Thing is, it doesn’t have to be like that at all, and more people really ought to be saying so out loud.

Doctors sometimes call heavy bleeding menorrhagia, and it’s dead common, with around one in three women reckoned to have periods heavy enough to mess up their day to day life at some point or other. Even so, loads of them have no idea there’s anything out there that’d help, or they’d feel a bit daft bringing it up with the GP. So they keep muddling through with double protection, dark clothes and a lot of crossed fingers.

What Actually Counts as Heavy?

This is where it gets a bit murky, because there’s no single standard for what a normal period looks like. Most women end up comparing themselves to their mates, their mum or their sister, and assume whatever they go through must be the baseline. On paper, losing more than 80ml of blood in a cycle counts as heavy, but that’s hardly something you can measure in the bathroom at home.

The signs that tend to be more useful are things like soaking through a pad or tampon every hour for a few hours on the trot, regularly passing big clots, bleeding for more than seven days, or feeling completely drained during your period, which is often down to anaemia. If any of that rings a bell, it’s a good idea to have a chat with your GP instead of assuming it’s just your normal.

There’s also what you could call the impact test, though it’s nowhere near as formal as it sounds. If your period stops you doing things you’d otherwise do, whether that’s going to work, getting to the gym or simply leaving the house without worrying, then that’s already reason enough to look into your options. You don’t have to hit some clinical number before your experience counts for something.

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So What Is Tranexamic Acid and How Does It Work?

GPs hand out tranexamic acid for heavy periods all the time, and a lot of women are a bit taken aback the first time somebody mentions it to them. For a start it’s not a hormone, and that matters loads if you’ve already decided you don’t want to go down the hormone route. It works by helping your blood clot better while you’re on your period, so you lose less blood overall, and studies have found it can cut menstrual blood loss by around 40 to 50 percent in some women, which is a massive difference.

You only take it for the first few days of your period while you’re actually bleeding, so there’s no daily tablet to remember the rest of the month. It doesn’t affect your fertility or mess with ovulation either, so it’s a handy option if you’re trying for a baby or you just don’t fancy taking something every single day.

Tranexamic acid tablets are available on prescription from your GP here in the UK, and these days there are also regulated ways to get them online through licensed pharmacies and services. That can take a lot of the hassle out of it if you’d rather not sit in front of somebody and talk through your periods face to face. The medicine has been around for decades and has a well-known safety record, though it won’t suit everyone, especially anyone with a history of blood clots.

It’s About More Than Just Managing Symptoms

There’s a wider conversation going on, slowly, about how women’s health has been under-researched and under-treated for years, and heavy periods sit slap bang in the middle of it. For a long time the advice was more or less to take some ibuprofen and get on with it. That’s starting to change, though nowhere near as quickly as it should.

You can’t sort anything out until you know what’s on offer, though. Ask women who’ve finally had their heavy periods treated and a lot of them will tell you they’re a bit narked nobody mentioned it years ago, back when they thought they’d just have to grin and bear it. If that’s you at the minute, pop in and have a word with a pharmacist or book in with your GP to go through what’s available. Tranexamic acid isn’t going to suit everybody, but for loads of women it’s made a proper difference to getting through the month, and after years of struggling on that counts for a lot.

The post Heavy Periods Are Not Just Something You Have to Put Up With appeared first on Well-Being Stuff.

What Does A Child’s Normal “Tiredness” Look Like

Normal “tiredness” refers to the kind of fatigue that goes away after a good night’s sleep. It may be caused by one or several of the following:

• Heavy physical activities
• Growth spurts
• Full-packed school schedule
• Emotional and mental stress

If your child stayed up late or had poor sleep quality, it can also lead to tiredness the next day. Irregular bedtimes and inconsistent routines disrupt a child’s restorative sleep. Make sure your children get enough sleep (9 to 12 hours for kids under 12 and 8 to 10 hours for teens).

