What Natural Or Home Remedies Or Over
When you have a stomach bug, there are several things you can do to help relieve symptoms.
Before trying any alternative or herbal home remedy, consult your doctor.
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When To See Your Gp
Talk to your GP if you have a stomach ache and:
- the pain gets much worse quickly
- the pain or bloating does not go away or keeps coming back
- you have stomach pain and problems swallowing food
- youre losing weight without trying to
- you pee more often or less often
- peeing is painful
- your diarrhoea does not go away after a few days
How Does Period Pain Feel
There is a wide range of how period pain feels and how severe it is.
Period pain is usually felt in the lower abdomen. Sometimes this pain spreads towards the upper abdomen, back and thighs. It may feel like cramps, heaviness or a constant, dull pain.
Some people also experience nausea, diarrhoea or symptoms of premenstrual syndrome .
Many people will experience some form of pain during their period. It is more common if you are young, but can also affect you as you get older.
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How Much Period Pain Is Normal And What Should You Do If Your Cramps Suddenly Get Worse
Remember, everyones cycle is different, so what might be normal for you might not be normal for someone else. The bottom line is, period cramps shouldnt significantly affect your day-to-day life.
Keeping track of your symptoms with a period tracking app like Flo can be really useful for making sense of your cycle. You can also have your history of symptoms at-hand when you speak to your doctor or health care professional.
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Ways To Help With Period Cramps
There are a lot of reasons to be in awe of our periods. Their cyclical nature, the reminder of how much is happening within our bodies, their potential connection to the never-ending cycle of the moon and the tides and yet, none of that takes away from how not-great or even downright debilitating period cramps can feel.
The good news is that if you are suffering from menstrual cramps each month, a few methods can help provide relief.
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Baking Soda And Water
The women who take baking soda and water help to reduce inflammation.
Consuming baking soda and Water has side effects like liver damage and bone loss.
Therefore, it is suitable for short-term inflammation relief. It is convenient to use and increases the immune system. You can take it twice daily for two to three days for better effect.
Exercise To Get Rid Of Menstrual Pain
Exercising can help to relieve pain. When you exercise, your body releases endorphin which are known to play a great role in pain management possessing morphine-like effects.
Also, exercising keeps your body active and allows for the proper flow of blood in the body. Getting involved in various exercises such as walking, swimming, running and others can help to keep your body active at all time.
Medical research has found sport women to have less pain or menstrual cramps in relation to other women. Therefore, exercising is a great way to relieve yourself of that pain.
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How To Determine Type Of Period Pain And Why Is It Important
Primary dysmenorrhea is more common and easily treatable than secondary dysmenorrhea. Secondary dysmenorrhea can indicate serious underlying health conditions. And thats one of the many reasons you should care about and evaluate the pain youre feeling during those days. You should know when this pain is manageable and when you need special attention to get it treated. Here are some important questions you should ask yourself when it comes to period cramps.
Does your period pain become an obstacle in performing daily tasks at work and home? Do you feel any pain while urinating during periods? Are you having cramps so bad that the over-the-counter methods and painkillers are not working on them? Do you commonly experience pain in your pelvic area even without periods? Is it extremely painful for you to have sex?
If the answer is yes to most of these questions, it is a matter of concern.
Can Bad Period Cramps Be A Sign Of Something Else
Period cramps usually dont signify that something is wrong with your health. But in some cases they can be a symptom of a medical condition:
- Endometriosis This disorder occurs when tissue similar to the tissue that normally lines the inside of your uterus grows outside your uterus, often adhering to your bladder, ovaries, or even your bowels.
- Uterine Fibroids These are noncancerous growths that emerge inside the uterine walls. They can range in size from one tiny speck to several bulky masses.
- Adenomyosis Tissue that normally lines the uterus begins to grow inside the organs muscle wall.
Pain from these conditions may seem like period pain, but it typically lasts longer and can be more severe than your usual menstrual cramps.
If you experience this type of pain, its important to see your doctor, Thielen says.
