About PMS

Premenstrual syndrome, or PMS, strikes just before your period begins, bringing with it a range of physical and emotional symptoms. Approximately 85% of women are affected by some degree of PMS, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. If you suffer from PMS, there are some steps you can take to ease your symptoms.

Symptoms

• Emotional symptoms of PMS include irritability, anger, depression, crying, anxiety, panic attacks, withdrawal from normal activities, confusion, food cravings and trouble concentration or sleeping. Breast tenderness, headache (including migraines), painful joints, bloating, cramping, backache, weight gain, and swelling of the hands and feet are typical physical symptoms. Symptoms vary from woman to woman and it is possible to experience symptoms one month but not the next.

Cause

• Doctors have not found a definitive cause for PMS, but believe that it occurs due to the change in hormone levels that happens during the second part of the menstrual cycle. It is not understood why some women have severe symptoms, while others never experience one PMS symptom.

Diagnosis

• In order to receive a diagnosis of PMS, your symptoms must end approximately 4 days after your period starts, interfere with your normal activities and occur at least 5 days before your period begins for 3 consecutive cycles. It is a good idea to keep a log of when your symptoms occur and the severity of the symptoms and share this information with your doctor. Your doctor will ask you questions about your symptoms to rule out a depressive or anxiety disorder or premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), a severe form of PMS. If you are depressed, you will experience symptoms during the entire month, rather than just the days before your period begins.

Treatment

• There are a number of lifestyle changes you can make that may help your symptoms. Doctors recommend taking a multivitamin containing 400 micrograms of folic acid and a calcium supplement to try to ease some symptoms. Regular exercise is recommended, as is a diet rich in grains, vegetables and fruits. If you suffer from PMS, you should avoid alcohol, caffeine, and salty and sugary foods, as these substances can make symptoms worse. Yoga, massage and stress relief techniques are useful in managing the emotional aspects of PMS, while ibuprofen, naproxen and aspirin can help relieve headaches, backaches, cramps and breast pain. If none of these things are helpful, your doctor may suggest that you begin taking birth control pills to prevent ovulation from occurring, which should ease your physical symptoms. Anti-depressants can be helpful in managing the emotional symptoms if nothing that you've tried on your own has helped.

Seeking Help

• You should contact your doctor for help in managing your symptoms if you experience any of the following problems: suicidal thoughts, painful physical symptoms, poor performance at school or work, trouble with your personal relationships or inappropriate anger directed toward your children.