Cramps are a symptom of many women’s menstrual cycles. They cause mild to extreme discomfort that can be hard to get past. Although some women are able to take a Motrin and go about their day with ease, others cannot and require additional treatment options to help alleviate their pain.
Subject to ridicule, menstrual cramps are often misunderstood. That’s why it’s important for women to understand how to lessen their severity, so it doesn’t interfere with daily activities. The following guide offers short and simple ways to obtain relief from abdominal cramping.
Here is how to alleviate painful menstrual cramps:
- Do some gentle stretching. Yoga is excellent because it helps loosen tight muscles. It can be done inside the home, too, so you don’t need to go to the gym to see benefits from this form of exercise.
- Give your stomach a rub. Don’t apply too much pressure, however, because you could aggravate the area more. Instead, rub lightly to relax muscles. A clockwise circular motion works wonders on the body.
- Make sure you’re getting the right vitamins and nutrients. Vitamin B1 and magnesium help reduce cramps and bloating as well as other symptoms attributed to PMS. You can get what you need from the foods that you eat or supplements that you take. You can also soak in Epsom Salts which contain magnesium, a natural muscle relaxant.
- Apply heat to the areas that hurt. A heating pad or hot water bottle can provide long-lasting relief. Apply one of the options to the areas of your body that hurt most. Look for larger pads and bottles to increase their effectiveness. There are heating pads that double as small blankets that you can drape across your abdomen or lower back. Make sure to turn them off before going to bed or buy a model that has an automatic shutoff after a specific period of use.
Don’t let cramps caused by menstruation put a damper on your day. Follow the advice listed above for ways to alleviate your symptoms. You don’t need to suffer in silence because there are things you can do to lessen the severity of the pain you’re feeling.
If you continue to experience excruciating pain that isn’t alleviated by doing the things mentioned here, it’s time to contact Dr. Ahmadinia for additional testing. There may be something else wrong that can be detected through further examination by the gynecologist.