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When Should We Call The Doctor
If your daughter’s PMS is severe, her doctor can help with other treatments, including medicine. Call the doctor if your daughter:
- does not feel better after trying home treatments
- seems very sad or hopeless
- ever talks about hurting or killing herself
- can’t do her usual activities because of her PMS symptoms
- has PMS symptoms that don’t go away after the first few days of her period
What To Do When Menstrual Cramps Are Severe
The period cramp relief tips above are a good place to start, but they may not work for every woman especially for those who have very painful cramps.
If you’re experiencing serious pain during your period, it’s important to talk to your OB-GYN. She or he will ask you about your symptoms and cycle and can recommend lifestyle changes that may help ease your pain, as well as perform a pelvic exam and prescribe medications, if needed.
“For instance, hormonal birth control medications are sometimes used to treat menstrual cramps and the pain that accompanies a period,” adds Dr. Borchardt.
Plus, in some cases, severe pain may be a sign of something more serious.
“Beyond the significant impact that period pain can have on your everyday life, the cramps themselves aren’t typically a medical concern,” says Dr. Borchardt. “However, severe menstrual cramps can sometimes be caused by a more serious gynecologic condition.”
In certain cases, severe period cramps can be a sign of:
- Endometriosis uterine tissue gets implanted in your fallopian tubes, ovaries or pelvic lining
- Uterine fibroids noncancerous uterine growths that can cause pain
- Adenomyosis uterine tissue grows into the muscular wall of the uterus
- Pelvic inflammatory disease infection of your uterus, fallopian tube and/or ovaries
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Related Conditions Of Abdominal Pain
Some of the most common conditions associated with abdominal pain include the following:
Irritable Bowel Syndrome This condition is characterized by symptoms like diarrhea, constipation, and bloating.
Constipation If you arent having regular bowel movements, you may feel bloated and full and experience sharp gas pains in your abdomen.
Peptic Ulcer When a sore develops in the lining of your stomach or upper small intestine, you may experience a burning sensation similar to hunger pangs, along with nausea, vomiting, or heartburn.
Pancreatitis Inflammation of your pancreas may cause sharp, severe pain in the upper middle area of your abdomen, along with nausea, vomiting, or fever. This condition can be either acute or chronic.
Diverticulitis
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Pop A Pain Med Before Your Cramps Start
No surprise here, but taking a pain reliever can, um, relieve pain. Ibuprofen lowers your levels of prostaglandins, which are the hormone-like substances that trigger uterine cramping and cause pain and inflammation. And you donât need to wait until youâre miserable to take a pain relieverif your cycle is pretty regular and you know when your period is coming, you may be able to stave off cramps before they even start. âTake pain relievers at the very beginning of your period, before cramps become intense,â Dr. Winter says. Just make sure you follow the dosage recommendations on the box, and give your parents a heads-up that youâre taking it.
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Milk And Other Dairy Products
Milk and other dairy products can generally be healthy options. However, during your period, your body is particularly susceptible to inflammation. The saturated fats in dairy products can trigger inflammation, which can worsen your menstrual pain.
Nevertheless, the calcium in dairy products can help cramps by controlling your muscles nerve activity. Calcium deficiencies can increase muscle spasms. Depending on your needs, it might be a good idea to consume dairy products in moderation.
On The Lookout For Changes
Even though there are a wide array of experiences of period pain, it’s also important to learn what’s normal for you, so you can be on the lookout for any changes.
If you experience a sudden increase in your ‘usual’ levels of period pain, or if you start to get period pain when previously you had none, it’s a good idea to speak to your doctor to rule out anything serious.
For more information on pelvic pain including pain that occurs at times outside of your period read our recent article, Pelvic pain: know the different causes and when to seek help.
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Massage With Essential Oils For Pain Relief
Massaging your skin with certain aromatic essential oils can relieve menstrual cramp pain, according to research published in The Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research. Investigators asked 48 women with menstrual cramps and other symptoms to massage either essential oils or a synthetic fragrance into their lower abdomen between periods.
Women in both groups reported less pain, but the essential oils group did better. Based on the women’s reports, researchers found that the duration of pain was reduced by almost a half a day after self-massaging with the essential oils.
