Menstrual cramps are uterine contractions. When a woman menstruates, she releases specific hormones. Prostaglandins are hormones that work to stimulate the muscular contractions required for uterine lining shedding. Because prostaglandins cause menstrual cramps, they also bear the brunt of the pain that they frequently accompany.
Menstrual contractions are not as powerful as labour and childbirth contractions, but they use the same muscles. Some women have cramps every menstrual cycle, while others only have them occasionally. Menstrual cramps can be excruciatingly painful, ranging from mildly annoying to incapacitating.
Menstrual cramps also referred to as dysmenorrhea, are painful, cramping, and throbbing sensations that occur before and during a menstrual period.
The pain can range from mild to unbearable, and symptoms can include lower-abdominal cramps, achy discomfort, or extreme pain that comes and goes, similar to labour pains.
Nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea may accompany menstrual cramps.
“More than half of women who menstruate have some cramping for one or two days each month,” says Carol Livoti, MD, a gynecologists’ in New York City and a fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists’.
There are, however, ways to alleviate the agony of menstrual cramps.
What causes menstruation cramps?
Prostaglandins are chemicals produced by the body responsible for many of the symptoms associated with menstrual discomfort. These chemicals are produced by the tissue that lines the uterus. Prostaglandins cause contractions of the uterine muscles. People with high levels of prostaglandin may experience more intense uterine contractions and pain. Prostaglandins may also be blamed for period-related vomiting, diarrhoea, and headaches.
Other reproductive tract conditions, such as the following, can cause menstrual cramps
- Endometriosis is a condition in which tissue similar to uterine tissue grows outside the uterus.
- Fibroids and adenomyosis are noncancerous (benign) uterine growths.
- Infections that affect the reproductive organs
- Ectopic pregnancy is an example of abnormal pregnancy (pregnancy in the tubes, outside the uterus)
- IUD (intrauterine device) is a birth control device.
- Cyst of the ovaries
- Cervical slenderness
Primary dysmenorrhea occurs when you have had menstrual pain since the beginning of your periods. Secondary dysmenorrhea occurs when a physical condition, such as pelvic inflammatory disease or endometriosis develops and causes pain. Menstrual pain usually goes away once the medical condition is treated.
Also read – ” 12 Reasons Why Too Much Sugar Is Bad for You “
Some Home remedies That Can Help You Out:
Drink more water-hydrate yourself
Menstrual cramps, also known as primary dysmenorrhea, are an unpleasant part of many women’s monthly lives. Drinking more water may help alleviate bloating, which exacerbates symptoms.
Get into the habit of drinking 6 to 8 glasses of water per day, especially during your period. To make it more appealing, garnish with mint or a lemon wedge. Cut back on the salt while you’re at it, which promotes fluid retention and bloating. Avoid alcohol, which causes dehydration. Some women experience diarrhea or vomiting in addition to menstrual cramps. It is critical to replace lost fluids by drinking plenty of water.
Follow a good diet
You may crave fatty, sugary, or salty foods when you have your period, but these are not your friends. Doughnuts and potato chips are out. Some women discover that eating the right foods can help relieve menstrual pain. Anti-inflammatory foods include cherries, blueberries, squash, tomatoes, and bell peppers. Coldwater fish high in omega-3 fatty acids are also good options.
Consume more calcium-rich foods such as beans, almonds, and dark leafy greens. These foods contain anti-inflammatory compounds. Some women claim that eating this way can help relieve menstrual pain and improve their health. It’s best to eat a healthy, balanced diet all year round, not just during your period.
Avoid Using These-
Period cramps can be helped or harmed by your dietary and lifestyle habits. Some women find that avoiding certain foods helps with monthly menstrual discomfort. White, refined foods such as sugar, bread, and pasta should be avoided. Avoid trans fats, commonly found in commercially prepared foods such as French fries, cookies, onion rings, crackers, and margarine. Abstain from alcohol, tobacco, and caffeine. All of these factors increase inflammation and may contribute to period pain. There is some evidence that reducing harmful fat intake may also aid in relieving painful periods.
Put ginger in the diet
A study of young women found that ginger capsules and NSAIDs like ibuprofen and mefenamic acid relieved symptoms of primary dysmenorrhea, including painful periods. For the first three days of their periods, women in the ginger group took 250-milligramme capsules of ginger four times a day.
Women in the mefenamic acid group took 250-milligramme capsules four times a day, while women in the ibuprofen group took 400 milligrams four times a day. Women in each of the three treatment groups reported comparable pain relief, satisfaction with treatment, and reductions in dysmenorrhea severity, regardless of which treatment they received. None of the women in the study experienced severe side effects from any treatments. If you want to spice things up, add some ginger.
Also read – ” How Meditation Can Change Your Life “
Vitamin D
Cramps caused by dysmenorrhea can be incapacitating. Dysmenorrhea-related cramps are caused by an increase in prostaglandins, which causes the uterus to contract. The uterine lining is shed as a result of these contractions.
Vitamin D reduces prostaglandin production. In one study of young women with primary dysmenorrhea and low vitamin D levels, high weekly doses of supplemental vitamin D significantly reduced pain intensity eight weeks into treatment and one month later. Women who took vitamin D also used less pain medication to treat menstrual cramps. You can ask your doctor to perform a simple blood test to determine your vitamin D levels.
More magnesium
Magnesium is a mineral that your body requires to power over 300 enzyme systems. It is required to develop muscles, proteins, and healthy bones. Magnesium is required by the body for the proper function of muscles and nerves and to regulate blood pressure and blood sugar levels.
Magnesium is required for the synthesis of DNA and RNA and the production of glutathione, the body’s master antioxidant. It may also help relieve PMS symptoms, especially when combined with vitamin B6. According to one study, women who took 250 milligrams of magnesium and 40 milligrams of vitamin B6 per day had the most significant reduction in PMS symptoms. Take care. Certain medications, such as antibiotics, proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), diuretics, and bisphosphonates, can be affected by magnesium.
Also read – ” How work from home impacted your sleep cycle? “
Conclusion
Menstrual cramps can be excruciating for women, and they can also cause nausea, fatigue, dizziness, backaches, and other unpleasant side effects. They are, however, usually manageable with various home remedies. Women are usually aware of what works for them.
Avoiding caffeine, alcohol, and tobacco and switching to a healthy diet may provide relief from nagging pain. A walk or orgasmic sex may also provide relief. Taking over-the-counter medications before the onset of pain is also a good idea. The best thing about primary dysmenorrhea is that it gets better with age.
However, if your cramps last longer than usual, you should consult your doctor.
