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What
is premenstrual syndrome (PMS)?
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a group of symptoms linked to
the menstrual cycle. PMS symptoms occur in the week or two weeks
before your period (menstruation or monthly bleeding). The symptoms
usually go away after your period starts. PMS can affect menstruating
women of any age.
What causes PMS?
The cause of PMS is not clear. It is linked to the changing
hormones during the menstrual cycle. Some women may be affected
more than others by the changing hormone levels during the menstrual
cycle. Diagnosis of PMS is usually based on your symptoms, when
they occur, and how much they affect your life.
About 80% of women in their reproductive years experience some
emotional and physical symptoms before their periods that impair
daily activities. An estimated 40% have symptoms that can be
categorized as premenstrual syndrome.
What are the symptoms of PMS?
PMS often includes both physical and emotional
symptoms. Common symptoms are:
* acne
* breast swelling and tenderness
* feeling tired
* having trouble sleeping
* upset stomach, bloating, constipation, or diarrhoea
* headache or backache
* appetite changes or food cravings
*l joint or muscle pain
* trouble concentrating or remembering
* tension, irritability, mood swings, or crying spells
* anxiety or depression
Symptoms vary from one woman to another. If you think you have
PMS, keep track of your symptoms for a few months. You can use
a calendar to write down the symptoms you have each day. Also
note how bad the symptoms are. If you go to the doctor for your
PMS, take this record with you.
What is the treatment for PMS?
* Take a multivitamin every day that includes 400 micrograms
of folic acid. A calcium supplement with vitamin D can help
keep bones strong and may help ease some PMS symptoms.
* Exercise regularly.
* Eat healthy foods, including fruits, vegetables, and wholegrains.
* Avoid salt, sugary foods, caffeine, and alcohol.
* Get enough sleep. Try to get 8 hours of sleep each night.
* Don’t smoke.
Causes
The exact causes of PMS, headaches and depression are unknown.
In fact, it is not known why some women have severe symptoms,
some have mild ones, while others have none. It is generally
believed that PMS, migraine and depression stem from neurochemical
changes within the brain. Hormonal factors, such as oestrogen
levels, had not been appreciated until recent studies.
The female hormone oestrogen starts to rise after menstruation
and peaks around mid-cycle (ovulation). It then rapidly drops
only to slowly rise and then fall again in the time before menstruation.
Oestrogen holds fluid and with increasing oestrogen comes fluid
retention: many women report weight gains of five pounds premenstrually.
Post-partum Depression
A special form of PMS is the severe depression experienced after
delivery. Most women experience a “let-down” from
the high hormone levels during pregnancy. Because of this, there
is a normal amount of feeling “blue” immediately
after childbirth. But the intensity of post-partum depression
is much deeper. These individuals cannot tolerate the hormonal
disruption to their nervous system: their actions may harm themselves
or their infants. THE
PAIN AND MOOD SWINGS ARE REAL!
They are not imaginary.
So women need not feel that they are going crazy for these two
weeks every month. They are experiencing an exaggeration of
normal function. The physician can help the patient by first
explaining the process, secondly by prescribing an anti-oestrogenic
hormonal medication to lower and stabilize the oestrogen level,
and lastly, recommending psychotropic medications for short
periods.
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