Every woman undergoes her menstrual cycle every month and this inconvenience is hard in itself. But there are actually other problems that are related to your menstrual cycle. One of the most common problems that women from all ages deal with is called the premenstrual syndrome or PMS. Most women experience PMS one week before their menstrual cycle starts. But the symptoms of PMS usually ceases once your menstruation period has started. You should also note that the symptoms of PMS can vary from one woman to another, so some women may suffer from severe pain that it would be difficult for them to even move, while it may be only a minor inconvenience for others.
The cause of premenstrual syndrome is linked to the imbalance of hormones when a woman menstruates. However, it is not clear how changing hormones can actually bring about the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome. There are some common notions that stress and problems can cause premenstrual syndrome, but there is no scientific evidence to prove this claim. In fact, the belief right now is that stress cannot cause PMS by itself, but it can worsen the symptoms.
Now that you know what premenstrual syndrome actually is, you may be curious about the common symptoms of this condition. Basically, the symptoms of PMS differ from one woman to another, and the severity of this condition also varies. But common symptoms of PMS include fatigue, acne, upset stomach, breast tenderness, constipation, and diarrhea, food cravings, trouble in focusing your attention, joint and muscle pain, mood swings, tension, anxiety, irritability, and depression. If you experience two or more of the said symptoms, then you most likely are experiencing PMS. If you think you are suffering from this condition, it is important for you to monitor your condition by writing down the symptoms you feel everyday. You will be able to track your symptoms and the progression of your PMS if you do this. You need to bring this journal with you when you go to your doctor so he will be able to provide you with the right medication.
Not all women are affected by premenstrual syndrome. Actually, a safe estimate is that eighty five percent of all women worldwide are affected by PMS, and most of them do not need any kind of treatment because they only experience mild symptoms from PMS. But you should also note that there are around three percent of women who experience incredibly severe PMS. This condition is now known as premenstrual dysphoric disorder or PMDD. Another important fact about PMS you should be aware of is that it mostly affects women who are between ages twenty to forty and who have already given birth to at least one child. Some women are also more prone to PMS compared to others because they have a family history of depression.
There have been many treatments that tried to cure the symptoms of PMS but not all of them work. This is because as was stated above, the symptoms of PMS varies so a cure that may be effective for one woman may not necessarily have the same effect on another. Generally though, taking Vitamin D and folic acid may relieve some symptoms of PMS. Calcium is also a noted nutrient that can help treat PMS. Aside from supplements you can ingest, you should also exercise and get enough sleep to minimize hormone imbalance.
You should also find ways to cope with stressful situation properly if you are suffering from this condition because stress can worsen PMS. There are also some foods you need to avoid, such as salty food and caffeine because this can trigger stress hormones to be released. On the other hand, if you want to ease your premenstrual syndrome immediately then you can take over the counter relievers like aspirin or ibuprofen because these may relieve breast tenderness and muscle pains. Your doctor can also give you prescription pills if your PMS symptoms are severe. There are also some women who use birth control pills to control PMS. But remember that you need to take medicines in moderation because taking medicines every time you experience small inconveniences may become an unhealthy habit in the long run.
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