The Premenstrual Syndrome (or PMS) is a group of symptoms linked to the menstrual cycle that can occur in the week or two weeks before your period (menstruation or monthly bleeding). These PMS symptoms go away after the period starts and they can affect menstruating women of any age.
Medics have not yet settled upon the exact causes for PMS, but they have established that it is hormone related and to hormonal activity during the menstrual cycle and it manifests itself differently from woman to woman. Some women may be affected more than others by changing hormone levels during the menstrual cycle. Also, studies have shown that stress and other emotional problems do not cause PMS, but they may make it worse.
Because once started, in some cases the PMS symptoms will appear repeatedly, month after month, some women discovered that if they chart their symptoms for a few months, they can identify these patterns and predict the course of their cycles.
There are many PMS symptoms that can affect women, but it is not mandatory that every woman will witness all of the PMS symptoms. And the intensity of the symptoms will also vary from woman to woman.
The most important PMS symptoms are mood changes and mood swings (such as irritability, depression and anxiety, outbursts of anger and states of confusion mental fatigue). Women may also witness insomnia and changes in libido and other physical behavior (such as overeating and food cravings, especially for salty or sweet foods). Because these PMS symptoms are hormone related, the woman may witness acne bursts, bloating sensations and abdominal pains.
Other PMS symptoms include headaches, migraines or breast swelling and pain. If the person has suffered from asthma, the symptoms may aggravate during these periods. Other chronic medical problems can be aggravated during PMS, such as arthritis and ulcer.
The PMS symptoms are closely related to both the woman’s body and mind state, she may witness difficulty with coordination and as a consequence the woman can be more prone to accidents.
PMS symptoms often worsens over time and as symptoms become more prolonged, the symptom-free portion of the cycle shrinks. There is good news, as most women only witness small to moderate PMS symptoms and they can be treated with medicines to compensate the body’s hormonal imbalance.
If you witness any of the above PMS symptoms, be sure to consult a specialist, as he or she is the only one to correctly diagnose you and to set your right treatment.
John Gibb is a nutrition enthusiast with over ten years of nutrition education and has now become a freelance writer. Currently, he focuses on information articles focused on women’s health and fitness. Read more at http://www.the-menopause-source.com
