Tag: menstrual
Lifestyle Choices That Affect Menstrual Cramps
by admin on Mar.27, 2010, under Women's Health
The importance of a healthy diet and an active lifestyle has been branded into our minds over our lifetimes, and there is a good reason for it — these activities lead to an overall better life.? Moreover, when it comes to lessening or even completely eliminating menstrual cramps — your lifestyle can play a major role regarding the severity of these unwanted monthly pains.
Obesity, drinking and smoking
In 1996, the British Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology reported findings on a study that followed 165 women over the period of one year. The most telling findings of this study concluded:
* Very heavy women increased the risk of succumbing to menstrual cramps by about 75%
* Active smokers increased their risk of suffering from cramping pain two or more days by about 50%
* Drinking (alcohol) while dealing with menstrual cramps increased the intensity of, and the duration of, the cramps.
In simple terms — being obese, or even overweight, is a major contributing factor to menstrual cramps, being an active smoker may significantly increase your chances of extending the length of time you have to deal with menstrual cramps, and drinking during your time of the month may very well make your cramps hurt more and last longer.? This study performed some twelve years ago really underscores the need for women to choose moderation over indulgences, and a health-conscious lifestyle over one rife with vices.
Importance of exercise and rest
When you are talking about lifestyle, rest and exercise naturally fall in line here. We all know that exercise is an integral part of a healthy lifestyle, but where it is especially relevant to warding off menstrual cramp pains is in what exercise helps to produce in our bodies — endorphins.
Endorphins are our built-in \”happy pills\”, or more aptly — like the morphine button they give out at the hospital to injured or ill patients; they are our bodies natural pain killers. Exercise stimulates, or triggers, endorphin production during the initial stages of a workout regimen, and can have a significant impact on the amount of pain that you might experience during your period.? Now, while you can reserve your exercise routine to your time of the month and will still benefit from the release of endorphins — making a lifestyle choice of continual exercise can make it much easier to commit to a half-hour of light exercise during your period to help alleviate any pain or discomfort that you feel at that time.
Proper rest, much like exercise, is an important factor in your bodies ability to deal with pain adequately.? In our never-a-dull-moment society, many of us fail to get adequate sleep at night, or even \”down time\” during the day.? A well-rested body is more capable of coping with, and compensating for, painful menstrual cramps.
In all honestly, maintaining a healthy lifestyle — one that incorporates ongoing exercise, a conscious effort to maintain a healthy weight, getting plenty of rest and giving up unhealthy vices, especially during your period, may be all it takes to lessen the intensity of, or to eliminate completely, the monthly pain felt from menstrual cramping.
Menstruation Disorder – Menorrhagia – Definition, Causes And Symptoms
by admin on Mar.03, 2010, under Women's Health
I. Introduction
As we mentioned in previous articles menstruation is the shedding of the uterine lining. It is normal to the reproductive system of women and happens on a regular basis. Normal menstruation happens around 3 to 7 days. During the monthly menstrual cycle, female sex hormones prepare the uterus to support a pregnancy. If pregnancy happens, menstruation will be suspended until giving birth of a child, abortion, or miscarriage. Otherwise the uterine lining sheds and menstrual blood, tissues, fluid and mucus leave the body through the vagina caused by natural reaction in the female reproductive system from low levels of certain growth hormones.
II. Menorrhagia
As we mention in the previous article, the last stage of the menstrual cycle is the shedding of an endometrial lining\’s blood vessels. Normally,the process of blood forming clots occurs(coagulation) to limit and repair the damaged blood vessel resulting in a stoppage of blood flow. Menorrhagia is an abnormally heavy and prolonged menstrual period with excessive menstrual bleeding lasting longer than 7 days or blood loss exceeding 80 ml caused by abnormal blood clotting, disruption of normal hormonal regulation of periods, or disorders of the endometrial lining of the uterus.
