Archive for the ‘pms’ Category

Relief from PMS at your fingertips

The term PMS generally stands for Pre-Menstrual Syndrome. PMS is basically that kind of disorder due to which some changes occur in your hormonal levels. The change in hormones thus results in several levels of symptoms like psychological, as well as the emotional ones. The symptoms are more often found in women and it can take duration of 11 to 15 days to show its true colors. Not everyone must experience the pre-menstrual syndrome or PMS, it is mostly found in women than men. There are certain ways to get relief from PMS. First of all the best way to get rid of PMS is to not give your hopes up quickly. Plenty of new ways are discovered to get relief from PMS. You can ask your local doctor or your health care specialist for the much needed guide, as well as any sort of support that will help to get through PMS.
For a quick way to acquire relief from PMS, you must do some basic tips that basically require you to take an extra care of yourself. Getting a proper treatment is the first way to make your journey towards acquiring a complete and PMS secured life. In the state of pre-menstrual syndrome or PMS, you can always take a set of vitamins as a daily dosage to ensure your recovery process. By taking the vitamins, you can lower down the symptoms of pre-menstrual syndrome or PMS. Any sort of vitamins, as well as supplements that are focused on botanical ingredients will come handy. Furthermore, you have for yourself several other ways for getting rid of pre-menstrual syndrome or PMS.
A warm bath is an effective way to get relief from PMS or pre-menstrual syndrome, as the basic idea of warm bath is to get adequate soothing that ensures that all of your muscles in your body as well as your mind remain fresh. The best advantage that you get from a warm bath that helps you to get completely clean from PMS or pre-menstrual syndrome is that this process enhances your blood flow all the way through. By enhancing the blood floe you are ensured of having complete cure from all sorts of pains as well as any cramps that your body might be feeling.
The second and the most easiest of all methods that helps you to get complete relief from PMS or pre-menstrual syndrome is that you should get proper as well as adequate sleep. By sleeping you make sure there are no level of stress on your mind, as well as any pressure which causes problems on your mind. You get the proper energy, as well as feeling of freshness that enables you a healthier state of mind. By sleeping sufficiently, you can find for yourselves many positive changes including the one, where your physical as well as emotional state of mind becomes less prone to any sort of symptoms of pre-menstrual syndrome or PMS. Find the very best ways to get better from all your lives.

Symptoms of PMS: How to distinguish PMS from other disorders

Premenstrual syndrome – it is one of the most enigmatic and mysterious conditions. More Hippocrates, the father of modern medicine, faced with the problem, as observed similar symptoms in women of Ancient Greece 2500 years ago. Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) – is not a disease but rather a mixture of more than 150 different physical and mental symptoms, said Professor Andrew Kilih specializing in women’s health in clinic in Portland, Oregon. It is estimated that up to 40% of women experience these symptoms of PMS in varying degrees for several days before menstruation. Some begins to suffer for three days, others – two weeks before the critical days.

Symptoms of PMS

There are many symptoms of PMS. Women may experience PMS of varying duration and severity from one menstrual period to another. The most common symptoms of PMS are:

  • Anger and irritability;

  • Voltage;

  • Depression;

  • Hysteria;

  • Excessive sensitivity;

  • Variability in mood.

The most frequently identified physical ailments are:

  • Tiredness, fatigue

  • Abdominal distention (due to fluid retained in the body)

  • Gaining weight

  • The sensitivity of the mammary glands

  • Acne

  • Sleep problems (insomnia or vice versa)

  • Change in appetite (overeating or craving for any one product).

How to determine the diagnosis of PMS?

The most effective tool for the diagnosis of PMS is a menstrual diary that records the physical and emotional symptoms for several months. If changes occur constantly in the ovulation period (intermediate cycle, 7-10 day of menstrual cycle) and continue until the turn of the menstrual cycle, the diagnosis of PMS may be determined. Maintaining of such a diary can help your doctor not only to determine the accurate diagnosis, but also to better understand the patient’s body to know the exact symptoms. Once the diagnosis of PMS is determined, for the patient it will be easier to cope with the symptoms of the disease.

