Dysmenorrhea is a very common gynecological symptom in women and refers to pain, swelling, and lower abdominal pain, lumbaria, or other discomfort before or during menstruation [1]. For many girls, the last thing they want to hear when dysmenorrhea occurs is "drink more hot water", so is drinking more hot water useful for relieving dysmenorrhea?
Dysmenorrhea is divided into primary dysmenorrhea and secondary dysmenorrhea, and the general common dysmenorrhea is primary dysmenorrhea. Primary dysmenorrhea refers to the appearance of pain in the lower abdomen during menstruation in the absence of pelvic lesions. Primary dysphoria is caused by prostaglandins in the endometrium, compounds released during endometrial detachment, which support uterine contraction and relaxation, allowing the endometrium to detach and flow out of the body. Excessive pain occurs when the uterus contracts strongly, blood flow decreases, and oxygen supply to muscle tissue decreases [2]. Primary dysmenorrhea is usually worsened when a woman begins her period and lessens with age, and it often involves other symptoms, including sweating before or during menstruation, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and tremors [3]. Secondary dysmenorrhea is mainly caused by diseases such as infection, endometriosis, uterine fibroids, or ovarian cysts. This type of dysmenorrhea usually worsens with age and lasts throughout the menstrual period.
NSAIDs are thought to be the mainstay of treatment for primary dysmenorrhea, however, a recent study suggests that hyperthermia can also reduce dysmenorrhea. For women with dysmenorrhea, local warm compresses can reduce muscle tension, relax the abdominal muscles, and reduce pain caused by muscle spasms. Heat can also increase pelvic blood circulation to eliminate local blood and fluid retention, reduce congestion and swelling, and thus reduce pain caused by nerve compression [4].
Therefore, drinking more hot water can promote blood circulation and relieve pain to a certain extent. In addition, applying hot water bottles, towels, hot water bottles, etc. to the lower abdomen is also conducive to relieving menstrual pain. It should be noted that drinking hot water and other methods can only alleviate the primary dysmenorrhea, which is ineffective for secondary dysmenorrhea, and secondary dysmenorrhea needs to be treated in a regular hospital to alleviate it.
Although drinking more hot water can relieve primary dysmenorrhea, psychological comfort and companionship are also very important. Mood is also an important factor affecting dysmenorrhea, to accompany more, eliminate tension and concerns, more conducive to the relief of dysmenorrhea. The second is to ensure adequate rest and sleep, during menstruation, women are weak, their resistance is reduced, and they need to rest well. When you find that the pain is unbearable, you can take some medication under the guidance of a doctor. Oral contraceptives are suitable for dysmenorrhea women who require contraception and are more than 90% effective. Some painkillers such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, etc. can also achieve pain relief effects. If the above methods still do not improve pain, go to the hospital in time to perform some comprehensive examinations to rule out secondary dysmenorrhea caused by infection, endometriosis, uterine fibroids or ovarian cysts.
bibliography
Xie Xingkong, Duan Tao. Obstetrics and Gynecology (9th Edition). People's Medical Publishing House, 2018,
[2] Dawood MY. Primary dysmenorrhea: Advances in pathogenesis and management. Obstetrics & Gynecology, 2006, 108: 428-441
[3] De Sanctis V, Soliman A, Bernasconi S, et al. Primary dysmenorrhea in adolescents: Prevalence, impact and recent knowledge. Pediatric endocrinology reviews: PER, 2015, 13: 512-520
[4] Ke Y-M, Ou M-C, Ho C-K, et al. Effects of somatothermal far-infrared ray on primary dysmenorrhea: A pilot study. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2012, 2012: