Period cramps affect over half of all women who menstruate for at least a day or two each month, according to the American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. Cramps can cause some women incapacitating levels of pain; in other cases, they can put a serious dent in your lifestyle. Managing the pain associated with periods has long presented a challenge for many women, especially those who prefer not to take pharmaceutical painkillers.
The good news is that there are a number of things you can do to relieve pain or to prevent it from arising, to begin with.
Change Your Diet
There is growing research which shows that reducing the amount of fat in your diet, while increasing your intake of vegetables, could make a significant difference to the severity of cramps. A diet that is low in fat has an anti-inflammatory effect across the whole body. Adopting a low fat, high in vegetables, or even vegetarian diet is beneficial for your health overall but could also help to ease menstrual cramps.
Try to Relax
Pain is an interesting phenomenon; it is both physical and psychological in nature. Research shows that when we are feeling especially stressed or unhappy, we feel pain much more. One of the simplest ways of reducing stress in our lives is to stay on top of our health. Approach an insurance company such as Health Insurance Innovations to score yourself good health insurance and total peace of mind.
Fish Oil and Vitamin B1
Effective natural pain relievers are hard to come by. However, both fish oil and vitamin B1 have both been shown to make a significant difference in terms of both the amount of pain that women feel and how long they feel it for.
Heating pads are one of the most popular non-pharmaceutical treatment options for menstrual cramps. Previous studies have suggested that applying heat topically to treat pain can be a very effective treatment.
Many women find that herbal teas are a very relaxing choice, but many herbal teas are also able to either kill pain or otherwise help to alleviate period cramps. The scientific evidence is still quite thin, but there is ongoing research in this area. If you are planning on using herbal teas as a treatment for menstrual cramps, you should consult with your doctor. This is because many of these herbal teas contain estrogen, which can be dangerous for those who have had hormone-related cancers or are taking blood-thinning drugs.
Up the Magnesium
It seems that a lack of dietary magnesium is linked with more severe cramping during periods. There are many foods which serve as excellent sources of magnesium, or you can purchase magnesium supplements instead. As well as helping to reduce cramping, ensuring that you have enough magnesium in your system is also important for regulating nerve and muscle functioning.
Period cramps can cause serious problems for many women, especially those who have sworn off pharmaceutical painkillers. The above methods have proven to be helpful for many women, but everybody is different and what works for other people might not work for you.