Managing Your PMS Symptoms
Women find themselves forgetting important dates, finding it hard to concentrate and difficult to sleep even though they're tired. They fly off the handle for no reason, lashing out at loved ones and later apologizing for their rash reactions. They start to feel bummed out, fat, unattractive and suddenly unhappy. Their body aches, their head hurts, their stomach is bloated and their skin is bad. PMS symptoms appear in 85% of all women who are menstruating. In this article you can read about a few remedies for PMS.
For many women, the physical symptoms are the most annoying. Cramping occurs as the uterus sheds its lining and a hormone called F2-alpha increases. There are many over-the-counter medications that can treat acute menstrual cramps. Motrin, Aleve and Pamprin are three of the most commonly recommended over-the-counter drugs to reduce pain. If you know when your symptoms usually appear, then you can take these drugs before the cramping begins to circumvent the whole process. Other doctors recommend treating PMS symptoms with an oral contraceptive and a B6 supplement, both of which reduce the flow and length of a period. Sometimes resting a hot water bottle on the stomach can also ease the muscles to provide comfort.
Women suffering from premenstrual syndrome have an increased risk of falling into deep, long-term depression or contemplating suicide. Some American studies have shown that up to one-third of severe PMS sufferers attempted suicide as a result of their symptoms. Similarly, a 1993 New York State Psychiatric Institute study called "The Menstrual Cycle and Mood Disorders" reports that "there is evidence from autopsies that completed suicide is more likely to occur during the late luteal phase of the cycle." Indeed, mood fluctuations can be the most debilitating part of PMS. If you cry often on PMS and find yourself getting uncontrollably angry over trivial matters, then you should ask your doctor what can be prescribed for this. Antidepressants, St. John's Wort and vitamin D have all been known to help.
The prognosis for women who suffer from PMS symptoms is pretty good if treated by making conscientious lifestyle modifications or taking a hormone-balancing medication. Many women who originally went to their doctors for PMS relief found that they actually had a more pervasive form of depression. In that case, it is especially important to seek treatment. In other cases, women have found they have eating disorders, hypothyroidism or other hormonal imbalances that jeopardize their health. The good news is that by the time you reach your menopausal years, your symptoms will be gone.
Related topics about PMS Symptoms
What Is PMS?
What is PMS but an imbalance of your body's hormones and chemicals? As you know, diet contributes significantly to how we think, act and feel. Doctors recommend limiting salt, as sodium contributes to water retention, bloating and weight gain. To keep your blood sugar levels (and moods) stable, you should eat smaller, more frequent meals throughout the day and limit your sugar intake.
One Woman's Battle With PMDD Symptoms
To treat the woman's symptoms, the doctor may prescribe mood stabilizing drugs like fluoxetine (Prozac/Sarafem), fluvoxamine (Luvox), citalopram (Celexa), paroxetine (Paxil) or sertraline (Zoloft). However, it was recently discovered that nearly half the patients taking Zoloft saw their PMDD symptoms return within six to eight months of stopping their medication. These medications work by preventing the reuptake of seratonin -- the "happy" chemical in the body -- and enabling women to experience more natural joy.
Tools To Get PMS Symptom Relief
You might find it helpful to look for a PMS tracker chart. For a printable template, just visit www.womenshealth.