Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) refers to a series of physical and emotional discomforts that women present 1 to 2 weeks before their period. The symptoms can be physical, emotional or behavioral and it usually goes away once the period starts or soon after. Its main symptoms include irritability, insomnia, tension, depression, headache, and breast tenderness. In severe cases, it can affect the normal life of women. Judging from the clinical symptoms of PMS, it is more common in women of reproductive age. Contrary to what some people may suggest, PMS is a real condition, one that can disrupt daily life and cause significant physical discomfort and emotional distress. Below, we’ll cover the symptoms of PMS in detail, plus offer some tips on getting support and relief from your symptoms.
Occurrence
95% of women of reproductive age experience PMS symptoms, and 5% of them have symptoms severe enough to be called PMS.
Causes
Even though it's common, the cause behind PMS is still unclear and it's speculated that the cause may be related to endocrine system disturbance and insufficient serotonin secretion. The neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine have several important functions in the body, including helping regulate mood, emotions, and behavior. These chemical messengers may also factor into symptoms of PMS. For example, a drop in estrogen may prompt the release of norepinephrine, which leads to declining production of dopamine, acetylcholine, and serotonin. These changes can trigger sleep problems and lead to a low or depressed mood.
Also, certain habits might affect the severity of your PMS symptoms. Potential lifestyle factors that could worsen PMS symptoms include:
-smoking
-eating a lot of foods high in fat, sugar, and salt
-a lack of regular physical activity
-a lack of quality sleep
If you binge drink or drink heavily on a regular basis, you’re even more likely to experience PMS symptoms.
Symptoms and signs
While PMS often involves mild or moderate symptoms that don’t majorly affect daily life, but in some cases symptoms can be severe enough to impact your everyday activities and overall well-being. If you have PMS, you’ll experience symptoms consistently before each menstrual period. You might experience only some of the symptoms below, or several, but PMS typically involves at least a few different symptoms.
Physical signs include:
-Bloated tummy
-Cramps
-Tender breasts
-Hunger
-Headache
-Muscle aches
-Joint pain
-Swollen hands and feet
-Pimples
-Weight gain
-Constipation or diarrhea
Emotional signs include:
-Tense or anxious
-Depressed
-Crying
-Mood swings
-Can’t sleep
-Don’t want to be with people
-Feel overwhelmed or out of control
-Angry outbursts
Behavioral signs include:
-Forget things
-Loss of mental focus
-Tired
Can PMS be prevented?
It is often said that many diseases can be prevented, so can PMS be prevented? Of course you can, as long as you live a regular life and eat properly.
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Eat less sweets- Sweets can make people emotionally unstable and even anxious, so it’s better to eat less or no sweets. Second, you should drink more water and eat more fresh fruit.
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Eat more fiber- Fiber helps the body digest better. You can eat more of these foods, such as oats, spinach, berries, whole-wheat pastas and bread, broccoli, apples and bananas which can also play a good preventive role.
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Take deep breaths often- Deep breathing can help you relax, and you can practice taking slow, deep breaths often. Also you could try doing yoga and meditation.
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Supplemental nutrients- The nutrients needed by the human body are complex and diverse, including but not limited to vitamin B family, vitamin C, vitamin E, as well as calcium and magnesium, which are also very helpful for prevention.
Treatment
The discomfort of some women has affected their normal life, and even induced depression, mania, etc. What should I do?
Self-care
Set aside time each day for self-care, which might include exercise, relaxation, time to yourself for hobbies, or time for social interaction.
Nutritional supplements
There are also physiological reasons for such a situation, so the body will also affect the mood, and even affect the severity of the syndrome, so it can be adjusted through balanced vitamin supplementation.
Exercise
Try to get at least half an hour of physical activity each day, if you’re able. Exercise can not only help relieve bloating and cramping, but it can also help ease anxiety and depression symptoms.
Get enough sleep
Aim to get 7 to 9 hours of sleep each night to help relieve fatigue and improve overall well-being.
Supplements
Ask a healthcare professional about trying supplements like folic acid, vitamin B-6, calcium, and magnesium to help reduce cramps and mood symptoms. In more serious mood problems of PMS, it can be treated by taking antidepressants. But be sure to follow the doctor's advice and don't take it on your own.
If you think you might be experiencing PMS symptoms and need to see a doctor let us help you. Contact Mederva Health local gynecologist today and get the help that you need.
Sources:
https://www.webmd.com/women/pms/what-is-pms
https://www.mama.cn/z/46127/
https://baike.baidu.com/item/%E7%BB%8F%E5%89%8D%E6%9C%9F%E7%BB%BC%E5%90%88%E5%BE%81/[…]E5%89%8D%E7%BB%BC%E5%90%88%E5%BE%81&fromid=3622664&fr=aladdin
