How do heat pads relieve period cramps?

Question

I sometimes do it when I have time to relax at home and just lay for a little while, and it works. How does it work? Just out of curiosity.

Answer 1

yup!

it works.

haha.

i use them sometimes.

when it hurts a lot.

Answer 2

.

Answer 3

cramps are due to he smooth muscles of your pelvic organs contracting.  Heat relaxes those muscles.  Heat also dilates your veins/arteries which may case you to bleed more during your period too.  

Answer 4

i have no clue. but it works for me too i love it!!

Answer 5

it relaxes your muscles. Try laying on the bed, and alternate grabbing one knee with both hands, and pull your knee up to your chest.

Answer 6

It works great I am forver ordering hy husband to pop it in the microwave for me,  I tihnk it works because it distracts the nerves that are telling your brain your in pain instead it sends signals saying this is warm, so it overides the thought that you are in pain..  Just like when you get your eyebrows waxed and when the beauty therapist touches it as soon as she rips it off you dont feel the pain, its simple just a case of distracting the pain sensors

Answer 7

when you have a cramp, your muscles are contracting and tightening, and a heating pack helps because the heat helps them relax and loosen up... :) it works wonders! i love them! :)

Answer 8

Yes it really does help. It really relaxes my tensed stomach at least.

Answer 9

Heat treatment has been shown to be effective at relieving pain (e.g. deep heat treatment rubs as sold at chemists). Wheat bags are very effective at retaining heat for a long period of time and releasing the heat with an even distribution. This ensures that with wheat bags you can get the heat treatment to the right place without messy creams or chemicals that you may not have enough safety information about.

Wheat bags do not contain liquid, so will not leak with any small puncture like products such as gel heat pads, this allows them a vey long life when properly used.

Applying gentle heat treatment to the body has been shown to increase the flexibility of ligaments and tendons, relax muscle spasms and bolster metabolism while increasing blood flow. Information suggests it is believed to be because the body's endorphin (opiate like chemicals) production is stimulated with heat.

Heat treatment with wheat bags is often helpful in the case of muscle spasms following a back injury, but should not be used on new sprains, recent injuries or wounds. Cold treatment is best in this case.

If you have a chronic, serious or nerve sensitivity condition you should consult your doctor before use,

Answer 10

i believe the heat helps your muscles to relax since cramps are caused by muscles contracting

Answer 11

well my guess is that the heat relaxes the muscles.  Because when you get cramps it can be because the shedding of the uterus causes a lot of stress on the body.  By sending heat waves to those hard working muscles it can relax them decreasing the pain.

Answer 12

Okay, so you know how when you get really super cold and you can barely move you're so cold?? That's because your muscles are tensing up to fight against the cold.

Conversely, applying heat to muscles relaxes them, so when you apply a heat pad to your lower abdomen, your uterine muscles (the little goobers that HURT) relax and stop contracting as hard.