What Is PMS?
What is PMS exactly? You may suspect you have some of the symptoms each month, as you are prone to crying often or you have severe menstrual cramps. It's possible that you are suffering from premenstrual syndrome, but you may also have an underlying mood disorder or thyroid problem. In this article, you will learn more about the symptoms, what to do about them and where to get your questions answered.
Have you asked your doctor, "What is PMS?" If so, he or she may have given you a list of the symptoms that affect at least 80% of all women who menstruate. You may have mood swings that make you anxious, irritable or teary suddenly for no real reason at all. You may be prone to binge eating, craving sweets and carbohydrates. You'll retain more water, feel bloated, suffer frequent headaches and have aching breasts. You may have mild or moderate insomnia or extreme fatigue. These premenstrual related symptoms can be very uncomfortable, but they don't usually interfere with daily activities. The severity will vary from woman to woman, from mild to severe, yet once menstruation begins, these symptoms subside until the following month.
When you're learning about PMS, you may feel you have all the symptoms but they're worse than what the average woman gets. About 3-8% of women have a more severe form of PMS, called premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), and they experience such bad rage and/or depression that they can't function. You may find your interpersonal relationships suffering because of your sudden emotional outbursts. You may find that you've called off work because you feel "sick," which is more like depression and anxiety. You may be unable to sleep at night or, conversely, you may stay in bed all day. You may feel you are unattractive, worthless and that life is hopeless. What marks this condition from clinical depression is timing. PMDD appears 7 to 10 days before menstruation and ends as the menstrual phase begins.
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. By eating lean proteins, fresh fruits, vegetables and complex carbohydrates, you will keep your cravings under control. Limit your intake of caffeine and alcohol, which are known to exacerbate mood swings, insomnia, anxiety and depression. Exercising and multivitamin supplements are also good ways to keep you from feeling too irritable. If your symptoms are very severe and more akin to PMDD, then you may need to look at taking birth control pills, Zoloft, Paxil or Prozac.
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Managing YOur PMS Symptoms
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.
Understanding The Symptoms Of PMS
There are more than 200 symptoms related to PMS, which range in severity from person to person and from month to month. Physical symptoms of premenstrual syndrome are commonly associated with the very act of menstruating. For instance, most women report that they feel "bloated," have tender breasts and suffer from frequent headaches.
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.