PMS: effective pain relief methods

Pain that appears monthly, at the same time a few days before menstruation, is a common phenomenon. At this time, many women begin to have chest pains, pulling pains in the abdomen, calves of the legs swell, irritability and anxiety appear. Causeless tearfulness and apathetic state are suddenly replaced by aggressiveness that has arisen out of the blue. According to statistics, only 20% of lucky women do not experience painful symptoms of premenstrual condition. The rest, to one degree or another, have to deal with its manifestations. What should be done to make it easier to survive this time?

Why you should not ignore the appearance of pain, anxiety and other symptoms during PMS?

Symptoms of the premenstrual state, or, as it is commonly called, PMS, is familiar to almost any woman — the appearance of headaches, nervousness, mood swings, stool disorders, swelling, pain in the abdomen, and also in the joints. Signs of malaise in most cases are observed for about two weeks, and they can end both before the onset of menstruation and with its end. Manifestations of PMS are observed in both mild and severe forms. The severe course of the disease is an extremely infrequent phenomenon, accompanied by disturbances in the activity of the heart and blood vessels. At the same time, mild PMS is an unstable but relatively harmless psychological condition that does not require medical treatment. That is why many women try to cope with the manifestations of premenstrual ailment without the help of specialists, considering it just a mild ailment that does not cause much harm to the body.

But medical research shows that ignoring even mild psychological, vegetovascular, and endocrine disorders is a danger to women’s health. Young women who do not attach importance to the manifestations of PMS, in the future, go through the period of menopause much more difficult, and also more often suffer from diseases such as osteoporosis, being overweight, and diseases of the cardiovascular system.

Improper nutrition as one of the causes of severe pain

In a situation where severe pain occurs, there are many ways to normalize your own condition.

After the process of ovulation, the content of estrogen in the blood decreases, as a result of which the production of progesterone begins in the ovaries. There is an opinion that such changes in the hormonal background are the cause of PMS. Moreover, the rampant hormones contribute to the retention of fluid — hence the appearance of edema and the resulting headaches. The results of research scientists also tell that a few days before the onset of menstruation, the level of serotonin, the so-called happiness hormone, decreases. Therefore, there is nothing surprising in the fact that at this time there are sharp mood swings, and also attacks of uncontrolled hunger quite often overcome — in this way the body tries to make up for the deficiency of serotonin. There is a version that the manifestations of PMS can be caused by beriberi, in particular, a deficiency of vitamins A and B6, magnesium, calcium, and zinc.

In order to improve your well-being during premenstrual syndrome, it is desirable to normalize sleep and, as far as possible, eliminate the creation of stressful situations. Yoga classes or breathing exercises can help maintain a state of peace of mind. Intensive training, as well as physical overstrain, should be avoided. With feasible physiological stress, blood circulation normalizes and the synthesis of endorphins increases — hormones that provide a state of satisfaction, as well as well-being.

You need to organize proper nutrition — eat four to five times a day, but only in small portions, to maintain normal blood sugar levels. It helps in getting rid of weakness and excessive nervousness. It is advisable to introduce a sufficient amount of foods containing magnesium into the menu — nuts, peas, beans, rice. In addition, it is necessary to consume foods containing vitamin B6 (wheat sprouts, chicken meat, potatoes), omega-3 polyunsaturated acids (fish and seafood), as well as egg yolk containing the required amount of vitamin D. It is advisable to avoid both salty and sweet products. Salt retains water in the body and leads to puffiness, while excessive consumption of sugar increases the feeling of fatigue and also causes mood swings.

How to relieve abdominal pain and eliminate other unpleasant symptoms of PMS?

In addition to the above, there are other ways to help yourself relieve severe pain. For example:

• You can take a relaxing bath. In case of pain in the abdomen or lower back, a heating pad or a bath with warm water and infusion of mint or chamomile can help. Or another option — a bath that relieves pain: with the addition of menthol and eucalyptus. Warm water will help in relaxing muscles and relieving pain.
• Lavender oil will help relieve severe pain in the abdomen. You need to gently massage these areas in a circular motion in a clockwise direction.
• It is also desirable to stretch the ankles well — special acupuncture points are located in this area — approximately at a distance of the width of the palm under the knee from the inside. Press on them for two to three minutes.
• Herbal tea will ease the condition. To remove swelling, it is recommended to drink chamomile decoction, which has a weak diuretic property. Or tea from nettle leaves, which helps to eliminate toxins, helps relieve chest pain, reduces the intensity of bleeding during menstruation.
• An infusion of St. John’s wort, which is part of some herbal antidepressants, will help to cope with signs of depression.
• In case of persistent pain, it is advisable to consult a specialist. If you have to constantly suffer from intense manifestations of PMS, it may make sense to start taking oral contraceptives. They alleviate painful symptoms, reduce the intensity of discharge during menstruation and normalize the cycle. It may be worth discussing this with your gynecologist. The doctor’s task is not just to choose the right drug, but also to correctly track the body’s reaction to taking it. During the first month of taking OK, you must carefully analyze your well-being. In case of headaches or other symptoms, you should immediately consult a doctor.