SPC Review: Period Pain
Knowledge is Power!
Background
This one is for the ladies. How many times have you experienced that painful, vomit-inducing cramp at the bottom of your belly, and you say God, not again? You can probably say most of your life; after all, it happened almost every month since you were about 12 or 13, right? But what if I told you you didn’t have to endure all that pain? At least if you suffer from primary dysmenorrhea.
Yes, primary dysmenorrhea, commonly known as period pain, occurs in many young girls and women throughout the life cycle of their period. But I recently discovered (covers face) that I didn’t have to endure all that pain for those many years. Period Pain: A Simple Guide for Relief was my aha moment, where I realised all the things I did wrong that contributed to period pain.
The book (Period Pain: A Simple Guide for Relief) authored by Althea Reid, is a powerful, knowledge-packed resource we didn’t know we needed. The book contains detailed information about menstruation, the menstrual cycle, and period pain, specifically primary dysmenorrhea. Notwithstanding the technical terminologies, the book has information on factors affecting menstruation, the menstrual cycle, and contributors to period pain that some of us probably didn’t even know.
Takeaways
It outlines how nutrition/diet, stress, weight, exercise, age and sleep affect the menstrual cycle and contribute to period pain. I know these are the more known/obvious ones, but did you know that ethnicity, environmental/workplace exposure, and even cultural beliefs/attitudes also affect your cycle? (hands-on cheeks) Well, it was news to some of us in that informative book club meeting.
How do we know all of this? Well, Althea not only experienced primary dysmenorrhea herself, which she shares in the book but through extensive research, studies and practice, she was able to eliminate her period pain. The author, Althea Reid, is a Public Health Specialist, an Agriculturalist, and a soon-to-be wellness coach who has put into practice lifestyle habits that have positively impacted her wellness.
Period Pain: A Simple Guide for Relief presents the author’s action plan to eliminate period pain. She provides a list of nutrients and food examples, herbal remedies, types of low-intensity exercises and a simple meal plan to help you get started on your journey to holistic wellness. The book also gives tips on stress management, ways to maintain a healthy sleep cycle, and environmental toxins to be aware of, which are found in some of the personal care products we women use, among others.
Conclusion
All in all, I encourage women and the men who support us to read this book. It is educational, empowering, and a starting point for a more holistic lifestyle plan.
Support
Get your copy of “Period Pain: A Simple Guide for Relief” on the SPC Bookshelf or from Amazon using our affiliate link. (If you purchase the book using the affiliate link included, we may receive a commission; however, there is NO additional charge to you or the author).
Althea Reid is one of many females who experienced primary dysmenorrhea during her teenage and adult years. She is inspired to share her experiences. Althea has a Master of Public Health from the University of Edinburgh, a Bachelor of Applied Science in Public Health and Safety from the Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson University), and a Bachelor of Science from Northern Caribbean University.
