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Dysmenorrhea
Can I take painkillers for menstrual cramps?
Patients with dysmenorrhea usually take painkillers when the pain is severe. Dysmenorrhea is generally treated with painkillers which relieve symptoms but do not address the root cause. If the pain during menstruation does not alleviate, it's not advisable to continually use painkillers. Therefore, before taking painkillers again, it is crucial to undergo relevant examinations to identify the cause of the dysmenorrhea. If the pain is caused by a cold uterus, it is advisable to take medicine that warms the meridians, dispels cold, and relieves pain, and to manage the condition regularly. If the dysmenorrhea is caused by stagnation of Qi and blood stasis, one can take medicine that activates blood circulation, removes blood stasis, and relieves pain before the onset of the next menstruation to properly manage the symptoms. Thus, severe pain can be managed with painkillers. For minor abdominal discomfort, observing the situation generally suffices. If dysmenorrhea gradually worsens, it is essential to visit a hospital for an ultrasound to check for endometriosis. Painkillers can be used during painful episodes of dysmenorrhea, but other times should be managed with appropriate medicines. (Please take medications under the guidance of a physician and do not self-medicate.)
The harm of dysmenorrhea
Some women experience severe dysmenorrhea, where the pain can radiate to the root of the thigh, affecting their normal sleep and concentration during the day, which in turn affects their work efficiency. Some women experience such severe dysmenorrhea during their menstrual period that they even need to take leave from work to rest at home. Additionally, some women may suffer from secondary dysmenorrhea, which is linked to underlying diseases. For example, conditions like adenomyosis, endometriosis, and endometrial polyps can alter the internal environment of the uterine cavity and change its coagulation state, leading to increased menstrual flow. This can cause anemia due to blood loss and also affect normal pregnancy.
What causes menstrual cramps?
Dysmenorrhea is divided into primary dysmenorrhea and secondary dysmenorrhea. Primary dysmenorrhea refers to menstrual pain that occurs without organic lesions in the uterus. It is caused by the increase of prostaglandin levels in the body during menstruation, which stimulates uterine contractions. Secondary dysmenorrhea is caused by organic pathological changes in the uterus itself, such as endometriosis, adenomyosis, and pelvic inflammatory disease, which stimulate uterine contractions and lead to lower abdominal pain during menstruation.
Is dysmenorrhea a disease?
Obvious and severe dysmenorrhea is also considered a disease. Even if physical examinations do not reveal any abnormalities, simple cold uterus or straightforward dysmenorrhea are recognized as diseases. It is advisable to routinely undergo physical examinations to identify causes related to dysmenorrhea. For instance, some people suffer from dysmenorrhea due to pelvic inflammation, others due to complications with intrauterine devices, and some can be diagnosed with conditions such as adenomyosis or endometriosis, which cause progressive dysmenorrhea symptoms.
What to eat to alleviate dysmenorrhea
If the dysmenorrhea is non-pathological, it can be improved through medication and dietary adjustments. In terms of medication, if the dysmenorrhea is caused by a cold uterus with scanty menstrual flow and poor blood circulation, Yimu Capsules can be taken continuously for three days starting from the first day of menstruation. During non-menstrual periods, Wujibaifeng Pills can be taken for conditioning. You can eat more foods that invigorate blood circulation and warm the uterus, such as red dates and longans. Additionally, avoid cold foods in your regular diet, especially in summer; try not to consume frozen drinks or cold foods. It's beneficial to drink some warm water and pay attention to keeping your abdomen warm. (Medications should be used under the guidance of a physician.)
What should I do if I experience menstrual pain and vomiting?
The factors causing dysmenorrhea are complex and often include exposure to cold, mental stress, or conditions like endometriosis and adenomyosis, which can lead to elevated levels of prostaglandins. This increase in prostaglandins causes excessive contraction of the uterine smooth muscles during menstruation, leading to local ischemia and hypoxia, and resulting in pain. This pain is usually spasmodic and can cause nausea, vomiting, and other gastrointestinal symptoms. When these symptoms occur, pain relief should be the first priority. Additionally, it is important to avoid excessive tension, maintain mental relaxation, and avoid exposure to cold.
How long does it take for ibuprofen to work for menstrual pain?
Dysmenorrhea refers to lower abdominal pain and a sense of heaviness around or during the menstrual period, accompanied by back pain or other discomforts. If dysmenorrhea occurs, taking ibuprofen can relieve the symptoms significantly within about 20 to 30 minutes. Drinking a bowl of hot brown sugar water during menstruation can also promote smoother menstrual flow and relieve pain. During menstruation, it is advisable to eat less spicy and stimulating food, as well as fewer cold fruits, vegetables, etc., and to maintain appropriate rest. Consume more warm foods and supplement with high-protein, high-calorie diets.
What causes menstrual cramps?
Dysmenorrhea is generally caused by endometriosis in the majority of cases. If the endometrium is misplaced in the ovaries, it can form ovarian chocolate cysts; if misplaced into the myometrium, it can lead to adenomyosis, which generally presents with dysmenorrhea that tends to worsen over time. In most cases, this condition is considered to be caused by endometriosis. Additionally, the occurrence of dysmenorrhea should not exclude the possibility of being caused by a cold uterus. Patients with a cold uterus might experience lower abdominal pain and a cold lower abdomen during menstruation; in such cases, treatment can involve warming the meridians to dispel cold and using warming and pain-relieving medicines for symptomatic treatment. Moreover, if dysmenorrhea is caused by Qi stagnation and blood stasis, there might be a large volume of menstrual blood accompanied by large blood clots during the bleeding process. Treatment in this scenario would involve using medicines that invigorate the blood, break up stasis, soften hardness, and disperse conglomeration for symptomatic management.
Can you drink coffee when you have menstrual cramps?
While drinking coffee does not significantly exacerbate menstrual pain, it can lead to excessive excitability and affect nerve functions. Moreover, too much coffee can cause stomach discomfort. Therefore, it is not recommended to drink coffee during periods of menstrual pain. Instead, it is advisable to drink more brown sugar ginger tea or eat easily digestible food, which helps in rapid recovery of the condition and is very beneficial in alleviating menstrual pain. During menstruation, it is also important to avoid cold foods.
Can you soak your feet if you have menstrual cramps?
Soaking your feet can help with menstrual cramps, as long as the menstrual flow is not too heavy. You can add some Chinese herbal medicine to the footbath, or just use plain warm water. Soaking your feet helps to activate blood circulation and can relieve menstrual cramps, which are often caused by smooth muscle spasms related to being chilled. Getting chilled often leads to spasms and increased pain in smooth muscles. You can soak your feet for an extended period as long as the water temperature is not too hot. Additionally, applying a hot water bottle directly to the abdomen can also be quite effective. Generally, it's best to avoid using painkillers directly, as medications can be harsh on the stomach and have other side effects.