“Ye dard hai ki khatam hone ka naam hi nahi leta” is exactly what happens when you get your monthly visits from Ms. Period. Cramps and back pain ke alawa there’s one more thing that troubles most of us during these days. Constipation or diarrhoea.
And in no way it’s pleasant. However, it’s pretty normal and can happen to you no matter the number of times you’ve had your period. Chinta ki koi baat nahi, you don’t need to rush to the doctor just yet.
Why Does It Happen?
Ye sab hormones ka khel hai, the same hormones that are responsible for uterine contractions and bloodline shedding are also a play in the gastrointestinal tract.
Researchers don’t really know the root cause for them yet, but it has been linked with hormonal action. Most experts believe it’s linked to an increase in prostaglandins, which are hormones generated just before you start your menstruation cycle.
Prostaglandins help your uterus shed its lining by causing contractions. They can also produce bowel contractions, which can result in a variety of GI symptoms, leading to diarrhoea or constipation.
They also reduce the rate of food absorption in the intestine, allowing food to pass through your colon more quickly. Prostaglandins can also cause diarrhoea by increasing electrolyte discharges. So there’s a heavy chance ki gunehgar yahi hai.
Excess prostaglandins can also cause the following problems:
- Headaches
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Bloating
- Constipation
- Pelvic pain
Itni sari problems..koi solution hai? There are some things that you can do to deal with them all.
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10 Tips To Treat Diarrhoea/Constipation & Menstrual Symptoms
1. Drink Lots Of Water
This is necessary to avoid dehydration. Drinking water throughout the day is a must. You should drink an extra cup of water after each attack of diarrhoea to maintain the water balance. To help rest your bowels, consume a water diet. Drink tea, fresh juices and soups.
2. Eat Small Meals
Instead of having three large meals, divide your food consumption into smaller portions throughout the day.
Instead of having three large meals, divide your food consumption into smaller portions throughout the day. This will help easier and faster digestion of food. Also, eat food that is easy on your gut. It’s already working overtime, so give it a rest.
3. Have Pectin-Rich Foods
Fruits and vegetables such as apples, carrots, oranges, grapefruits, and lemons contain loads of pectin.
Pectin is a water-soluble fibre that is known to help reduce diarrhoea. Fruits and vegetables such as apples, carrots, oranges, grapefruits, and lemons contain loads of pectin. Bananas and yoghurt are also very good sources of this, so make sure you’re including them into your diet.
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4. Replace Lost Electrolytes
When their levels go down drastically, it’s important you fill your body with foods that contain them in abundance.
Diarrhoea can cause a sudden depletion of electrolytes from your body. Your body has electrolytes such as calcium, potassium and sodium. When their levels go down drastically, it’s important you fill your body with foods that contain them in abundance. Some such food items are sports drinks, fruit juices, or coconut water. Good food sources of potassium also include bananas, and potatoes (with the skin on).
5. Eat Salty Foods
To ensure your fluid balance does not get disrupted, make sure your diet includes food like crackers, pretzels, and soups (all yumm), to help to replace lost sodium.
As mentioned above, your electrolyte levels go down very fast during diarrhoea and sodium is one of them. To ensure your fluid balance does not get disrupted, make sure your diet includes food like crackers, pretzels, and soups (all yummy), to help to replace lost sodium. This, in turn, will help your body retain more water.
6. Exercise Regularly
If you keep up with regular exercise throughout the month, you’ll see significant differences in your menstrual issues over time.
Sabhi kehte hai but karta koi nahi. If you keep up with regular exercise throughout the month, you’ll see significant differences in your menstrual issues over time. Aerobic exercises that promote blood flow to your whole body are advised.
7. Get Enough Sleep
Keeping up a good sleep and wake cycle will allow and promote healthier periods.
Sleeping is not just helpful for your skin, but your overall health. Keeping up a good sleep and wake cycle will allow and promote healthier periods. This, in turn, will help your menstrual issues such as headaches, cramps and a lot more.
8. Avoid Certain Foods
In addition to drinking enough water and eating food that is good for you, you must also avoid food items that cause your body harm and are likely to make the situation worse for you:
- Artificial sweeteners
- Coffee (caffeine of any sort)
- Dairy products
- Spicy foods
- Very sweet and sugary food items
You may need to take over-the-counter (OTC) anti-diarrhoeal drugs such as loperamide in rare cases (Imodium). To ease cramping, you can take an over-the-counter pain medicine such as ibuprofen (Advil).
9. Take Birth Control Pills
Birth control pills might help you control your period and get it into a regular cycle and reduce diarrhoea.
Birth control pills might help you control your period and get it into a regular cycle and reduce diarrhoea. Some people even skip their placebo week to avoid having a period. There are normally fewer instances of diarrhoea that have been caused by these.
Consult your doctor to figure out the best course of action for you.
10. Reduce Stress From Life
In addition to the tips given above, it’s critical to take steps to remove and reduce stress from your life. Excessive worry and stress can agitate menstruation symptoms such as cramping and diarrhoea.
Here are some pointers to help you get started:
- Meditate. Every day, set aside 10 minutes for meditation. This can help you concentrate at any time of day or night. Use a meditation app if you’re not sure where to begin.
- Unplug. Decide on a time in the evening when you will unplug and say no to answering emails or watching TV. This will seem difficult but it will help you so much!
- Get your feet moving. Just take a 15-minute walk outside, exercise can help you relax your body and mind.
Other than the given tips, you can add probiotic foods in your diet a week or two before your period hits to promote healthy bacteria to grow in your gut. This will help reduce constipation and diarrhoea issues you’re facing.
But what if you do all this and still the problems persist, then the question is – kya doctor ke pas jau ya nahi?
3 Instances That Indicate You Should See A Doctor
It’s very common to have diarrhoea before or during your period. But if this is getting in between your daily routine then, kuchh to gadbad hai Daya..
You should consult your doctor if:
- Diarrhoea or other gastrointestinal symptoms that continue longer than two days.
- Pain or cramping in the stomach or pelvic that is difficult to manage with over-the-counter medications.
- Stools with visible mucus.
These could be hiding a bigger gut problem. So it’s definitely recommended that you make an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible.
So it can be said that having digestion issues while or before your period is pretty common and normal. You can easily tackle these issues at home using the above tips.
#BeALitleMore for ensuring a healthy period cycle by following a good lifestyle. How do you deal with your period problems such as these? Share them in the comments below!
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