Have you ever had that feeling when you hate every single thing
that is happening around you? Or even the most little thing can annoy you? And
that crazy impression when you’re sad about the feeling of emotional emptiness
for no apparent reason? For three weeks out of every month your energetic,
happy, upbeat and even-tempered then a week before your menstrual flow begins
you’ve changed into a mad women. Your mood swings from frustrations, anger,
depressions and irritability are due to hormonal changes. Somehow, despite the
cramps and the headache we manage to waddle to and from refrigerator, groceries
and restaurants to satisfy our food cravings. Sounds awful? It is, but that is
something what women deal on a monthly basis. That grumpy, punchy, headachy
feeling is very much like PMS, or at least some symptoms of PMS.
Premenstrual
Syndrome (PMS) has a wide variety of
symptoms, including mood swings, tender breasts, food cravings, fatigue,
irritability and depression. An estimated 3 of every 4 menstruating women
experience some form of premenstrual syndrome. These problems tend to peak
during your late 20s and early 30s. Symptoms tend to recur in a predictable
pattern. Yet the physical and emotional changes you experience with
premenstrual syndrome may be particularly intense in some months and only
slightly noticeable in others.
Still,
you don't have to let these problems control your life. Treatments and
lifestyle adjustments can help you reduce or manage the signs and symptoms of
premenstrual syndrome.
The
most common signs and symptoms associated with premenstrual syndrome include:
Emotional
and behavioral symptoms
Tension
or anxiety, Depressed mood, Crying spells, Mood swings and irritability or
anger, Appetite changes and food cravings, Trouble falling asleep (insomnia),
Social withdrawal, Poor concentration.
Physical signs
and symptoms
Joint
or muscle pain, Headache, Fatigue, Weight gain related to fluid retention,
Abdominal bloating, Breast tenderness, Acne flare-ups, Constipation or diarrhea.
Although
the list of potential signs and symptoms is long, most women with premenstrual
syndrome experience only a few of these problems.
For
some women, the physical pain and emotional stress are severe enough to affect
their daily routines and activities. Regardless of their severity, though, the
signs and symptoms disappear, for most women, as the menstrual period begins.
But a
few women with premenstrual syndrome have disabling symptoms every month. This
form of PMS has its own designation — premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).
PMDD is a severe form of premenstrual syndrome with signs and symptoms
including severe depression, feelings of hopelessness, anger, anxiety, low
self-esteem, difficulty concentrating, irritability and tension. A number of
women with severe PMS may have an underlying psychiatric disorder.
Exactly
what causes premenstrual syndrome is unknown, but several factors may
contribute to the condition:
Cyclic changes in hormones. Signs and symptoms of premenstrual syndrome change with
hormonal fluctuations and disappear with pregnancy and menopause.
Chemical changes in the brain. Fluctuations of serotonin, a brain chemical
(neurotransmitter) that is thought to play a crucial role in mood states, could
trigger PMS symptoms. Insufficient amounts of serotonin may contribute to
premenstrual depression, as well as to fatigue, food cravings and sleep
problems.
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| Irritable Male Syndrome |
Depression. Some women with severe premenstrual syndrome have
undiagnosed depression, though depression alone does not cause all of the
symptoms.
Stress.
Stress can aggravate some of your PMS symptoms.
Poor eating habits. Some PMS symptoms have been linked to low levels of
vitamins and minerals. Other possible contributors to PMS include eating a lot
of salty foods, which may cause fluid retention, and drinking alcohol and
caffeinated beverages, which may cause mood and energy level disturbances.
