The summer season is officially here, especially with many schools either already being off or just concluding their classes. While school may be out, your monthly period is unfortunately still in for the summer. When their period hits, many women have found their menstrual cramps to worsen. In this week’s post, let’s learn why this is the case and how you relieve severe menstrual cramps in the summer.
Why Menstrual Cramps Can Feel Worse in the Summer
For a lot of women, menstrual cramps can start to feel worse in the summer. This is because our cycle is affected by hormones, sunlight, and Vitamin D we get from the sun. Higher ovarian activity occurs and your periods tend to come more frequently and last longer. Also, as progesterone increases, so does our body temperature. This hormone causes your body temperature to increase during the luteal phase of your cycle. Combined this with the summer heat and that’s why your menstrual symptoms may feel more severe.
Cooling Foods That Could Help Relieve Cramps
If you want to beat the heat, you have to stay cool. Eating healthy, cool foods could relieve your painful cramps. This season, delicious, anti-inflammatory fruits such as pineapples and berries are very popular. You can’t forget watermelon and cucumbers, which are both beneficial in keeping you hydrated. Some of the worst foods that could worsen your cramps are dairy, salty snacks, and processed sugar. Herbal teas are always the best bet for women dealing with menstrual cramps.
Summer Exercise for Pain Relief
Besides eating healthier and summer weather-appropriate food, we must still stay in shape to relieve menstrual cramps. Engaging in low-impact exercises such as swimming, yoga, and walking or running in shaded areas could help. Swimming could help reduce stress, which could have a serious impact on your hormones. Movement could improve circulation and reduce cramp severity. You loosen off those tight muscles and get your blood pumping around your body when you exercise. Just try to don’t overdo it, especially in the summer heat.
Clothing and Comfort Tips
It’s also important to wear comfortable clothing when experiencing serious cramps. Of course, we usually wear lightly-colored, sleeveless clothes during this season. But it’s also important to don’t wear tight-fitting clothing. Make sure you use appropriate menstrual products made for the summer. There are also cooling pads or wearable heat relief patches available.
When to Seek Medical Advice
If your menstrual cramps are excessively severe during this summer heat, it may be best to seek some medical help. Some women have experienced fainting and dizziness in the summertime while on their period. With your body actively losing blood during your period, this could cause the volume of blood in your body and your blood pressure to reduce. Also, in most cases, your cramps could be a sign of a serious underlying condition such as endometriosis. Seeking a medical professional could especially be helpful when the above pain management tips aren’t enough for relief. Please contact a doctor if necessary for the management of severe health-threatening cramp symptoms.
During the summer season, our menstrual cramps could feel worse. But if you eat the right foods, stay hydrated, wear comfortable, not tight-fitting clothing, and engage in low-impact exercises, you’ll be effective in relieving severe menstrual cramps in the summer.
Have you ever wondered why your menstrual cramps are worse in the summer? What are your tips for managing severe menstrual cramps during the summer? Feel free to share them in the comments section below. As always, be sure to like or share this post with the next woman you know.