Determining of the diagnosis of PMS can be difficult because many other diseases can imitate or worsen symptoms of PMS. There are no laboratory tests which may confirm the diagnosis of Premenstrual syndrome. And if there are some tests, they are only to rule out other diseases that may have the same symptoms as PMS.

There are also some diseases that resemble the PMS:

Below you can see examples of diseases that imitate PMS:

  • Depression;
  • Fluid retention in the body;
  • Chronic fatigue;
  • Hypothyroidism;
  • Irritable bowel syndrome.

How to distinguish PMS from other disorders?

One of the distinctive features of PMS is connected with the fact that the syndrome develops before the onset of menstruation and remains only until the next ovulation. If there is no such interval, and the symptoms persist throughout the menstrual period, then PMS is not the cause of sickness. However, the PMS may be present and aggravate the symptoms that are caused by other diseases. But this may not be the only cause of permanent or occasional symptoms. Another way to establish the diagnosis of PMS is to use of drugs that stop the ovulatory function. If these medications help to cope with the symptoms, then PMS is probably a diagnosis.

The best PMS relief available

The word PMS means pre-menstrual cycle syndrome which happens to women. When a women has a pre-menstrual cycle, which is that when your menstrual cycle is about to start, prior to starting it vanishes after a day and then the real pre-menstrual cycle begins. When a women experiences this, she may have massive mood swings and depression, fatigue and craving for stuff like salty things and sweet or either food which are fattening and which may be harmful for their health in that kind of situation. There are adequate relief treatments, which varies from patient to patient.

Many women who have this problem get treated with medications, which are either prescribed by a gynecologist or a similar doctor who has the knowledge about it. Another fact is that many women are cured while taking medications, while others go into a serious situation because of which they are admitted to the hospital. You see this situation can be very worsening and worrying for the family too. So here are some tips which may help you or any other person who has the syndrome and have difficulty getting relief. So here it is:

  1. Exercise daily, because it is important for your health plus it plays a vital role for the relief of PMS which helps women a get over the syndrome.
  2. Spiritual medication and techniques, which provide relaxation, such as yoga relaxing techniques that are very important to practice. You will see that the practice will make you heal mentally more than physically.
  3. A research shows that some dieting problems can be resulting into this syndrome, therefore dieting should be done in a proper way, so that one can have relief from this syndrome.
  4. Do not at all, have drugs when you are in PMS, also don’t have caffeine. These things can make the patient confused and fall into a depression which can be bad for the patient.
  5. Go for a dieting plan. By this, I mean that if you are consuming your breakfast, lunch or dinner in a day, go for six small quantities of food rather than the regular three. How would this help? Obviously, this could help because you see you would, by doing this; not at all gain the unwanted weight. Try out Chinese or pasta or even fruits.
  6. Go for vitamin supplements, this would at least minimize your cravings. Vitamins can help you gain equal amount of health and the required vitamins a women needs.

Medications can include pain relievers and pills that may help for purifying water from your body and disposing unwanted water; diuretics are that pills that are given to patients for flushing water out of their body. Although many people don’t go for the allopathic but go for herbal medicines because this is believed to be better. Obviously nobody wants unwanted reactions and side affects this is what happens once you start using allopathic medicines while the herbal medications are known to have better results without any side effects.

What is PMS and what to do?

What is PMS? A woman is inherent variability and unpredictability of mood. Men are always amazed about her wanton sensitivity, the flow of tears, outbursts of anger due to a trifle, or even for no reason. Women are also surprised about their mood swings and explain themselves because they are women, that it is their nature. Scientists have long paid attention to the relationship that exists between the psychological state of a woman and her menstrual cycle. But this relationship was explained in different ways. Some believed that the origin of this phenomenon is purely psychological. Other scientists thought that it was not in the psyche, and in the physiological condition that is caused by some, yet unknown, toxic substances that are accumulated before menstruation. Some time ago this point of view was accepted. There were conducted clinical researches of the causes and symptoms of premenstrual irritability. The results showed that more than half of modern women are peculiar premenstrual irritability.

What is PMS: The main symptoms of PMS?

