Period pains aren’t a fair game among ladies. Some only have a little that they still get to be superwomen at their jobs and at home, tackling endless work meetings, hardcore workout routines, and a nice, special meal for their significant other. Others have to call in sick to work and just curl into a ball at their beds the whole day. Why is that so? The short answer is that your body and lifestyle isn’t the same as others. If you’re wondering why your cramps are more painful than your roommate’s, here are the possible reasons behind it:
1. You’re slacking on diet
Eating the wrong food doesn’t just ruin your figure. It also makes your cramps more painful. This is especially the case when you binge-eat on salty and fatty food — not just on your red days, but on the days leading up to it.
Too much salt causes the body to retain more water, which results in bloating and further aggravates cramps symptoms. Too much fat in your diet, on the other hand, increases the production of the hormone prostaglandin, which triggers uterus contractions and makes period pains worse.
Gynecologists, along with South Jordan-based practitioners, highly recommend reaching for fruits and vegetables, like bananas, pineapples, kale, and spinach. These are rich in vitamins and enzymes that either reduce inflammation in the body or relieve bloating and sluggishness.
2. You’re skipping the gym
Women who don’t exercise tend to have more painful cramps. On the flip side, those who are physically active struggle less frequently.
More than a way of prevention, exercise is in itself a good reliever for pain symptoms. It may seem counterintuitive to put your body in strain when you’re already hurting, but exercise does ease cramps because it triggers the release of endorphins. These hormones interact with brain receptors responsible for the perception of pain, reducing such feelings and putting you in a good mood.
Don’t stay on your bed all day either when you’re having cramps. Break a sweat by doing brisk walking, biking, running, or swimming, as such aerobic exercises are the most effective in getting rid of those nasty pains.
3. You’re suffering from an underlying condition
Unfortunately, painful cramps may not just be due to your menstruation. It can also be a symptom of a health condition. For instance, some women have uterine fibroids, benign growths on the uterus wall, which increase the surface area of the uterus and make periods heavier.
Consult your gynecologist, especially if there are people in your family who have this condition. The doctor may prescribe birth control pills to manage it. Another health problem that could be triggering your painful cramps is an ovarian cyst. When these become large or break open, patients experience sudden, severe pain in the pelvic area and sometimes, suffering from nausea or vomiting as well. In this case, urgent care is required.
There’s no mystery why your period cramps are worse than your roommate’s. Women experience period cramps differently because of the unique differences in their bodies and lifestyles. The best way to know how to relieve pain symptoms is to consult your doctor.
