WOMEN are more resilient to pain. Thus, when they experience pain in their lower abdomen, they just ignore it or take pain relievers. They only start to seek their doctor’s help when their vaginal discharge starts to smell foul, when there is pain during intercourse or urination, irregular bleeding in between menstruation, or when they experience fever.
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is an infection of the pelvic organs of a woman, which include the uterus, fallopian tubes, ovaries and cervix.
Integrative Medicine Doctor Edwin Bien, says to Radyo Klinika that the usual cause of PID is infection transmitted through sexual act, but it can also be caused by an intrauterine device (IUD), or could be lymphatic and blood related, or a result of miscarriage or abortion and postpartum, or after birth.
Another cause of pain for women is dysmenorrhea.
Dysmenorrhea or painful cramps in the abdomen is one of the common complaints of women during menstruation. The contractions are a normal part of the menstrual process but if it becomes debilitating, a woman should immediately see her doctor to check if she has other medical conditions which are causing the pain.
Heavy bleeding should be checked also. On the average, a woman loses about 1 ounce (30 ml.) of blood. If she is changing her pads more than the average of three to six times per day, or if her period lasts more that 10 days, she should have herself checked by her family physician or an OB gynecologist.
Dr. Bien recommends increasing the intake of magnesium and vitamin B complex to beat the pain. Bananas can help reduce muscle cramps brought by the contraction of the uterus due to menstruation. Bananas are not only rich in vitamin B6 but potassium as well, which helps in reducing water retention.
It is also best to eat green, leafy vegetables. One vegetable, which is used as a decorative garnish, the parsley, is in fact, rich in apiol, which can help those who are having problems with their monthly period. Spinach, is another green and leafy vegetable, which can help beat menstrual cramps due to its Vitamin B6, Vitamin E and magnesium.
Seeds such as walnuts, sunflower seeds, fenugreek seeds and sesame seeds can help beat menstrual cramps, too, according to Dr. Bien. These seeds are not only rich in vitamin B-complex, but zinc as well.
Pineapple is an effective anti-cramping food, says Dr. Bien. It containes bromelain, an enzyme, which can relax the muscles. But it would be best if the person would eat the stem of the pineapple because this part contains most of the bromelain.
Oatmeal can also help in containing menstrual cramps, as it contains magnesium and zinc. But before eating oats, it would be best to soak them for several hours first, as untreated oats contain phytic acid, which can block the absorption of calcium, zinc and magnesium in the intestines.
Dr. Bien is the Medical Director of Le Bien Wellness. You can contact him at 0999-414-5144.
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