Menstruation is a natural bodily process that women go through every month. It’s that time of the month when women lose blood while also experiencing a slew of unpleasant symptoms like cramps, bloating, and mood swings.
Although some pain and discomfort are natural during menstruation, many frequent habits and blunders might exacerbate it.
Instead of hating that time of month due of the pain, here are five habits to be aware of and avoid.
- Poor diet
The foods you eat during your period tend to influence how intense or mild your period pain is.
During this time, eating processed and salty meals, refined sweets, caffeine, and alcohol can all be harmful to your health.
Caffeine has been found to cause blood arteries to constrict, slowing blood flow even more. This also constricts your uterus, exacerbating cramping.
Caffeine consumption on a regular basis has also been linked to an increased risk of most menstrual disorders. Avoiding coffee is not a practice that can assist relieve period pains.
Also, taking excessive sugar and salt can also double the discomfort during the period.
- Using the same pad/tampon for a long time
Another typical practice that might exacerbate menstrual pain is not changing pads or tampons on a regular basis.
Leaving a pad or tampon on for an extended period of time can result in bacterial growth, itching, and infection, all of which can cause further pain and discomfort.
This practice may potentially raise the likelihood of toxic shock syndrome. Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is an uncommon but serious illness caused by specific bacterial strains. It is frequently related with the usage of tampons/pads/menstrual cups since bacteria can grow on them if they are not changed frequently enough.
To maintain adequate hygiene and limit the risk of infection, change pads or tampons every 4-8 hours or more frequently.
- Skimping on sleep
Menstrual pain and discomfort might be exacerbated by getting insufficient or poor-quality sleep.
According to one study, those who slept for less than six hours per night were 44% more likely to have an irregular menstruation and 70% more likely to have significant bleeding during their period than healthy sleepers.
To alleviate pain, it is best to get at least 7-9 hours of sleep per night throughout your menstrual cycle.
- Skipping meals
It’s understandable that you don’t feel like eating during your menstrual period. But, to be honest, it won’t help you.
According to one study, skipping meals, particularly breakfast, may increase menstrual cramping even if the pain is intolerable.
Skipping meals makes you hungry, weak, and queasy, exacerbating the agony.
Instead of skipping meals at this time, pick natural and unprocessed foods wherever possible.
Also, ensure you’re staying hydrated to lessen the severity of the cramp.
- Having high-stress level
Stress might be considered a normal part of life. Failure to manage it properly throughout your menstrual period, on the other hand, can exacerbate the pain.
Stress can cause the body to release cortisol, a stress hormone that can increase inflammation and worsen menstruation discomfort.
High stress levels have been linked to painful periods, according to research. According to one study, “the risk of painful periods was more than twice as high among women experiencing high stress compared to those experiencing low stress.”
Try yoga, get away from your pressures, and relax in a nice bath. This can help to alleviate pain and other discomfort associated with your menstruation.
If your periods are so heavy that you need to change your pads or tampons frequently (more than once every 1 to 2 hours).
If you experience severe cramps that prevent you from performing your daily tasks and pain medications and activities are ineffective, consult a physician.
