How To Fight Colic And Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)?

What is the cause of colic?

Menstrual cramps can be really uncomfortable and painful, but they occur for a reason. During the menstrual period, the uterus contracts (compresses or “cramps”). This causes the lining of the uterus to separate from the walls and leave the body. When the uterus contracts in this way, it helps the menstrual period blood flow out of the vagina.

Most people have colic during the period at some point in life. They usually feel a throbbing pain in the lower abdomen. This pain may begin a few days before the menstrual period arrives and sometimes it remains during this period. Menstrual cramps are usually worse during the first days of the period, at which time the flow is most abundant.

You can have colic even in the first menstrual period. As time passes, the period may become more or less painful. In many cases, colic becomes milder as they age.

They can be painful and irritating, but they are super common, and there are many ways to treat them.

What helps fight menstrual cramps?

There are some ways to relieve colic:

• Take over-the-counter pain relievers, such as ibuprofen (Advil), naproxen (Aleve) and acetaminophen (Tylenol). Always follow the instructions on the bottle. Talk to your doctor before taking pain relievers if you are allergic to aspirin or if you have severe asthma.
• Use the menstrual cup.
• Exercise.
• Put a heating pad on the abdomen or lower back.
• Take a hot dip bath.
• Having an orgasm (alone or with your partner).
• Rest.
• Use hormonal contraceptives (such as the pill, contraceptive patches, vaginal rings, the implant, and the hormonal IUD).

Menstrual cramps are a fairly normal part of the menstrual period, but sometimes they cause so much pain that it is difficult to do everyday activities, such as going to study or work. If the pain during the menstrual period is really severe and over-the-counter pain relievers don’t help, talk to your doctor. The doctor can help you find other ways to deal with the pain, or you may need to check to find out if something more serious happens.

Menstrual cramps that are very strong can be a symptom of the following conditions:

• Pelvic inflammatory disease: an infection in the reproductive organs.
• Endometriosis: a condition that occurs when the lining of the uterus grows out of it.
• Adenomyosis: occurs when the tissue that lines the uterus passes into the muscular wall of the uterus.
• Fibroids: non-cancerous tumors that grow inside the uterus, either on the walls or on the outside of it.

Menstrual cramps caused by these conditions may begin to appear as you get older. They can get worse over time and may even last longer than other cramps or even after your period ends.

If menstrual cramps are very strong and you cannot treat them, or if there are other symptoms that are difficult to manage, call your doctor or the local Planned Parenthood Health Center.

What is a premenstrual syndrome or PMS?

“PMS” is a way of abbreviating “premenstrual syndrome”, which are physical and emotional symptoms that can be experienced just before having the period. This syndrome is caused by hormonal changes that your body goes through during the menstrual cycle.

There are those who suffer from it every time they have their menstrual period, while other people only have it once in a while. You can have all the common symptoms of premenstrual syndrome or only some. There are even those who never suffer from it.

There are two types of symptoms of the syndrome: those that affect the physical part and those that affect the emotional part.

Physical symptoms include the following:

• You crave certain foods or be more hungry than usual.
• Sensitivity, swelling, and pain in the breasts.
• Feeling swollen (feeling your abdomen full and inflated).
• Gain some weight.
• Headaches.
• Dizziness
• Swelling of hands or feet
• Muscle or joint pain.
• Feeling more tired than usual or needing to take more naps.
• Skin problems, such as pimples.
• Stomach upset
• Menstrual cramps or pain in the abdomen.

Emotional symptoms include the following:

• Sadness, depression, tension or anxiety.
• Mood changes
• Feel more irritated and angry than normal.
• Sudden crying
• Little desire to socialize or to be with other people.
• Difficulties to concentrate.
• Trouble falling or staying asleep
• Changes in sexual desire.

It is common for you to have some of these symptoms and not others. For example, you may feel bloated and have breast pain, but not have mood swings or skin problems. This can change from one month to another: one month you can be tired and angry, and the other not, or you can have menstrual cramps one month and not the next. It is different for each person.

For a doctor to officially diagnose this syndrome, you must have those symptoms for at least 3 consecutive months. They should start 5 days before your menstrual period and interfere with your normal activities, such as study, work or exercise. If you think you have premenstrual syndrome, keep track of your period and daily symptoms for at least 2 or 3 months. You can use a calendar to control your symptoms of premenstrual syndrome.

Other conditions, such as depression and anxiety, perimenopause and diseases of the thyroid gland may resemble this syndrome, so the only way to know for sure what you have is to consult a doctor.

There are those who have very intense premenstrual syndromes, which is called “premenstrual dysphoric syndrome” (SDPM). The symptoms of this can be really bad, such as the feeling of loss of control, depression, panic attacks, and even suicide attempts. If you think you have symptoms of the premenstrual dysphoric syndrome, consult a doctor as soon as possible.

 

What can I do to relieve premenstrual syndrome?

Many of the things that help relieve menstrual cramps also help with this syndrome. The following are some different ways to relieve symptoms:

• Take over-the-counter pain relievers, such as ibuprofen (Advil), naproxen (Aleve) and acetaminophen (Tylenol). Always follow the instructions on the bottle. Talk to your doctor before taking pain relievers if you are allergic to aspirin or if you have severe asthma.
• Do aerobic exercises such as walking, running, cycling, swimming or any activity that increases the heart rate. Regular exercise (at least 30 minutes on most days of the week) is ideal.
• Do breathing exercises, meditation or yoga.
• Rest a lot. Having a regular sleep every night can help reduce stress, mood swings, feelings of tiredness and fatigue.
• Have a healthy diet that includes fruits, vegetables (especially leafy greens), whole grains and yogurt.
• Decrease the consumption of fats, salt, sugar, caffeine, and alcohol.
• Be sure to incorporate enough vitamins in the diet. Otherwise, take vitamin supplements. If you do not consume enough calcium, take a 1,200 mg calcium supplement daily. Magnesium and vitamin E can also be helpful.
• Use hormonal contraceptives (such as the pill, contraceptive patches, vaginal rings, the implant, and the hormonal IUD). The doctor can help you find the right contraceptive method that helps relieve the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome.