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What Is PMS ?
Each month like clockwork, most
of women come down with a strange collection of symptoms. Crying spells,
mood swings, bloating, headache, fatigue, cramps, and the list goes on. One
minute you like to take a bite of chocolate, pizza the next. They snap at
their family or bite their friends' head off at the slightest provocation,
and then break down to tears because they feel bloated and simply hate the
way they look.
Most people, especially the male population, are quick to dismiss it as
"that time of the month." Women's mood swings had become stereotyped as PMS,
an excuse use to justify giving in on their food cravings and acting like a
shrew.
However, doctors nowadays recognize PMS as a real medical condition with
physical and psychological symptoms. PMS or premenstrual syndrome is a set
of hormonal changes that generate a variety of both physical and emotional
symptoms in women. It usually occurs between 7 to 14 days before actual
"period" and then disappears once the menstruation begins. Women may
experience PMS during her childbearing years or sometimes even after
menopause.
Bloating, cramps, fatigue, breast tenderness, and irritability, does this
sound familiar? Well you are not alone for studies shows that about 95% of
women experience some of over 150 symptoms associated to PMS. The degree of
severity varies, some women felt only minor discomfort while for others the
symptoms are unbearable enough to interfere with their lives. The symptoms
may differ from one person to another and may change from cycle to cycle.
Normally, the psychological symptoms of PMS include mood changes like crying
spells, depression, anxiety, anger, sadness or irritability. Psychological
symptoms may also include some changes in mental functioning such as
difficulty in concentrating or remembering as well as changes in sex drive.
On the other hand, a wide range of physical symptoms are associated with
PMS. Some of the most commonly observed physical symptoms would include
fatigue, insomnia, headache, acne, cramps, breast tenderness, bloating,
joint or muscle pain. Occasionally, some women experience upset stomach,
diarrhea, or constipation. Women with PMS also tend to give in to their food
cravings especially for carbohydrates, chocolate or other sweets.
Although real test to diagnose PMS has not yet been created, doctors may
conduct tests to rule out other conditions that cause similar symptoms. When
the symptoms assent with the monthly cycle and the woman's tests are
negative for other conditions, then PMS is generally determined to be the
cause of her symptoms.
There are several conditions to rule out when considering PMS. That includes
anemia, diabetes, hypothyroidism, perimenopause, endometriosis, dysmenorrhea
and autoimmune disorders.
On the other hand, some of the psychological conditions that should be ruled
out include eating disorders, alcohol abuse, personality disorders and
chronic fatigue syndrome. Oral contraceptive side effects should also be
ruled out when considering PMS. To further confirm doctor's diagnosis,
keeping a monthly diary of symptoms would also be helpful.
PMS is still considered as a largely mysterious phenomenon by the medical
community and had been a subject for research and some ongoing studies.
Since there has been no single cause of PMS identified or accepted by the
medical community, it is likely that PMS is due to a variety of factors, as
well as because of genetics, environment and lifestyle factors like
nutrition and stress.
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