The red letter days and a few days before that are known to trouble the ladies enough. Bloating, diarrhoea, constipation, abdominal cramps, body aches, and mood swings are all a part of this phase that every woman goes through every month. And all this during and a little before your periods is normal. After all, the body is preparing busily for the important task of shedding the lining of the womb! When any of these symptoms turn excessive, you should reach out to a doctor, otherwise, none of those are a cause of worry. Our experts at Apollo Cradle are always there to help you out.
What is Bloating?
General abnormal swelling of the abdomen is called bloating. One would feel their stomach to be full and tight, this might be accompanied by some stomach growling. Usually, the reasons for this are:
- Air swallowing
- Slow gas transport in the intestines, leading to gas accumulation
Irritable bowel syndrome - Retention of stools due to constipation
- Delayed emptying of the stomach
Why does one experience bloating during their periods?
Normal body chemicals – prostaglandins, are generated in the lining of the uterus and these hormone-like substances help the uterine wall contract and shed the lining during the periods. Bloating, stomach cramps, and diarrhoea are all side effects of these prostaglandins.
What can you do?
To avoid bloating in general and more so during periods, follow these tips:
- Avoid or cut down your tea, coffee and alcohol intake
- Do not smoke as you swallow more air while smoking
- Cut down on sugar, especially artificial sweeteners
- Carbonated drinks are a strict No-No
- Avoid eating vegetables like beans, broccoli, cabbage
