Explore 19 easy-to-read eva guides about nausea — clear, friendly answers for teens and young women.
You do not need a special or restrictive “period diet.” During your period, continue eating a varied pattern that includes starchy foods, protein, fruit, vegetables and enough fluids. Choose meals according to your appetite and symptoms. Iron-rich foods are particularly useful across your regular diet because menstruation causes blood loss, while people with heavy periods have a greater risk of iron-deficiency anaemia.
Period cramps can be common, especially near the beginning of a period. However, pain that is severe, becoming worse or repeatedly affecting school, sleep, movement and everyday activities deserves medical attention. This EVA self-check can help you understand and describe your pain pattern, but it cannot diagnose the cause.
Mild or moderate cramps can happen before or during a period as the uterus contracts to release its lining. However, pain that is severe, worsening, unusual or repeatedly interrupts school, sleep and everyday activities deserves medical attention. Other symptoms occurring with the pain can also help show when faster support is needed.
Period cramps happen when the muscles of the uterus tighten and relax to help release the uterine lining. Natural chemicals called prostaglandins control these contractions. Learn why cramps happen, where the pain may be felt and how to recognise when period pain needs extra support.
No single food can reliably stop period cramps. Menstrual pain happens when the uterus contracts, with prostaglandins playing an important role. Some nutrients including omega-3 fats, magnesium and calcium have been studied for menstrual symptoms, but research is still limited and often focuses on supplements rather than ordinary foods. A varied diet may support general wellbeing and comfort, but severe pain deserves proper treatment and assessment.
Heavy menstrual bleeding means losing enough blood during a period that it affects daily life or may cause health problems. Signs can include soaking through period products very quickly, needing double protection, waking at night to change products or bleeding for more than seven days. Heavy bleeding can sometimes lead to iron-deficiency anaemia and may occasionally be linked with a bleeding disorder.
Headaches are common during the teenage years and may feel like pressure, tightness, heaviness, pulsing or throbbing pain. Possible triggers include dehydration, missed meals, stress, poor sleep and long screen or study sessions. Migraine is a specific neurological condition that may cause stronger headaches together with nausea, vomiting, visual changes or sensitivity to light and sound. Recognising your pattern can help you understand common triggers and know when medical attention is needed.
Breakfast is the first food or meal you have after the overnight gap without eating. Missing it occasionally is unlikely to define your health, but regularly reaching school without eating may leave some teenagers feeling hungry, low in energy or less ready to concentrate. Healthy breakfast habits are associated with better memory, mood and school attendance, although these associations do not prove that breakfast alone causes every difference.
A racing, pounding, fluttering or unusually noticeable heartbeat is often described as heart palpitations. Stress and panic can cause this sensation, but exercise, insufficient sleep, caffeine, medicines and some physical-health conditions can also be involved. EVA can guide you through a gentle calming response, but new, severe, persistent or unexplained symptoms should not automatically be assumed to be anxiety.
Iron tablets may be recommended when blood tests confirm iron deficiency or iron-deficiency anaemia. They help the body rebuild the iron needed to make haemoglobin and healthy red blood cells. Different iron products contain different amounts of iron, so take only the product and amount recommended by your healthcare professional.
Pelvic pain is discomfort felt in the lower abdomen, below the belly button. It can have several possible causes, including period cramps, urinary or bowel problems and conditions affecting the reproductive organs. Sudden, severe or worsening pain especially with vomiting, fever, faintness or heavy bleeding needs prompt medical assessment.
Chest pain can feel frightening, but in teenagers it is more commonly related to the chest muscles, ribs, coughing, asthma, reflux or another non-heart cause. Even so, pain that happens during exercise, does not go away or appears with fainting, breathing difficulty or an unusual heartbeat needs prompt medical attention.
Stomach pain is one of the most common symptoms during childhood and the teenage years. It may be caused by gas, constipation, indigestion, menstrual cramps, viral infections, urinary problems or many other conditions. Most stomach aches improve on their own, but severe, persistent or worsening pain especially with vomiting, fever, bleeding or fainting should always be medically assessed.
Some period discomfort can be common, but pain that is severe, unusual or keeps disrupting daily life deserves attention. Learn which signs suggest it is time to talk to a trusted adult or healthcare professional, and which symptoms may need urgent medical help.
A panic attack is a sudden wave of intense fear or discomfort that may cause a racing heart, shaking, sweating, dizziness, nausea, chest discomfort, tingling or difficulty breathing. The sensations can feel frightening and may resemble a medical emergency. Slow breathing, grounding and support from someone nearby may help, but new, severe or unexplained symptoms should not automatically be assumed to be panic.
A urinary tract infection, commonly called a UTI, can cause burning while peeing, frequent or urgent trips to the bathroom and discomfort in the lower abdomen. Urine may also look cloudy, contain blood or smell stronger than usual. Other conditions can cause similar symptoms, so this EVA self-check can help you notice the pattern but cannot diagnose a UTI. A urine test may be needed to identify the cause.
Headaches are common and are usually not caused by a serious condition. However, a headache that begins extremely suddenly, follows a head injury, keeps worsening or appears with changes in vision, speech, movement or awareness may need urgent medical attention.
“Dizzy” can describe different sensations. You may feel lightheaded or close to fainting, unsteady on your feet, or as though you or the room is spinning. Common triggers include dehydration, heat, standing up quickly, missing meals, illness and migraine. Repeated dizziness may also be connected to iron-deficiency anaemia, an inner-ear problem, medicine side effects or another health condition, so the exact feeling and accompanying symptoms matter.
Headaches can sometimes appear before or during a period. Some may feel mild and pressure-like, while others may be migraine attacks with throbbing pain, nausea or sensitivity to light and sound. Learn how cycle changes may affect headaches, what can help and which symptoms need medical attention.