Premenstrual syndrome or PMS is a set of emotional and physical changes or discomforts that are affecting a lot of women several days or weeks prior to menstruation. PMS affects menstruating women of any age. These changes will often hinder regular daily activities of the affected women. On the other hand, scientific studies are still necessary to show if exercise has accurate effects on the symptoms of PMS. But, evidence does claim that working out could help reduce some of the PMS symptoms.
Exercise to Ease PMS Symptoms
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Physical activity boosts overall health and can help ease anxiety and nervous tension. Working out is thought to release endorphins, the chemical messengers for nerves that affect learning, memory retention, perception of pain and most of all it affects the mood.
Cardio exercise improves overall fitness and strengthens the heart by enhancing the body’s ability to use oxygen. Dancing, walking, and swimming are “low-impact” cardio activities. They prevent the joint and muscle beating of more “high-impact” workouts like jumping rope and jogging. Benefits consist of aerobic fitness, weight loss or control, tone of muscle, increase in self-esteem, and reduction in fluid retention.
PMS symptoms can also be reduced through the use of calming and relaxing work outs, like breathing techniques – like those performed in yoga. Yoga can help the body relax, reduce stress and calm the nerves, at the same time; yoga and meditation are good for several types of health related ailments such as alleviating the symptoms related with PMS. Getting lots of rest can also manage the PMS symptoms and a minimum of eight hours every night is the advice made by health experts.
Along with a regular workout, it is necessary to have a healthy diet for overall health and managing the symptoms associated with PMS. Health experts encourage a diet that is loaded with fiber, protein and complex carbohydrates. Beverages like caffeine, alcohol, salt, refined sugars, and foods that have saturated fats should also be avoided. Here’s a video of some exercises that you can do to relieve your PMS symptoms.
Relieve your PMS Symptoms with Exercise
While some women can effectively handle their PMS symptoms with a healthy lifestyle habits, if you experience severe symptoms of PMS that greatly hinder your everyday activities you should arrange an appointment immediately with your doctor for a medical assessment as severe symptoms of PMS can often signify another medical condition like premenstrual dysphoric disorder or PMDD – which is a more serious form of PMS that sometimes needs prescription medications to manage the symptoms.
Do you have any query about fitness? Want to know how to improve your workout and know more about exercises that suit you? Click here to find out more about Dangerously Fit.
