic bendable yet are linked to developmental problems and skin irritation
Recommendation. I use two Brands. L. (Target) and Cora because of product quality. Plus, every Cora product purchase helps provide pads and health education to a girl in need.
4) Use a heating pad. Heating pads increase blood flow and ease muscle tightness.
5) Create a cramp playlist. I have noticed certain songs/vibrations make the pain worse, so for me, classical music, opera, and water noises work best. It also gives the mind somewhere else to focus than the digging in my abdomen
6) Abdominal pain is very sharp, uncomfortable, and involuntary. Here are some positions you can try:
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Curl yourself up in a ball and take deep breaths
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Lay flat on your back with knees slightly up
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Lay on your stomach with your back slightly rounded and cuddle your stomach with whichever hand you prefer
7) CBD! CBD CBD! CBD oil is nonpsychoactive, relieves pain, can reduce anxiety and depression, and much more.
8)Eat and drink water. Even if you do not want to, find a piece of fruit, bread, chips to munch on so you are not tired and hungry.
Be cautious about the types of foods you consume. A change of diet has been beneficial for pain reduction. Eating less processed foods and more natural fruits, vegetables and protein has caused a tremendous change. Do cravings win at times? Yes but I try to be mindful to not have those cravings every day.
9) To accompany your change of diet, exercise often. Exercising increases blood flow and produces endorphins, which make you feel good. "It produces analgesia (pain relief) and helps to burn the prostaglandins-chemicals released during menstruation that causes muscle contractions "- OBGYN Gustavo Rossi, MD.
What Do You Do To Help Your Period?