Every month there is a laundry list of symptoms which plague women before and during their periods, that reads something like this:
Back aches; sore breasts; nausea; vomiting; bloating; cramps – both the dull and achy kind, as well as the sharp, shooting-pains kind; constipation; faintness; hot and cold flashes; dizziness; fatigue; irritability; insomnia; and on it goes…
Depending on your particular body, these symptoms can range anywhere from mildly annoying to debilitating. With the billions of dollars women lose in wages and productivity because of debilitating menstruation, it’s no wonder that they are looking for ways to ease PMS symptoms.
If you suffer from any of the above frustrations, even if mildly, here are some helpful tips that you can use to ease PMS symptoms.
Bloating, a.k.a. “The Baby Beluga Whale Symptom”
You know you’re affected if you’ve got a secret stash of “fat” clothes in the back of your closet. I’m talking about those jeans that are one or two sizes bigger than normal that you whip out whenever your body begins to swell. Your waistline isn’t the only thing affected by bloating though. Tender breasts, constipation, and even some pelvic aches can all stem from bloating.
Bloating is caused by a couple of things: One, it’s an excess amount of certain hormones in the system [insert link here] which then cause your body to retain both water and salt. Secondly, consuming too much salt during your cycle can cause bloating. While it’s difficult to do much about excess hormones, you can control your salt intake. Simply cutting back on salt will help ease PMS symptoms like bloating, a lot.
Cramps and Aches, a.k.a. “Leave Me In The Fetal Position”
You want nothing more than to curl up on your bed in loose-fitting clothes and wait out the first couple of days – the worst days – of your period. There’s got to be a better way of dealing with cramps than diving into the drawer full of painkillers, right?
Cramps can be aggravated a few different ways. One is through a lack of exercise. Working out on the regular will ease PMS symptoms like cramps because of the increased blood flow to your muscles. This blood flow brings the nutrients and oxygen needed to keep your muscles relaxed.
Backing off of sugar will also have this effect on your pelvic muscles. Sugar tightens and narrows blood vessels, making it harder for your muscles to get the necessary oxygenated blood they need, resulting in cramps.
Stress will also amplify cramps. Women under stress have a tendency to flex and tighten their muscles, often without realizing it. By decreasing your stress levels, you’ll be able to ease PMS symptoms like cramps.
Lastly, if working out regularly, cutting back on sugar, and easing your stress don’t provide enough relief then try a magnesium supplement. Most women aren’t getting the magnesium they need from their diet, and magnesium is essential in calming the muscles. It’s also important because without enough magnesium, your body won’t absorb all the calcium it’s getting. Overdosing on magnesium can be dangerous, as it will thin the blood too much, so consult your doctor about how much you need personally.
Fatigue, Irritability, and Insomnia – “The Three Witches of The Apocalypse”
The best way to deal with these three symptoms is to simply make sure that your body is getting all the vitamins and minerals it needs. If your diet isn’t up to snuff, then do some tweaking because it will make a difference in your ability to ease PMS symptoms. The other thing that you can do is to simply slow down. That’s right, I said it – you should take it easy.
Here’s the thing. You wouldn’t drive a car during a snowstorm the same way that you would during a hot, dry, summer day. It’s simply not practical. So why would you expect to function during your period exactly the same way you do during other times of the month?
As much as you can, do some re-arranging of your schedule. Save the intensive projects for when you’ve got the full energy to tackle them. If you’re prone to mood swings, take on more solitary activities, or take up meditative yoga, which can help you control and calm down flashes of anger or weepiness.
Be extra vigilant about getting to bed at a reasonable hour during this time of the month. You need your eight hours of sleep, and if you feel the urge, go ahead and sneak in a nap occasionally. The point is to support your body and give it what it needs. Simply the act of taking care of your body will also help to ease irritability.
Your cycle doesn’t have to be the source of stress and pain that it is right now. By following a balanced, healthy diet, exercising, and making sure you’re getting all the vitamins and minerals you need, you can ease PMS symptoms.
