How is premenstrual syndrome? Symptoms, causes and remedies

A lot of women experience both psychological and physical changes in the days before menstruation. It is a sign of premenstrual syndrome (PMS).

PMS is a combination of symptoms of emotional, physical and psychological disorders that occur after a woman's ovulation period and end at the onset of menstruation. According to statistics, more than 90% of women experience this syndrome during the cycle.

Symptoms of premenstrual syndrome

PMS can cause many different symptoms, but most women experience only a few of the following:

Physical symptoms

Premenstrual colic

Headache

Swelling of the legs or arms

Change in appetite and thirst

Tired

Gastrointestinal symptoms

The chest softens

Edema and weight gain

Body aches and pains

Skin problems

Mental symptoms

Often have to nap

Feeling depressed

Or confused

Insomnia

Poor concentration

Feeling alienated by everyone

Or angry, angry

Feeling nervous, restless

Change in libido

Methods of diagnosis of premenstrual syndrome

For the most accurate diagnosis of premenstrual syndrome, doctors need to identify a number of signs of the patient:

Symptoms occur 5 days before a new period begins and repeat for at least 3 consecutive cycles

Symptoms usually end within 4 days after your period has started

Effects, affecting the daily life of the patient

Therefore, if possible, women should take note of all symptoms that happened in the 2 - 3 months before the visit. Specifically, what day of the month those symptoms appear and when the period begins.

What causes PMS?

Until this time, medicine has not determined the exact cause of premenstrual syndrome. However, according to research, there are a number of factors that can trigger this condition:

Hormones change with cycles: Usually, symptoms of this syndrome change with hormonal fluctuations and disappear during menopause or during pregnancy.

Depression : Some women with severe PMS have undiagnosed depression. However, depression alone does not cause all of the symptoms of PMS.

Brain chemical changes: Concentrations of serotonin, a neurotransmitter, are believed to play a key role in influencing psychological well-being. Any fluctuation in this concentration can cause PMS. Accordingly, not enough serotonin will cause fatigue, appetite, trouble sleeping, ... before menstruation.

How to overcome premenstrual syndrome

If it occurs only in mild or moderate severity, then women can completely overcome PMS at home by making changes in diet or lifestyle. When premenstrual symptoms show signs of interfering with your life, drug treatment can be decided by your doctor.

However, doctors only give drugs to patients in serious cases, in order to minimize unwanted side effects.

Daily exercise

Use at least 30 minutes a day for walking, swimming, or aerobic activities. Regular, regular exercise not only improves health significantly, but also can alleviate certain symptoms such as fatigue, depressed mood, ...

In addition, muscle relaxation exercises, deep breathing exercises or yoga, massage are also solutions to relieve stress when suffering from PMS.

Change your diet

Changes in the daily diet may also reduce the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome:

Eat less and divide into several meals

Limit salt and salty foods

Add calcium-rich foods to your diet every day

Avoid beer, alcohol, and other caffeinated beverages such as coffee and tea

Establish a complex carbohydrate-rich diet to alleviate mood and cravings abnormal symptoms. Complex carbohydrates are often found in whole grains, brown rice, barley, lentils, etc.

Medication use

Depending on the severity of the PMS symptoms, your doctor may prescribe one or several medications to treat the syndrome. The effectiveness of the drug depends on the individual's condition. The most common medications include:

Diuretics: Taking diuretics can help you flush excess fluids through your kidneys during exercise and cut down on insufficient salt to prevent weight gain, swelling or bloating caused by PMS.

Antidepressant: Recommended for 2 weeks before menstruation begins.

Birth control: This drug is prescribed to stop ovulation. thereby alleviating premenstrual symptoms.

Anti-inflammatory, non-steroidal: Taken before or during your period, this drug can relieve menstrual cramps and nipple stiffness.

Premenstrual syndrome is a very common condition among women. The degree of this syndrome is usually not too dangerous and can be completely overcome with medication or changes in living and eating. 

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