Premenstrual syndrome

October 15, 2009 - 7:36 PM

Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) is the broad term to describe the mental, physical, and emotional symptoms that occur as the female approaches her menstruation cycle.

Conditions vary greatly as much is left to be understood about the menstrual cycle and how it affects women. 80% of women who can bear children report to have symptoms due to PMS, but only 3-5% have experienced or experience severe symptoms. In strictly medical terms Premenstrual Syndrome is defined as having “sufficient severity to interfere with certain aspects of life”

There have been over 200 different symptoms attributed to PMS that being said, the symptoms vary from female to female just as the severity and durations. Some of the more common conditions are Stress, lack of interest in sex, Insomnia, joint discomfort and muscle pain, fatigue, acne breakouts, headaches, cramps and bloating of the abdominals. Because of the range of common symptoms, the medical community has had difficulty pinning down or diagnosing PMS, as their exists no lab test via blood or a physical that can determine PMS prevalence.

There are however numerous risk factors which can exacerbate PMS and those include dietary (insufficient intake of minerals and vitamins, specifically Magnanese, Vitamin E, and Magnesium) and high intakes of caffeine. Other factors can include allergies and proximity to allergens, smoking, and family history. In fact family history can be a good determinate in order to manage PMS.

Several key ways exist to manage or treat PMS. The best method to manage PMS is through dietary means. Eating smaller meals more frequently (within 3 hours) and supplemented with various oils like Vitamin E and Fish can help to lessen mood swings. The female can also avoid heavy consumption of salts, Tabacco, alcohol, and sugars as these have been know to be contributing factors to more severe premenstrual syndrome symptoms. Sleep and rest for the body is also recommended to minimize the impact of PMS.

Drugs can be used as well, if the symptoms are more severe and continual persist as noted by a health professional.  Fluoxetine, more commonly referred to as Prozac, which is an antidepressant, given intermittently prior to the associated symptoms of PMS. There also exist natural ways to negate the effects of PMS, Chasteberry is a wild flower that can be purchased as a extract at health stores and has been used for over a millennia to treat PMS by balancing hormone levels which tend to fluctuate heavily during the Premenstrual cycle.