PMS is a condition that affects a woman’s emotions, physical health, and behavior during specific days of her menstrual cycle, usually just before her menses. It’s a relatively prevalent ailment. More than 90% of menstrual women are affected by its symptoms. For your doctor to diagnose you, it must be affecting some element of your life.
PMS symptoms normally appear five to eleven days before menstruation and disappear after menstruation begins. PMS has an unknown aetiology.
Many scientists believe it has something to do with a change in sex hormone and serotonin levels at the start of the menstrual cycle.
Premenstrual syndrome has a vast range of possible signs and symptoms, however most women only encounter a few of them.
Symptoms :
Emotional and behavioral signs and symptoms
● Tension or anxiety
● Depressed mood
● Crying spells
● Mood swings and irritability or anger
● Appetite changes and food cravings
● Trouble falling asleep (insomnia)
● Social withdrawal
● Poor concentration
● Change in libido
Physical signs and symptoms
● Joint or muscle pain
● Headache
● Fatigue
● Weight gain related to fluid retention
● Abdominal bloating
● Breast tenderness
● Acne flare-ups
● Constipation or diarrhea
● Alcohol intolerance
Physical pain and emotional stress are severe enough for some people to impact their daily life. Regardless of the severity of the symptoms, most women’s signs and symptoms fade within four days after the onset of their monthly period.
However, a small percentage of women with premenstrual syndrome experience debilitating symptoms every month. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder is the name for this type of PMS (PMDD).
Depression, mood swings, anger, anxiety, overwhelm, difficulty concentrating, impatience, and tension are all signs and symptoms of PMDD.
Treatment
● Make exercise a regular part of your monthly routine. During this time, do not stop. This will aid in the improvement of your attention abilities as well as provide relief from despair and exhaustion.
● Maintain a nutritious diet, particularly in the week leading up to and during the period. This boosts your endurance and enhances your tolerance for cramping. Migraine headaches can be eased by eating leafy green vegetables (which are high in magnesium, calcium, and iron).
● Stay hydrated, especially in the week leading up to and during your period. Carbonated beverages should be avoided. To reduce bloating and cramps, eat water-rich fruits like melon and cucumber.
● The use of essential oils in a gentle massage and the application of heat to the belly with hot water bags substantially aids in the relief of cramps.
● Avoid consuming alcoholic beverages and smoking.
● Sleep peacefully and for a long time.
● Deep breathing, gentle strolling, stretching, and mild workouts are examples of appropriate relaxation techniques/activities.
● To get rid of exhaustion, use energy supplements like vitamin B6, calcium, and magnesium.
● Medication — Seek medical advice and take medications to alleviate cramps, pains, depression, and anxiety.
When To See A Doctor
If physical pain, mood changes, or other symptoms start to interfere with your everyday life, or if they don’t go away, see your doctor.
When you experience more than one recurrent symptom that is severe enough to cause impairment and is missing between menses and ovulation, you are diagnosed with PCOS. Other factors must also be ruled out by your doctor, such as:
● anemia
● endometriosis
● thyroid disease
● irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
● Chronic Fatigue syndrome
● connective tissue or rheumatologic diseases
Your doctor may inquire about any family history of depression or mood problems to determine whether your symptoms are the result of PMS or something else. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), hypothyroidism, and pregnancy all create symptoms that are similar to PMS.
Your doctor may perform a thyroid hormone test, a pregnancy test, and maybe a pelvic exam to check if your thyroid gland is working properly.
Another method for determining whether or not you have PMS is to keep track of your symptoms. Use a calendar to keep track of your symptoms and menstruation every month. If your symptoms start around the same time each month, PMS could be the cause.
Easing the symptoms of PMS
You won’t be able to cure PMS, but you can take efforts to reduce the severity of your symptoms. If you have a mild or moderate case of premenstrual syndrome, you can try the following treatments:
● drinking plenty of fluids to ease abdominal bloating
● eating a balanced diet to improve your overall health and energy level, which means eating plenty of fruits and vegetables and reducing your intake of sugar, salt, caffeine, and alcohol
● taking supplements, such as folic acid, vitamin B-6, calcium, and magnesium to reduce cramps and mood swings
● taking vitamin D to reduce symptoms
● sleeping at least eight hours per night to reduce fatigue
● exercising to decrease bloating and improve your mental health
● reducing stress, such as through exercising and reading
● going to cognitive behavioral therapy, which has been shown to be effective
Muscle aches, headaches, and stomach cramps can all be relieved with pain relievers like ibuprofen or aspirin. To avoid bloating and water weight increase, you can also take a diuretic. Only use drugs and supplements as advised by your doctor after consulting with him or her.