According to the website Healing with Nutrition, as many as 90% of women experience symptoms of premenstrual syndrome or PMS at some point during their reproductive years. Many women experience these symptoms on a monthly basis about 10-14 days prior to their period with the symptoms calming down after the onset of menstruation.
What are the Symptoms of PMS?
There are both physical and mental symptoms Premenstrual syndrome causes and here are the most common:
- chronic fatigue
- weight gain
- bloating
- difficulty concentrating
- feeling sad or depressed
- insomnia or hypersomnia (sleeping for increased periods of time)
- irritability
- acne
- diarrhea, constipation or nausea
- palpitations
- joint or muscle pain
- back pain
- headache
- food cravings
While not all scientists agree on what causes PMS, many believe it is brought on by a woman's sensitivity to her body's sudden increase in the hormones progesterone and estrogen which elevate approximately one to two weeks prior to menstruation and can affect the brain's neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, responsible for maintining a balanced mood ("Premenstrual Syndrome" E Health Med.com)
The increase in hormones prior to menstruation cause the familiar discomforts women experience each month, but some women experience a much more dramatic set of symptoms which have become known as premenstrual dysphoric disorder, or PMDD.
What are the Symptoms of PMDD?
About 3 to 9% of women during their reproductive years experience PMDD, which is considered to be a severe medical condition.
The symptoms of PMDD generally include:
- irritability
- pelvic heaviness or pressure
- backache
- abdominal cramps
- nervousness
- lack of control
- agitation
- anger
- lethargy
- depression
- severe fatigue
- anxiety
- decreased self-image
- emotional hypersensitivity
- crying spells
- hot flashes
- numbness
- fainting
For a complete list of symptoms women should visit the PMDD section of the Virginiahealth.edu website.
It is important to know that the symptoms of PMDD are not only more severe symptoms of PMS but dramatically interfere with daily living.
The Difference Between Depression and PMDD
While many symptoms of PMDD mimic those of depression, the symptoms of PMDD generally occur before and during a woman's menstrual cycle and tend to fade away after menstruation. Depression is not necessarily regulated by a woman's menstrual cycle. If a woman is experiencing any of the symptoms related to PMDD she should contact her doctor for an accurate diagnosis.
Treatments for PMDD
There are many different treatments for PMDD including medication such as antidepressants, antianxiety drugs, analgesics, hormones and even diuretics.
Psychotherapy is another treatment for PMDD and involves methods for stress reduction, including exercise and counselling. Cognitive-behavioral therapy which is used to treat patients with depression and anxiety is also used to treat PMDD by correcting dysfunctional negative thoughts and developing effective coping strategies.
A change in diet is also an effective way to treat PMDD. According to the article "PMDD Treatment" from the website Depression-Guide "Vitamin B-6 and Magnesium is beneficial for [patients] with PMDD [and] Vitamin E, an antioxidant, seems to reduce the affective and physical symptoms of PMDD."
Changes in diet such as reducing the intake of salt, cafeine, alcohol and higher carbohydrate meals have also proved to reduce the symptoms of PMDD.
References:
Healing with Nutrition.com. Premenstrual Syndrome (March 12, 2010)
Depression-Guide.com. PMDD. (March 11, 2010)
E-Health Med.com Premenstrual Syndrome. (March 12, 2010)
Health System. Virginia.edu PMDD. (March 11, 2010)
Rebecca O'Sullivan - Rebecca O'Sullivan is a high school English teacher with a BA in Comparative Literature. She graduated Magna Cum Laude and is a member of ...
