Are you too suffering from Pre Menstrual Syndrome (PMS)?
Sparing a few blessed ones, a large number of the women suffer from mild PMS. According to a study this figure stands at around 40 per cent and is most common in women over 30 years of age. In some women, the onset of symptoms seems to coincide with ovulation and may then persist until menstruation commences. In some rare cases, relief from the premenstrual syndrome may be obtained only with the cessation of the menstrual flow.
Premenstrual syndrome is not a disease but refers to a variety of symptoms which occur before onset of menstrual cycle.
How does Pre Menstrual Syndrome (PMS) effect you ?
Most common symptom of PMS is headache which is often accompanied by vomiting.
Patient may feel irritable and depressed in general during this time period. What is worse, these symptoms intensify progressively, making the last day of the PMS the worst.
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) is a severe form of PMS, which may have more severe symptoms, some of which can be disabling - Anxiety, Tension, feelings of sadness or despair, Panic Attacks, Mood Swings, Crying, Lack of Concentration etc.
PMS patient may also suffer from mild to acute breast tenderness or slight pain. There may also be abdominal bloating, accompanied in some cases, by odema of the ankles and hands. Resorting to dieting to get rid of the abdominal bloating only leads to fatigue and depression.
Some of the other common symptoms are dizziness, backache, hoarse voice, greasy hair, acne and allergic reactions.
PMS patients may show a slight weight gain due to salt and water retention during menstruation. The retention of fluid is partly due to ovarian steroids, but there is also an increased output of antidiuretic hormone from the posterior pituitary gland.
What are the underlying causes of PMS?
Some research has shown that deficiency of the hormone progesterone may result in PMS but this has not yet been satisfactorily proved.
Primarily evidence that a brain chemical called serotonin plays an important role in PMDD.
Emotional stress can often contribute to the symptoms.
It has been concluded in a research undertaken at John Hopkins University School of Medicine, London that dietary deficiencies, particularly that of vitamin E and vitamin B6 or pyridoxine are the most common causes of PMS.