Ways to ease the menstrual pain

By Dr. Shobha Gupta 

Hindustan Times - HT City

Menstrual pain is a common thing among teenagers and adults. However, there are many ways to tackling the problem in a more natural way. 

1. Try light exercise – Exercise during your periods is more than just required. If your body is active then lesser pain will be felt. Mild exercise is a must. You can simply walk around or use treadmill for this purpose. These simple exercises will help increase flow of blood. 

2. Rich diet is a must - There are certain foods that can help ease menstrual pain and discomfort. Eat lot of whole grains like brown rice or pastas. Also include lots of fruits, milk and green leafy vegetables as it helps to ease the flow during menstruation. 

3. Hot showers or hot bags - Use either hot water bag or ice bag whatsoever suits your body. Hot compress is more ideal as it can give you immediate results to ease the pain. If it doesn't seem to work then use ice packs instead. You can also have a hot water bath concentrate on the flow of water on your abdomen and back. 

4. Massage during periods gives your body a relaxing feel. Try and do some gentle upwards motions on your lower abdominal area. Repeat the

steps 7-8 times. 

5. Wear comfort clothes – Try and avoid tight fitted clothes especially around your waist. They only hurt your stomach and further cause discomfort. 

6. Take adequate sleep - have enough sleep as it will help restore the reproductive system. Lack of sleep can disrupt your cycle. So, taking proper measures to ensure that you sleep well, don't have very heavy dinners, stay away from all gadgets including TV and phone at bedtime, have a warm shower and hot glass of milk etc. A dark room helps melatonin production that aids sleep.    

Related Articles: The Times of India ; Allaboutwomen