• Question: how does excerise and a hot water bottle help soothe period pain?

    Asked by abbieclark to Sian, Luisa, Jess, Dean, Alexandra on 22 Jun 2010 in Categories: .
    • Photo: Sian Foch-Gatrell

      Sian Foch-Gatrell answered on 21 Jun 2010:

      Hot water bottles soothe pain and help with cramping. And they are also comforting, just as cuddling a teddy bear can make you feel better. Exercise releases endorphins which are ‘feel good’ hormones, but some women get period pains so crippling that excessive exercise can cause them more discomfort. So gentle exercise is probably best.

    • Photo: Dean Whittaker

      Dean Whittaker answered on 21 Jun 2010:

      Shall I let one of the biologists (or ladies) answer this one? 🙂

    • Photo: Alexandra Kamins

      Alexandra Kamins answered on 22 Jun 2010:

      I think it has to do with the fact that the pain is caused by serious cramping in the abdominal and uterine muscles. Exercise gets the muscles moving and loose, while the hot water relaxes the cramping.

    • Photo: Luisa Ostertag

      Luisa Ostertag answered on 22 Jun 2010:

      The hot water bottle makes you relax and might help to release cramps in your belly. For the exercise I am not sure, but it’s probably also relaxing and if you do exercise you have to concentrate on it and might forget the pain.

    • Photo: Jessica Housden

      Jessica Housden answered on 22 Jun 2010:

      Not my area – but I think it stops muscles cramping up.

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