Understanding PMS Part -2

Having looked at the causes, symptoms and methods to diagnose PMS, it is now time to consider prevention and treatment.

Prevention

Menstruation is a natural process and the premenstrual syndrome is part of this. There is no way to completely prevent it or reduce the discomfit it causes and the effect it can have on your life. However, by understanding the nature of what you are going through, you will be able to cope with it better. The best way to do this is to talk to your doctor not only about PMS in general but also about any specific issues you may be facing. Your doctor will be able to advise you on the changes, usually minor, that you can make to your lifestyle to reduce the discomfort and find relief. These steps usually consist of nothing more than proper exercise, the right diet and getting enough rest. Over and above, if your condition requires specific treatment or medication, the doctor can prescribe what is best for you. 

Treatment

There is no specific treatment for PMS as such. What is available are ways to relieve the symptoms and make life more comfortable during those difficult days. Besides consulting a specialist about your condition, the following tips can help you to deal with it better.

• Understand your condition. Keep a dairy of your PMS symptoms, including how severe they are and how long they last. These can vary from month to month, but over a period of a few months the diary will allow you to understand how your moods and physical condition, are affected in the days before your period. Once you know that, you will be able to plan your month to minimize those activities that cause you the most distress during the PMS days.  If that does not provide enough relief, your diary will help your doctor to decide if medication can help and if so, what to prescribe.
• A healthy diet can help to control both the physical and also the mental symptoms. Reducing your intake of salt, sugar and caffeine is known to help in reducing the symptoms.  The American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology advises that a diet rich in complex carbohydrates can help in relieving the symptoms. Your doctor may also recommend nutritional supplements like calcium, magnesium, and vitamins B6 and E.
• Proper exercise can help your body to cope with the stress of PMS. The best exercise for PMS related issues is an aerobic style exercise, like walking. Continuing the exercise, perhaps at a lower intensity, during the PMS days can also help your body to cope with the condition.
• There are over the counter medications that can help in controlling the symptoms. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like aspirin and ibuprofen can reduce the intensity of cramps, breast tenderness and head and back aches. If depression or anxiety is a serious problem, your doctor may prescribe the use of antidepressants. Diuretics may also be prescribed to reduce fluid retention.

Nontraditional treatments and home remedies can do more harm than good. The best way to deal with PMS and limit the impact it has on your life is to consult your gynecologist. If you do want to try home remedies, discuss them with your doctor before starting the remedies.

Understanding PMS Part – 1

PMS, as defined by the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology is “The cyclic occurrence of symptoms that are sufficiently severe to interfere with some aspects of life, and that appear with consistent and predictable relationship to the menstrual period." Studies show that about 85% of women of childbearing age experience symptoms of PMS, in varying degrees, although only between 2% to 10% experience severe symptoms. Treated as a topic for sitcom jokes for many years, PMS, or Premenstrual Syndrome to give it its correct name, is now recognized as a genuine medical condition and one that, if the symptoms are severe enough, requires treatment. The symptoms of PMS can be both physical and also psychological and occur just before the beginning of the menstrual period.

The Causes

The exact cause of PMS is still being researched and debated, but the consensus is that the fluctuations in hormone levels that occur just before the onset of your period is a major factor. The fluctuations, especially of estrogen and progesterone are part of the natural preparation of the body to menstruate.

The Symptoms

The symptoms of PMS are many and varied and can occur in a variety of combinations. The types, number and severity of the symptoms differ from woman to woman and also from month to month for each woman. The main, and most common symptoms include:

• Abnormal food cravings and a desire to overeat.
• Aggression and / or bouts of anger.
• Anxiety and / or feelings of depression.
• Bloating / water retention.
• Breast tenderness and increased sensitivity.
• Fatigue and listlessness.
• Headaches and backaches.
• Irritation with things that are normally not a problem.
• Sudden and possibly very strong mood swings that occur without warning and for no apparent reason.
• Tearfulness and a tendency to cry for no real reason.
• Trouble in concentrating or focusing on important matters.

There are other possible symptoms and if you think you have symptoms of PMS, consult your gynecologist to find out if that is the case and if so, what steps you need to take to control the problem.

The Diagnosis

There is no single comprehensive test or set of tests to determine if a woman is suffering from PMS or not. There are some strategies that a health care provider may suggest to help in making a diagnosis, but the problem here is that the type and severity of the symptoms can vary from month to month. That being said, the two most common courses of action are:

• A Thyroid Test: Since the symptoms of thyroid disease are often similar to PMS, a test of this nature will help to reveal if there is a thyroid condition that needs to be treated. If not, then the possibility of PMS is increased.
•  Maintaining a PMS diary: You will be asked to maintain a record of your PMS symptoms, duration and severity over a period of a few months. This will allow your doctor to understand the case better and decide if you are suffering from PMS or not.

In the next part of this blog we will share tips and suggestions on how to manage and overcome PMS.