Since normal menstrual cycle about 28 days in duration, with bleeding lasting an average of total blood loss less than 80 mL, women with menorrhagia over the menstruation may have blood loss greater than the body\’s iron reserves and reproduced by the body leading to anemia.
III. Causes
1. Stress
Women whp cannot adjust to events in life that are stressful, or seem to be stressful in their mind causes hormone imbalance resulting in overproduction of either estrogen or progesterone.
2. Hormone imbalance
For whatever reason, heavy blood flow may also occur for most women.
3. Vitamin K deficiency
Vitamin K is blood coagulation. Normally produced by bacteria in the intestine, women with intestine diseases may not produce enough vitamin K to stop the heavy flowing of blood during menstruation.
4. Anemia
Women with the type of anemia having red blood cells breaking down faster than normal people, may also have heavy flowing of blood during menstruation caused by regular blood flow and breaking off of red blood cells thereby, reducing the coagulation function.
5. Perimenopause
Women in the perimenopause normally have higher levels of estrogen levels and lower levels of progesterone because ovulation is less consistent.
IV. Symptoms
1. Spotting or bleeding between menstrual periods
2. Excessive menstrual bleeding
3. Heavy period
4. Symptoms of anemia (caused by loss of iron in the blood)
5. Constant pain in the lower abdomen during menstrual period
6. Irregular menstrual periods
I hope this information will help. If you need more information, please follow my article series of the above subject at my home page at:
http://menstrualcyclev.blogspot.com
http://detoxificationa.blogspot.com
Endometriosis Part 111 – Endometriosis and Vitamin B1
by admin on Feb.23, 2010, under Women's Health
As we mentioned in previous articles, endometriosis growing somewhere else other than the endometrium also reacts to hormonal signals of the monthly menstrual cycle by building up tissue, breaking it, and eliminating it through the menstrual period. As we know, nutritional supplements play a very important role in treating all kinds of diseases. In this article, we will discuss how vitamin B1 helps to treat endometriosis.
I. Definition
Vitamin B1 is one of the members of the vitamin B complex, it is also known as thiamin or thiamine. It\’s most common form is a colorless chemical compound with the formula C12H17N4OS. It was discovered in 1910 by Umetaro Suzuki in Japan. It is a water soluble vitamin, therefore it can be stored in the body and is required to be taken regularly.
II. How Vitamin B1 benefits women with endometriosis
Women with endometriosis are found to have vitamin B complex deficiency during the menstrual cycle. It is not known if it is caused by unhealthy diet or the inability of digestive absorption.
a) Level of estrogen
Vitamin B1 helps to detoxify the liver which may be caused by intake of of alcohol, smoking and heavy metals. A strong liver is particularly important for secretion of cholesterol in breaking down estrogen that causes menstrual cramps as well as hormone balancing in the body.
b) Immune system
Vitamin B1 is an antioxidant that helps to strengthen the immune system against the forming of free radicals, endometrial implants, and adhesion somewhere else in the body except the endometrium.
c) Red blood cells
Study shows that vitamin B1 helps to normalize the activity of an enzyme called transketolase in red blood cells resulting in increased amounts of the two proteins THTR-1 and RFC-1 which helps to transport thiamine into red blood cells. This increases the production of red blood cells in the bloodstream.
d) Nervous system
It helps to reduce tension of the nervous system as a resulting of converting carbohydrates to energy which is necessary for the proper functions of the nervous system. Thereby it reduces symptoms of endometriosis in some women such as anxiety, depression, and mood swings.
e) Intestine muscle tone
Vitamin B1 helps to secrete hydrochloric acid in the stomach which is essential for the complete digestion of food particles and decreases the risk of nutrient deficiency causing hormone imbalance in the menstrual cycle.