Read: How Flossing Impacts Your Overall Health?

Common Nutrient Gaps Linked to “Tiredness” in Kids

If it’s not “normal” tiredness experienced by your child, it may be a nutrient gap. This refers to the differences between the nutrients your child is consuming and what’s needed. Children show this nutritional deficiency through fatigue and constant tiredness.

Iron deficiency tops the list of leading nutritional causes of low energy and tiredness in children. Iron in the body is responsible for red blood cell production and the transport of oxygen throughout the body. When a child doesn’t have enough iron in the body, she becomes uninterested in daily activities, feels unusually tired, and experiences lethargy.

Besides iron deficiency, consistent tiredness may also be a sign of low vitamin D and B12 levels in the body. Make sure that your child doesn’t miss out on the important nutrients that a growing body needs. Recognizing the early signs of this nutrient gap will help prevent future health issues.

More Than Normal “Tiredness”: Red Flags to Watch For

How do you know if you need to pay more attention to your child’s tiredness? Before making any assumption, it’s best to ask experts in the medical field. Set up a schedule with your physician if you observe the following red flags:

• Feels fatigued even after 10 to 12 hours of sleep for children younger than 12 years and 8 to 10 hours of sleep for teens
• Changes in appetite and behavior
• Frequent headaches, shortness of breath, and dizziness
• Poor concentration
• Dark circles under the eyes and pale skin

All of these signs may mean your child’s tiredness is not normal. Check whether the tiredness doesn’t go away after a good night’s rest and after swapping to better habits every morning. If the tiredness persists, it’s time to do something about it to prevent it from worsening.

Bridging Your Child’s Nutrient Gaps

The key to addressing your child’s fatigue and unusual tiredness is to bridge the nutrient gap. Here are the steps to take if you want to guarantee success in correcting micronutrient shortfalls in your child.

Take Your Child to a Physician

It’s important to take your child to the doctor after one to two weeks of consistent fatigue. Ask your physician to conduct the following observations and examinations:

A thorough assessment of the history of fatigue and possible causes of your child’s tiredness, such as:

• Sleeping habits
• Activities that can cause anxiety or stress
• Packed daily schedule

Meticulous physical examination (Pay attention to your child’s growth and development)

Necessary laboratory tests needed depending on your child’s symptoms, including but not limited to the following:

• Blood tests
• Imaging
• MRIs
• Urine tests
• X-rays

Take into account the possibility of needing the help of a mental health professional.

While your child’s unusual tiredness may be nothing serious, it’s better to be on the safe side. Ask your physician’s opinion to ease your worries and help you know the next steps to take.

Help Your Child Feel More Energized

The good thing about most cases of fatigue in children is that, as parents, there are things you can do to help them. One of the most effective solutions is to improve your child’s lifestyle to be healthier. Consider the following changes:

• Set Up Consistent Bedtimes: Establish routines for every morning and night, and set specific wake-up and sleeping times to promote restful sleep.
• Introduce Well-Balanced Meals: Bridge your child’s dietary gap by including foods rich in the nutrients they’re lacking. For iron, add lean meats, leafy greens, and beans. For vitamins B12 and D, consider serving fatty salmon, eggs, and fortified dairy products.
• Reduce Screen Time: Keep your child away from smartphones and other screens, especially at night, for better melatonin production.
• Encourage and Promote Physical Activity: Go outdoors for exercise and some sunlight exposure to improve energy and sleep quality.

Talk to your child when making these changes. Include them in your plans and ask for their opinions as you make them.

Consider Giving Your Child a Health Supplement

Bridge your child’s dietary gaps by considering giving them supplements. Dietary supplements can improve one’s overall well-being and help your child get the nutrients they lack. Consider getting Neupril Kids Methylfolate to promote restful sleep and boost your child’s energy.

The post Is Your Child’s “Tiredness” Normal? What Parents Should Know About Nutrient Gaps appeared first on Well-Being Stuff.