There are two types of premenstrual irritation: physiological and psychological. In different women, it differs in intensity. And the same woman it differently expressed in different months. That is why it is often difficult to understand what is happening to her. Psychological symptoms or expressed in mild depression in the form of a bad mood or they are so strong that they cause a complete change of personality. A woman worries about thing that at another time would have left her indifferent. And why is she doing this, nobody can explain it. She becomes restless, utterly unable to concentrate, forget about the simplest things, sleeps poorly, and her eyes all the time on a wet spot. Physiologically she feels uncomfortable in everything. Some women have headaches, aches in the back. In the stomach they feel heavy, there are strong contractions. The can have dizziness and nausea, swollen feet, hands, joints, chest and stomach. Sometimes at this time a woman gains weight as “atrocious” appetites wakes up. Typically, these symptoms appear in a day or two before menstruation (some for a week or more). And after a few hours after the onset of menstruation, they disappear.

What is PMS: Where from it arises?

In recent years, there was conducted many studies in which gynecologists were involved, psychologists and psychiatrists from around the world. And all experts agree with certain fundamental facts. Premenstrual irritability – it is a state whose origin is not a psychological, but somatic. It is because of irregularities in the functions of the female body. PMS has a complex mechanism and begins with the failure of the ovaries and balance of its hormones. Because of this, all the endocrine glands and the central nervous system start bad to operate. The dis-balance of endocrine control, which affect the nervous system, cause changes in psychochemical equilibrium of the body. The most important of them – fluid retention in organism, that means the imbalance between its reception and evolution.

What is PMS: What to do?

On the eve of the premenstrual period you should reduce your intake of fluids and salts. In pharmacies there are quite safe simple diuretics and very mild sedative drugs (you can just drink a decoction of valerian). In addition, for the metabolism of ovarian hormones in the spring and autumn you should take vitamin B.

Exploring PMS. What is it all about?

PMS is a short abbreviated term used for premenstrual syndrome and is an amalgamation of various disturbances that an individual goes through like emotional, psychological, physical instability. PMS tends to occur most likely when the menstrual flow of a woman is about to end or at its onset. The most commonly accounted PMS symptoms are over-sensitivity, mood swings, irritation, anger, being down, depression and alike. The physical symptoms in the same course are swelling, breast heaviness and hardness, acne, restlessness, lethargy, food craving etc. PMS tends to be commonly observed in around 80% of the women all across the world. Even though the symptoms tend to vary in each, most of them undergo PMS before the start of their menstrual flow.

Dating back as to when PMS condition was discovered, it is said that its history can be traced back as early as the ancient Greeks. However, it was officially announced as a medical syndrome in 1931 by medical practitioners. The very term PMS i.e. premenstrual syndrome too was introduced in the year 1953. The very cause to premenstrual syndrome has not yet been uprooted by the medical community. Since the wide ranging variety of symptoms is extensive enough, it has been regarded as a difficult process to pin down its cause to a single diagnosis. Even though, many theories were and still are propagated in due course, none of them have been valid and authentic enough to give a solid, scientifically proven cause to PMS. However, the most prominent observations have been the wavering level of brain chemicals and sex hormones level that result in premenstrual syndrome.

The variety of PMS symptoms is quite extensive and the severity as well as the duration of the premenstrual symptoms tends to vary a lot. As observed by doctors and surgeons at large, majority of the PMS symptoms are mood-related and result in depression, mood swings, isolation, crying, sensitivity, anger and irritation. At the same time, the physical signs tamper on acne, bloating, insomnia, change in appetite that may follow some urgent good cravings, breast sensitivity, restlessness, sluggish behaviour etc. If you want to know if you too are undergoing PMS, you can keep a sharp check and observation of your health routine. If any changes occur in the menstrual cycle, you are certainly diagnosed with PMS. In this regard, it is important to keep a diary that can help in the treatment followed by the doctor. Even though, doctors do not regard the diagnosis of PMS as simple, it is still better to look deep into any apparent symptoms of it.

PMS treatments are quite challenging and require a lot of strength on the part of the patient. These include preventive measures as well like limited alcohol consumption, reduced intake of sugar and caffeine, avoiding salt and cold water, having exercises and some emotional and physical support through family and friends. Other supplements like calcium, magnesium, vitamin E and B6 all tend to benefit women with PMS and should be included as part of the dietary plan.