I hope this information will help. If you need more information or insurance advice, please follow my article series of the above subject at my home page at:
http://medicaladvisorjournals.blogspot.com
Suffering From Problems Menstrual Irregular Cycle- Know It Causes
by admin on Jan.30, 2010, under Women's Health
Irregular menstrual cycle very troublesome symptom which affects 50% of women but is considered normal. Its symptoms are nausea, vomit, diarrhea, nervousness, fatigue, headache and dizziness. Most of us women occasionally come across this problem that is increasingly common and has its source connected to other problems such as stress, tension and anxiety.
The irregular menstrual cycle may be caused by hormonal changes related to past experiences that left no trauma. However, the most common cause with which the delay period is related to the same stress, tension, drugs and medicinal use of caffeine as an anticoagulant in blood.
The consumption of caffeine for medical purposes reduces monthly intervals between cycles. Fluctuation in periods indicates the beginning of a disruption of the natural chain of hormonal events that control the menstrual period.
Some of the common factors responsible for irregular periods are:
- Gain or loss significant weight
- Exercise in Excess
- Ovarian syndrome / estrogen power
- Malnutrition (or diet with too much carbohydrate)
- Medicines
- Cigarette / Nicotine / Tobacco
- Drugs
- Caffeine
- Food disorderly
- Stress
- Hormonal imbalance related to per menopause
- Childbirth
- Excessive use of alcohol
- Uterine disorders
If you are suffering from irregular menstrual cycle, see your doctor for appropriate treatment. The irregularity of cycle is not the only sign of medical problem. The continuous flow or irregular is an indication of problems in ovulation.
2 to 2.5 years after the first period may be altered by the immaturity of the gland that regulates the release of hormones that is menstruating. You can menstruate 2 to 3 times a month or stay more than 2 months without menstruating, all that up to 2.5 years after the first period. Since then it has to have a regular cycle, i.e. a range of 22 to 30 days from the first day of menstruation to the first day of next menstruation.
When you enter the climacteric again there is a change in the natural menstrual cycle: cycles or shortening or increasing them.
Problems that may change the period are listed below with their most common symptoms:
- Ovaries cysts: They are small ovarian cysts that disrupt hormones, and therefore menstruation. One can be a long time without menstruating, with a weight gain, hair and acne. You can also menstruate at an interval less than 22 days.
- Cyst in the ovary: In this case there is a large cyst on one ovary can cause pain or not. Changes in menstruation occur, but rarely come together with acne and hair growth.
- Fibroids: They are benign tumors of the uterus, also formerly known as cysts. In patients pre arranged can lead to an increase in menstrual flow and cramps. Some women have fibroids, but do not develop any symptoms.
- Hormonal Changes: Some hormones can also alter the menstrual cycle such as the thyroid.
- Use of Medications: some medications may alter menstruation such as antidepressants.
- Surgeries: tubal, surgeries on ovaries can change the period.
Remedies for irregular periods:
- Increase Omega-3 fatty acids. The consumption of these oils, which are found in fish like salmon, mackerel, sardines, and anchovies, can lesson menstrual cramps.
- Taking dietary adjustments starting about 14 days before a period may help some women with certain mild menstrual disorders, such as colic. The general guidelines for a healthy diet apply to everyone, including eating plenty of whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables and avoid saturated fats and junk foods business.
- Increase intake of foods rich in vitamin C – In any case, foods rich in vitamin C are healthful and include broccoli, cabbage, citrus fruits, melons, tomatoes and strawberries. An orange or six ounces of orange juice can double the amount of iron the body absorbs European Food plants.
- Exercise can help reduce menstrual pain. It is not clear, however, as intense exercise should be to reduce dysmenorrheal. However, they also were three times more likely to suffer a lack of periods. Exercise can be very useful for women with menstrual pain due to endometriosis. Relieves stress and tension and may reduce hormonal levels that could contribute to the growth of the endometrial.
-Restriction of salt.
If your cycle is irregular, make an appointment with your doctor. It is very important to always note the days of menstruation and always detail any symptoms to your doctor.
Natural Remedies for Menstrual Cramps
by admin on Jan.30, 2010, under Women's Health
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