Keep Cramps from Cramping Your Style

A challenging part of getting your period are the cramps that sometimes come with it. These spasms are caused by the contraction of your muscles—an action necessary to shed the uterine lining that your body discards each time you have your period. And while these contractions are never as intense as those experienced during childbirth, they do involve the same muscles.

Cramps affect each person differently causing mild discomfort to debilitating pain. And depending on the level of throbbing that comes to you each month, there are a variety of home remedies you can try to keep your head above water.

Get the Blood Pumping

Mild exercise is great for battling the stresses that come with daily life. The good news is, this same tactic may work just as well with period pangs. It may feel like the last thing you want to do while you're cramping is to get your heart pumping, but the endorphins that are released while you're working up a sweat can actually help. Going for a short walk outdoors or on the treadmill or trying out stretches during a yoga session are mild ways that can help combat the pain.

Zone Out

Meditation can work wonders and dull even the most intense pains. Keeping still and practicing breathing allows you to focus on wellness instead of your cramps. Pampering yourself with a massage can also help relieve stress in your pelvic region. Massaging pressure points are said to enhance blood circulation and ease cramps. Take care though, as some women tend to bruise easily during their periods.

Strike A Pose

Trying to sleep while you're experiencing cramps can be a really frustrating experience. Instead of lying flat on your back, try putting your legs over a pillow, or go into the fetal position. Some yoga poses are said to relieve cramps, as well as other period discomforts like headaches, lower back pain and heavy bleeding. Aside from easing physical discomfort, yoga can help maintain your emotional balance during this time of the month.

The Heat is On

Heat is a common remedy for pain because it helps increase blood flow, consequently easing pain. Gently placing a heating pad/hot compress on your abdomen or even taking a warm shower can help decrease your level of pain while cramping. If you've got a tub, drawing a hot bath can also help work wonders (and be extremely relaxing, too!).

Food for Thought

Greasy fast food won't help you, whether you've got your period or not—but during those days when your cramps are extra unbearable, it'll do you good to stay away from anything unhealthily fatty and salty. Foods that are high in Omega-3 fatty acids work best to help tame those contractions, so loading up on salmon or food cooked in extra virgin olive oil are great (and delicious) options that can help you eat your way out of cramps. These foods block the production of substances that are responsible for those muscle contractions. Fruits and fiber-rich food are also recommended. A hot cup of herbal tea can also calm you down and be soothing on the tummy whenever your period pangs begin to hit.

Doc Knows Best

Dysmenorrhea, or severe and frequent menstrual cramping can be overwhelming and difficult to deal with, with just home remedies. If your cramps have you way in over your head and begin to affect your day-to-day life, it's always best to see your physician. Ibuprofen is a typical over-the-counter medicine given to help beat the pain, but you should always remember that a doctor's prescription should always take precedence over a self-diagnosis.