Tips to Reduce the Pain of Menstrual Cramps

A monthly period is not the only event a woman anticipates in her everyday life.
Along with the regular monthly cycle come other occurrences such as menstrual cramps or cramps that can be severe or intolerable. It is not surprising that woman with severe cramps on her monthly period with such fear.

Menstrual cramp is one of the problems of common health care experienced by women during their reproductive years. It is estimated that about 30 to 50 percent of all women suffer from pain during their menstrual periods, the incidence is higher in younger women, from teenagers to women in their thirties. At least 10 percent of younger women have severe symptoms that others can not do your normal activities.

Some have to miss work, school or other important functions, since it can not handle the pain.
The substance called prostagladins are the cause of most symptoms with Menstrual cram. These are produced by the body and found in the lining of the uterus. When the lining starts to shed with menstruation, they are released, which then causes the uterus to contract forcefully, which is why much of the cramp itself.

It usually lasts for one to three days. It is usually felt in the lower or middle abdomen. The pain may spread to the hips, thighs and back. The pain rises to a maximum and falls, and then starts again. This is due to uterine contractions that underlie the cramps. Although heat cramps are experienced by women, the severity of it varies from woman to woman. Some women have cramps that are barely noticeable, others may feel excruciating pain. They may also experience dizziness, weakness and chills. The abdominal and leg spasms also occur with severe cramping.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDs are not the main treatment for menstrual cramps. There are different medications and brands to choose from, but ibuprofen (Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve) are some of the most popular NSAIDs on the market today. They work by preventing the body from making prostagladins and prevent blood clotting. Different formulas work well in different women, this is due to the production of prostagladins is a series of events. Different drugs in the NSAID category work on different stages.

Ibuprofen is a generic of a good to take to start and is also the cheapest. For severe cramping, your doctor may recommend low-dose oral contraceptives to prevent ovulation. This can reduce the production of prostaglandins and the severity of cramps. There is no way to predict which drugs work best in a particular woman is why it is best to consult a doctor if your menstrual cramps are becoming a regular thing and hinders the daily activities of a woman.
However, there are some care tips to help reduce the pain of menstrual cramps. Once you feel the pain, try to do following:

1. Use a heating pad on your abdomen and take a hot bath to relieve cramps.
2. Regular exercise has also been shown to help relieve menstrual cramps. Exercise increases the release of endorphins, the body's natural painkillers. Adequate rest helps your body to be less vulnerable to pain.Although menstrual cramps are usually associated with pain, is also closely linked to ovulatory cycles. Thus, women should not always be fearful of having menstrual cramps before and during your monthly period. It is an important sign of a woman's potential for fertility.