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What is Premenstrual Syndrome, commonly knows as PMS?
Premenstrual Syndrome unlike PMT- Premenstrual Tension, is a collection of physical, psychological, and emotional symptoms related to a woman’s periods. Premenstrual Syndrome can occur before, during and after menstruation. PMS or Premenstrual syndrome is something that affects every women. Usually it may start up to 14 days before your period (menstruation). The symptoms usually stop soon after your period begins.
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What are the symptoms of Premenstrual Syndrome?
Most women feel some mild discomfort before their periods. But if you have PMS, you may feel so anxious, depressed or uncomfortable that you can’t cope at home or at work. Some of the symptoms of PMS are listed in the below.
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- Acne
- Back pain
- Abdominal cramps
- Changes in appetite, including cravings for certain foods
- Constipation
- Crying spells
- Depression
- Fast heartbeat
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Apart from the symptoms mentioned, some women might also feel irritable or tired, have headaches and hot flashes, experience joint pain, mood swings, lack of interest in sex, sleeping troubles, weight gain, etc.
PMS Treatment
There is no cure for PMS, but eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly and taking medicine may help treat PMS. You may need to try more than one medicine to find the treatment that works best for you. Medicines that can be prescribed include diuretics, antidepressants and birth control pills.
Diuretics help your body get rid of extra sodium and fluid. They can ease bloating, weight gain, breast pain and abdominal pain. Diuretics are usually taken just before you would normally experience these symptoms in your menstrual cycle.Antidepressants can help with the severe irritability, depression and anxiety that some women with PMS have.
Birth control pills help by evening out your hormone levels throughout your cycle. Some women’s PMS symptoms get a lot better when they take birth control pills. However, the pill can also cause side effects of its own, and it doesn’t help all women. You can buy medicines without a prescription to help with the symptoms of PMS. However its always advisable to talk to your doctor before you try one of these drugs.
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Natural Remedies for PMS
Here are some simple dietary guidelines to deal with this biological change in a better way.
- Highly refined carbohydrates like sugar, honey and maida products should be eaten in moderation. Dry fruits and fruit juices should be avoided.
- Intake of vegetable protein in the form of dals should be stepped up as it helps stabilize blood sugar levels because of low level of their starch content.
- Intake of all dairy products should be reduced, as they contain high amount of artifical hormones. Similarly animal fats like butter, ghee and cheese consumption should be cut down.
- Increase intake of green leafy vegetables as they increase fiber intake. However avoid overeating vegetables like cabbages and cauliflower as they decrease thyroid levels.
- Eat lots of sea food and strictly avoid red meat.
- Restrict your salt intake for it increases water retention resulting in worsening of symptoms.
- Limits your cups of tea and coffee as higher amounts of these puts greater pressure on adrenal gland and induces a sinking sensation. Cut back on caffeine to feel less tense and irritable and to ease breast soreness.
- Cut out alcohol. Drinking it before your period can make you feel more depressed.
- Try eating up to 6 small meals a day instead of 3 larger ones.
- Go for aerobic exercises. Work out atleast 30 minutes, 4 to 6 times a week.
- Get plenty of sleep–about 8 hours a night.
- And last but not the least, try to schedule stressful events for the week after your period.
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