Pre menstrual syndrome and its affects

Premenstrual syndrome is most commonly known as PMS and is occurs in women only. It is some what a combination of not only emotional and psychological but also physical and some other mood swings which almost every women has to face before the occurrence of their menstrual flow. It is not almost same in every woman. But the most common premenstrual syndrome is oversensitivity, irritated, crying and sometimes bad temperament and even gets angry. These symptoms can be visibly noticed before the start of periods and can go till the menstrual flow. More than 150 symptoms have been associated to premenstrual syndrome. Premenstrual syndrome is officially recognized by the Greek medical community in 1931.

These symptoms are not going to appear necessarily every month. There may be a month in which you won’t be having PMS. And also it is not necessary that every month you have to face the same symptoms. They vary differently and can be categorized both physically as well as emotionally. Physical symptoms include headache, fatigue, migraine and many other issues. And on the other hand, emotional symptoms include anxiety, tension, depression and many others. Mostly, this premenstrual symptom is common among 80% of women. Premenstrual syndrome is mostly because of hormonal changes which can occur at any stage of life. Like at the time of puberty, after hormonal surgery, or because of usage of birth control pills and even before the start of menopause. When a woman is going through this phase, it is almost next to impossible to control her feeling or emotions or whatever is going inside her. Many researches have proved that premenstrual syndrome is due to the alterations and interactions of sex hormones and brain chemicals. These alterations and interaction are known as neurotransmitters. Weight gain and over eating are the most common symptoms of PMS.

Premenstrual syndrome cannot be diagnosed by any laboratory test. It has to be examined by the women herself ever month. She has to notice the changes that occur in her every month. She should keep on noticing and make a record of these changes that occur in her. In this way not only an accurate diagnosis have been made but also the women or patient can understand these changes either physically or emotionally in a better way. And in this way the women can treat her in a more proper way. Women who have a severe problem of premenstrual syndrome needs to see the doctor before there condition even worsens more. PMS can be treated according to the requirement of the condition. It can be treated for a short term that is based on few months. And furthermore treatments also depend upon the nature and how serious the PMS is? In serious case of premenstrual symptoms the patient needs medication which also has side effects or disadvantages on the other hand. Sometimes the condition is so worsted that the women needs her ovaries to be removed in order to have a normal and happy life.

The role of hormones in PMS

In today’s world, women are part of the 59% of the world’s population. Over the next three to four decades, this percentage has been predicted to increase. It is a common enough known fact that women who suffer from premenstrual disorders have a decreased daily lifestyle and their quality of living is also considerably less than the average woman who is healthy. Many studies and research has been conducted over the effect that PMS has on women these days. One research showed that women with PMS have an impaired quality of work as compared to women who do not suffer from PMS. The symptoms related to PMS disorders can also have a direct co relation with other medical conditions such as uterine fibroids, and ovarian cysts and hence adding to the frequency of the health concerns related to women. Moreover, the medical costs related to all these conditions can be enormous and stressful for a woman to overcome.

Single women especially have to go through a lot of time and stress when it comes to health issues and may not necessarily have the financial expertise and security to deal with such a situation.

Research has also shown that a large number of Canadian women suffer from PMS as well. The most commonly occurring symptoms include headaches, mood swings, loss of appetite or changes in appetite, irritable moods, frequently occurring abdominal pains, short temper, bloating, strangled nerves, and just generally being on edge. Treatment methods for PMS include a variety of pain medications, anti depressants, as well as oral contraceptives. Interestingly enough, more severe conditions of PMS are known as mental disorders. Even with all these treatment methods available, a lot of women today are still suffering from the detrimental effects of PMS.

