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Menstruation is a natural body process women experience every month. It is that time of the month when women lose blood and simultaneously experience a host of uncomfortable symptoms, such as cramps, bloating, and mood changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even though some level of pain and discomfort is normal during menstruation, certain common habits and mistakes can make it worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So instead of dreading that time of the month because of the pain, here are some of the habits you need to take note of and avoid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Poor diet
<\/strong>The foods you eat during your period tend to influence how intense or mild your period pain is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Consuming processed and salty foods, refined sugars, caffeine, and alcohol can all be detrimental to your health during this period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Caffeine has been discovered to cause the blood vessels to narrow and further slow the flow of blood. This also constricts your uterus, making cramps more painful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Constant intake of caffeine has also been linked to being a risk factor for most menstrual abnormalities. So taking coffee isn\u2019t a habit that will help alleviate period cramps, avoid it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also, taking excessive sugar and salt can also double the discomfort during the period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Using the same pad\/tampon for a long time
<\/strong>Not changing pads or tampons regularly is another common habit that can worsen menstrual pain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Leaving a pad or tampon on for too long can lead to bacterial growth, itching, and infection, which can cause additional pain and discomfort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This habit can also increase the risk of toxic shock syndrome. Toxic shock syndrome (TSS) is a rare but serious condition caused by certain strains of bacteria. It\u2019s often associated with tampon\/pad\/ menstrual cup use as bacteria may grow on them when not changed often enough.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Therefore, it\u2019s important to change pads or tampons every 4-8 hours or more often to maintain proper hygiene and reduce the risk of infection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skimping on sleep
<\/strong>Getting inadequate or poor-quality sleep can exacerbate menstrual pain and discomfort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A study found that people who got less than six hours of sleep on average nightly were 44% more likely to have an irregular period and 70% more likely to have heavy bleeding during a period than healthy sleepers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, it is advisable to always get at least 7-9 hours of sleep during your menstrual period to alleviate the pain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skipping meals
<\/strong>It is understandable that during your menstrual period, you don\u2019t have the appetite to eat. But truth be told, it won\u2019t do you any good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even if the pain is unbearable, skipping meals, particularly breakfast, might worsen the menstrual cramping according to a study.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Skipping meals tend to make you hungry, weak, and nauseated, and further aggravates the pain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So, rather than skipping meals during this period, choose natural and unprocessed foods when possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also, ensure you\u2019re staying hydrated to lessen the severity of the cramp.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Having high-stress level
<\/strong>Stress can be said to be a normal part of life. However, failure to manage it appropriately during your menstrual period can intensify the pain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

High levels of stress can cause the body to release cortisol \u2014 stress hormone, which can increase inflammation and make menstrual pain worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Research has found a link between high-stress levels and painful periods. In one study, \u201cthe risk of painful periods was more than twice as great among women with high stress compared to those with low stress\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Try yoga, distance yourself from your stressors, and enjoy a warm bath. This can help lessen the pain and other discomfort that might come when you are on your period.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, if your periods are so heavy that you have to change pads or tampons often (more than once every 1 to 2 hours).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Or you have bad cramps that keep you from doing your regular activities and pain relievers and activities don\u2019t help, see a medical practitioner.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Menstruation is a natural body process women experience every month. It is that time of the month when women lose blood and simultaneously experience a host of uncomfortable symptoms, such as cramps, bloating, and mood changes. Even though some level of pain and discomfort is normal during menstruation, certain common habits and mistakes can make […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":886,"featured_media":90718,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_is_tweetstorm":false,"jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":[]},"categories":[1739],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-90717","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-health"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"yoast_head":"\n