5 Ways To Make Your Periods Less Painful
by Tyler Woods
One of the worst parts about having a menstrual cycle is dealing with painful cramps. When your tummy hurts, it can be difficult to do your daily tasks. The good news is that changing some of your lifestyle habits can reduce cramps. Here are five effective ways to make your periods less painful:
Use Heat
When you start feeling cramps in your stomach, you should put a heating pad on your abdomen for 15 to 20 minutes. Heat improves blood flow to the skin, lessening pain. If you do not have a heating pad, just take a hot bath. After you sit in the tub for about 20 minutes or so, the pain should subside.
Try Yoga
Doing any kind of movement may seem impossible when you have menstrual cramps, but yoga may actually make things better. There are certain yoga poses that can reduce cramps. For example, you can try the cat pose. Menstrupedia recommends bending down to your knees and placing your hands shoulder width apart on the floor. As you inhale, pull your head up, arch your spine and hold your breath for a few seconds. Then, put your head back down and curve your spine as you exhale. Tighten your stomach toward your spine and hold your breath for another few seconds. Repeat five to 10 times.
Say No to Caffeine
It is wise to stay away from caffeine until your menstrual cycle is over. If you drink caffeinated beverages, such as coffee or tea, they can tighten your blood vessels and make cramps feel worse.
Massage Your Tummy
Another good way to reduce period cramps is to simply massage your stomach. A gentle massage will stimulate blood flow and help you feel better. As you are lying down on your bed, massage your lower abdomen in circular motions until the pain subsides.
Stay Hydrated
Drinking plenty of water during your period will decrease bloating, which can make cramps a lot less painful. If you drink eight cups of water a day, you should feel a lot better during your time of the month.
If you follow these helpful tips, your period cramps should not be as severe. However, if you still can't find relief from cramps, you should make an appointment with your gynecologist, one like Bayview OB GYN Women's Care Florida, as soon as possible. He or she can determine if a health condition is contributing to your painful periods or not.
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Do you know when your daughter needs to be introduced to the OBGYN? Discussions such as this can be difficult for both parent and daughter, but it can be ever so more difficult for the single father. A single father raising a teenage daughter comes with many complications. Teenage girls can be a little less likely to discuss woman problems with their father, so they need to have someone that they can talk freely with. My website is full if advice to help single fathers get through these difficult discussions with their teenage daughters and find an OBGYN that their daughters are comfortable with.