The medications have limited affectivity and some symptoms will remain especially abdominal pains. Also there is not enough awareness regarding PMS which is why a lot of women get no treatment all. This is largely because of the fact that they don’t know treatment for PMS actually exists, and also that there are other alternatives to predictable treatments as well. These treatments will be able to help rebalance the unbalanced hormone levels in the body and in doing so, will eradicate the PMS symptoms as well. PMS is caused by hormonal changes in the body and the symptoms occur at least three to 15 days before a woman’s menstrual cycle is due to start. Blood tests and hormonal tests cannot exactly determine whether a woman is suffering from PMS or not. Rather keeping a regular check on the symptoms the woman suffers from is more likely to help determine if it exists. Therefore it is important for women to chart the symptoms they have so as to determine if PMS is the root cause of them all. PMS can be quite annoying to deal with if left untreated and can compromise the lifestyle of a regular healthy woman as well.

Causes and symptoms of premenstrual syndrome PMS

Up to date the causes of premenstrual syndrome have never been clearly brought to light, but many theories out of research have tried to bring reasonable facts that relate to the brain. Arguments have it that women have high levels of sensitivity to the hormonal shift, that is between the estrogen and the progesterone.

The ovaries make estrogen throughout the whole process of menstrual cycle; it reaches its highest peak during the second and third weeks and shift back to normal during the last week. It is during the luteal/secretory phase (last two weeks of the cycle) that progesterone is produced from the ovaries.

These two hormones are responsible for preparing the uterus to accept a fertilized egg. Furthermore they are the principle cause of mood swings in women.

Scientist further convey information, that the two hormones stimulate progressive change in brain chemicals called neurotransmitters, and the most common ones that are affected are outlined below with details of their association with the seen physical, mental and emotional change in the concerned person.

Serotonin: also goes by the chemical name 5-hydroxytryptamine, acts both as a chemical messenger and as a nerve signal transmitter between nerve cells. Women experiencing PMS have a possible fluctuation in serotonin levels which result in depression. Moreover, it may result to Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD) a severe intense form of PMS. The resulting symptoms are categories into; emotional symptoms: feeling of sadness and despair or even thought of suicide, tension or anxiety, panic attacks, , carbohydrate cravings, tiredness as a result of low energy, frequent cries due to mood swings. Physical symptoms may include trouble in focusing, sleepless nights, bloating, migraines, breast tenderness and joint or muscles pain.

Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA): Is a major inhibitory neurotransmitter in the nervous system, its responsible for getting the body calm. Progesterone may increase the activity of this neurotransmitter which in the end results in increase anxiety and depression.

Endorphins: they are important in the experience of pain and pleasure. Both estrogen and progesterone change the endorphine levels which thus change the mood level.

Norepinephrine: Neropinephrine and its counterpart the epinephrine are also neural transmitters that influence mood, it is also responsible for the heart bit rate and thus the blood pressure. So the symptoms are unimaginable if the levels of this neuron are interrupted beyond the normal capabilities.

Other believed causes of PMS are imbalance between Calcium and Magnesium; it might be factual but as I said earlier, none of these theories have ever been proven. The theory under this two mineral is that they affect nerve cell communication and blood vessel opening and closing, which conclusively result in PMS symptoms. Simple beliefs like taking lots of salt in your diet and drinking alcohol or caffeine are also possible factors that explain existence of this syndrome.

It’s natural to see a woman every month having a collection of symptoms. They tell you they have forgotten their car keys, they say they want pizza but when you bring it they say they are full, they spit any disputable word that comes across their mouth and worse of all they confuse your name by that of their boss. Just be easy and understanding because it’s their body trying to prepare for menstruation.

Facts about PMS, premenstrual syndrome

It was not until the year 1931 during the time of the ancient Greeks, that this syndrome was officially recognized by medical practitioners. The term “premenstrual syndrome” was coined in the year 1953.

Premenstrual syndrome also known as ovarian cycle syndrome or premenstrual tension is a number of subsequent symptoms that usually occur in women. This takes place a few days just before the actual menstruation occurs.
This syndrome is poorly understood by a great proportion of women and unfortunately even their partners may fail to understand it too. So it is of great advantage for a given couple to intensely comprehend this syndrome. It is obvious that human beings have different degrees of sensitivity, compassion and every attribute concerned with emotions, this explains the dramatic behavior associated with premenstrual syndrome.