Some oils thought to be helpful include lavender essential oil, clary sage essential oil, and .
Just be sure youre using essential oils safely. Buy high-quality oils that are tested for purity. The National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy suggests diluting pure essential oils in an unscented cream, lotion, or carrier oil before placing it on your skin to avoid irritation.
Care Advice For Menstrual Cramps
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What Other Foods Can Help Cramps
In addition to magnesium and copper in dark chocolate, other micronutrients may help with period pain.
Based on a review of 16 clinical studies, vitamins B1, D, E, and K, calcium, zinc, and boron appear to exhibit anti-inflammatory and other properties that help ease painful periods .
For many of these nutrients, only the supplement versions have been assessed. Nevertheless, it likely wont hurt to eat foods containing them to see if they help your period cramps. Although, avoid any of these foods if youre allergic or sensitive to them.
Here are some foods that are rich in nutrients that may ease menstrual cramps:
Eating a balanced diet with plenty of plant foods, nutritious fats, and protein will keep you energized during times of period pain.
Staying hydrated and limiting foods that can zap your energy, like refined carbohydrates and alcohol even if you feel like they give you a quick, short-term boost can also help.
How Long Period Pain Lasts
Period pain usually starts when your bleeding begins, although some women have pain several days before the start of their period.
The pain usually lasts 48 to 72 hours, although it can last longer. Itâs usually at its worst when your bleeding is heaviest.
Young girls often have period pain when they begin getting periods. Read more about starting periods.
Period pain that does not have an underlying cause tends to improve as a woman gets older. Many women also notice an improvement after theyâve had children.
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When Should I Talk To My Ob
Since each womans body is unique, it can be difficult to tell whether the cramps youve grown used to are actually chronic. Use these common symptoms of chronic, severe menstrual cramps as a guideline to decide if its time to talk to an OB-GYN about your cramps.
- Your cramps interfere with your daily life
- The cramps last longer than two days
- No or minimal relief from over-the-counter pain medication
- You have cramps outside of your period
- You notice a change in how your cramps feel over time
How To Get Relief
- Try an over-the-counter medicine like TYLENOL®.
- Soak in a warm bath. Relax! You deserve it.
- Use a heating pad or hot water bottle to apply gentle heat.
- Stay physically active. Some women find exercise helps.
- Eat a balanced diet and get enough sleep.
Talk to your doctor before beginning or revising any exercise regimen. If your cramps are so severe that you cant go about your normal routine, please consult with your gynecologist. Your symptoms could be a sign of another medical condition.
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How Does Endometriosis Affect Fertility
When you have endometriosis, tissue similar to the kind that normally lines the inside of your uterus grows in places its not supposed to usually on your ovaries, fallopian tubes, or the outside of your uterus.
When you have your period, this tissue sheds and causes bleeding, just like the lining of your uterus does. But theres no easy way for the blood to leave your body, so it can cause swelling and pain. This can lead to scar tissue that can block your fallopian tubes, making it harder for pregnancy to happen. A lot of people with endometriosis have problems with fertility.
How To Use Cbd For Menstrual Cramps
To use a topical CBD product, rub it directly on the area thats causing you grief. If you dont get any relief, you can use more after a few hours.
For ingestible products, check the product label for dosing guidelines. Generally, its a good idea to start with a low dose and work your way up. It can take time for CBD to take effect, though, so wait a few hours before taking an additional dose.
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Period Pain Caused By A Medical Condition
Less commonly, period pain can be caused by an underlying medical condition.
Period pain linked to an underlying medical condition tends to affect older women. Women aged 30 to 45 are most commonly affected.
Medical conditions that can cause period pain include:
- endometriosis where cells that normally line the womb grow in other places, such as in the fallopian tubes and ovaries these cells can cause intense pain when they shed
- fibroids non-cancerous tumours that can grow in or around the womb and can make your periods heavy and painful
- pelvic inflammatory disease where your womb, fallopian tubes and ovaries become infected with bacteria, causing them to become severely inflamed
- adenomyosis where the tissue that normally lines the womb starts to grow within the muscular womb wall, making your periods particularly painful