Most women have to undergo painful menstruation cramps every month and would do anything to get rid of the unbearable pain. Instead of becoming an addict of pain killers such as ibuprofen, one of the best remedies that help women deal with cramps is continuous exercising, if possible on a daily basis. Menstrual cramps are said to be caused by prostaglandins, a substance that occurs naturally in a woman’s body and causes the uterus to contract. If a woman does not ovulate there are high chances that she will get cramps especially in the lower abdomen during the menstrual period. Dr. Alphonse Butoyi, Obstetrician/Gynecologist at Kibagabaga Hospital says that with severe menstrual pains, it’s important to visit a doctor to find out what is causing the pain. “Exercising could help dealing with cramps but its important to first go to the doctor to find out what is causing the cramps. For example it could be as a result of fibroids or endometriosis, which is a medical condition in which cells from the lining of the uterus (endometrium) appear and flourish outside the uterus. In this situation it’s advisable to seek treatment,” Dr Butoyi advises. He also discourages the behaviour of taking painkillers each time a woman has cramps. “There are several factors that cause menstrual cramps and therefore women should not just opt for painkillers to relieve the pain. It’s dangerous to take medicine before one fully diagnoses the cause of the cramps,” Dr Butoyi says. Menstrual cramps can be mild but to other women they are so severe that they are unable to go to work or do anything because of the pain. According to an article “Take Your P.M.S to the G.Y.M: Exercises to Relieve the Monthly Cramps,” published on skinnymom.com, though exercise may be the last thing a woman feels like doing when the monthly cramps set in, the best bet to get rid of those nagging cramps is to get up and move. The article further states that exercise will keep your mind on something besides cramps, and your insides will heat up, relieving the pain. The tips provided as the best way to relieve the pain include; Walking; a good cardio workout from a nice long walk gets your heart rate up while releasing those endorphins. Stand up tall and tighten your core. Walk for a good 20-30 minutes each day for maximum relief. Yoga poses; such as legs-up-the-wall pose or if cramps are more in your lower back, it’s good to try the wide child’s pose to relieve discomfort. Stretching; The seated butterfly stretch works wonders for relieving painful cramps. Sit on the floor with knees bent, the soles of your feet touching. Place your hands on your ankles and lean forward. Hold stretch for 60-90 seconds and repeat.