Many women are affected by it while others don’t even recognize a single bit of the symptoms, they go extra euphoric and though they may have mood swings they usually make it through to the menstrual cycle totally unaffected. There is another group of women who on the other hand experience severe form of PMS called the premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). These are the unlucky lot because they disclose all kinds of emotional breakdown, from anger, low-esteem, high levels of severe depressions, to the extent of preferring to commit suicide.

One should not be shocked of having more consequential effects than a relative or a friend, it’s so normal. Symptoms may be same but they may be more intense or less intense depending on the heredity factors. This means that if your mother had PMS or excruciating periods, you also are at a high risk of following the same footsteps. The good thing above all is that it may be so severe but you only need to withstand it for a short while.

To be minimum on the specifics, the symptoms can last anywhere from few hours to 2 weeks before the kick off of the menstruation, the effect will then vanish away as one sets in to the other phase. Women who are close to menopause will experience symptoms which may continue up to and through the menstrual period. They may also get painful periods after the PMS. Likewise, teenagers may often have painful periods after PMS, but there is assurance that the trend will disappear as they grow old.

Its common though that PMS start or worsen at the age of 30’s, so for anyone who is at this age and is wondering what’s up with the immediate change in her body, it should not scare you off because it’s part of mothers nature.
Stress is not a cause of PMS and should never be imagined to be, but it readily plays a role when it comes to make it more intense. Women are advised to relax during this time to reduce stress because it only plays a role in the severity of PMS.

This symptoms that are referred to as “bad times of the month” by all and sundry are much bearable, if many couples and also teenagers are provided with basic information concerning how to go through them. It’s the reason the older lot don’t have much trouble on them because they have a good experience.

Prevention and treatment of Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)

It’s been said, and seen in many people around you. The pain they undergo is so humiliating, and now you ask yourself, is there a treatment for this? Sure enough there are remedies for you out there, but some of this depends on your attitude towards it.

The direct prevention would be to set a goal of raising the level of serotonin; this is done by increasing consumption of carbohydrate in your diets before menstruation begins. Complex carbohydrates found in whole grains and vegetables are highly encouraged to be taken, simple ones like those found in sugary snacks and white bread are advised against. This is because they increase water retention, irritability and other PMS symptoms.

Foods that should be avoided include caffeine, for the reason of increasing irritability, nervousness and insomnia. Alcohol should strictly be avoided because it can act as a depressant. Reduced Salt on diets should be made a habit in order to reduce water retention and bloating. Nicotine should also be neglected it acts much similar like caffeine.
Further studies show that women who took daily diet full in vitamin D and calcium had less risk of developing PMS than the others who did not at all eat this nutrients, or ate them but at an insignificant quantity. In addition, daily physical exercise should be carried out for a better you. Exercise increases blood circulation that further increases production of beta-endorphins.

There are two common types of treatment measures for the symptoms. Hormonal medication is effective and reliable, but not recommended because of the resulting addiction and other related side effects like developing other disease like acne and fluid retention. If it’s so urgent and you have to use this medication, try to find out the quality of the product. Place criteria like, what are your pals’ opinions on the product if they have already used it? What is your personal doctor evaluation on this product? How much does is it cost? Is it cost effective within the period of time that PMS takes place?

If you get significant anxiety during the 14 days that precede the menstruation, and some of the medication fails to provide relief, try using anti-anxiety medication but be sure to use them during the luteal phase to reduce risk of addiction. Other prescribed medicines are those that affect hormone production e.g. Gonadotropin release hormone agonists (GnHRH) such as Lupron (luprolide).

Premenstrual syndrome may affect women who take oral contraceptive equally, but it’s a common ground to find woman having improved symptoms when they begin taking birth control pills. Research has it that women of this kind report fewer PMS symptoms, such as migraines, cramps and lighter periods. On the other hand others will experience increased PMS and PMDD symptoms, so it generally depends on your heredity make up.

The second type of medication is the use of natural herbs, again on using this types you should consider you doctors grading on them, and no side-effects should be attached to them. The best natural relief that has proven to work very effectively is taking a warm relaxing bath. Just take a few minutes in your bath tub with your eyes closed, and you will be surprised of the magical works. The theory behind it is that warm bath increase serotonin level amazingly.