Effective Ways to Alleviate Menstrual Cramps

Menstrual cramps are the pain and discomfort felt in the lower abdomen and pelvic regions during a menstrual cycle, and can be very painful for a number of women. The medical term dysmenorrhea translates to difficult or painful periods. Cramps are caused by uterine contractions which is when the uterus tightens and relaxes allowing blood to leave the uterus. It is normal to have mild cramps whilst on the monthly cycle because of the uterine contractions, but if the discomfort cannot be relieved through over-the-counter medication then professional advice should be sought as it may be a sign of an underlying cause.

How to Relieve the Cramps

• Over the counter pain killers should relieve menstrual cramps, but with a wide variety of painkillers available it can sometimes be daunting choosing the correct ones for the problem. If the patient is on no other medication and does not suffer from asthma and/or had previous stomach problems such as ulcers, then the best painkiller would be ibuprofen as it is a anti-inflammatory especially known to work with the stomach cramps to relieve them.
• A stronger pain killer to be used if ibuprofen does not help the pain is naproxen. Actually this has recently changed from a prescription only medication to a pain killer that is available over the counter. The downside to this medication is that it may cause drowsiness. If unable to take the above, then paracetamol will also help to relieve the pain. It is best to remember never take more than the stated dosage.

Alternative Remedies

• If the patient is unable to take over the counter pain killers then other remedies will need to be sought to relieve the menstrual cramps. A heat patch may help relieve the pain as it is said to work with the cramps to reduce the pain. If heat patches are not available then a hot water bottle could be substituted as it will have the same effect on the body.
• A hot bath may also reduce the severity of the cramps, and may also relieve other symptoms of the menstrual time of the month by relaxing the body. One method to naturally reduce menstrual cramps is to do some light exercise which can help a patient feel better. Eating correctly around that time should also help, it is best to avoid foods high in salt and sugar.