What can help period pain – Part 1?

It is reported that period pain affects two thirds of women ranging from mild discomfort to pain at some time or other.  Period pain happens because of contractions in the uterus, or womb, which is a muscle. If it contracts too strongly during your menstrual cycle, it can press against nearby blood vessels. This briefly cuts off the supply of oxygen to the uterus. It’s this lack of oxygen causes your pain and cramping.

The cramping can be felt in the lower belly or lower back or both.  The intensity of the cramping can very from mild to severe.

In addition to cramping women can get leg pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea or extreme fatigue.

When period pain has no obvious cause, it is classified by the medical profession as “primary” while pain caused by an actual condition e.g. endometriosis, fibroids, PID (pelvic inflammatory disease) is called “secondary”.

In the next few blogs I want to share some tips on assisting those women like myself who suffer from primary period pain.

I personally have found that placing a hot water bottle on your lower back/belly or taking a warm bath may provide some relief.  If you are at work, you can put a hot pad on the area.  One of the things that got me hooked on reflexology was that it helped it reduced my PMT and I felt that my periods were less painful too.

Related Posts

  • How to boost your Vitamin D levels?

    Vitamin D is a steroid hormone as the body can manufacture it (via exposure to UVB radiation from sunlight) as well as absorb it from food. So in the dark winter months when safe sun exposure is impossible without going on holiday, your can become depleted in Vitamin D.  (see signs).  So I want to explain how can you boost your vitamin D levels? Probably the simplest way it to take a vitamin D supplement, I would recommend D3 as this is the most natural form of vitamin D.  In addition vitamin D is found in the following foods.

    • Sardines
    • Wild caught Alaskan salmon
    • Egg yolks
    • Cheese
    • Beef livers
    • Butter
    • Breakfast cereals fortified with vitamin D
    • Yoghurt fortified with vitamin D
    However it should be noted that it can be difficult to optimise your vitamin D level just from food sources. Vitamin D is well known to prevent osteoporosis and promote strong bones and teeth but its role in disease prevention is probably less well known.  So in the next few blog posts I want to look at its role in disease prevention starting with the immune system.

  • Here is why I bang on so much about good posture?

    I know that it may appear that I am getting on my soapbox, when I talk about posture.  So I thought it is worth explaining why. Good posture [...]

  • What is the difference between sports and deep tissue massage?

    Deep tissue is a very descriptive name and is self-explanatory.  The confusion comes when it is compared to sports massage.  The big difference is the focus. Sports massage is dedicated to

    • improving sports performance
    • prevention of and treating sports injuries
    The reasons for booking a sports massage are:
    • You work out religiously, but aren't as relgious about stretching
    • You cycle or run to work and don't think to stretch
    • You play sports but don't cross train so have specific trouble spots
    • Your performance (in a particular sport) has dropped
    • You have a history of injuries and want to reduce the likely hood of further injuries
    Deep Tissue massage is a problem solving massage for everyone. The reasons for booking a deep tissue massage are:
    • You work at a computer all day and your neck, shoulders & back are chronically sore
    • You are so tense your back feels like concrete
    • You have tired achy legs
    • You are in pain
    • You are stiff (or are unable to move your neck/arm/leg freely)
    • You are stressed or anxious
    • You have a knot or a muscle spasm
    To book a treatment click here.