PMS

What is premenstrual syndrome or PMS?
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) has side effects of signs and symptoms, including mood swings, breast tenderness, food cravings, irritability, irritability, and stress. Approximately 3 out of every 4 menstruating women experience the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome.
Symptoms appear and recur in a predictable pattern. But the amount of physical and emotional changes you experience with PMS can vary from mild to severe.
However, you should not let these problems control you. Treatment and lifestyle changes can help reduce PMS signs and symptoms.

Diagnosis of premenstrual syndrome
There are no findings or tests to diagnose PMS. Your doctor may attribute the feature (if it's part of your expected premenstrual pattern) to PMS. To help establish a pattern of PMS, your doctor may ask you to record your signs and symptoms for at least two menstrual cycles on a calendar or in a diary. Write down the day you first get PMS symptoms and also the day the symptoms disappear. Also, be sure to mark the start and end of your menstrual period.

There are other specific conditions that may cause symptoms of PMS, including chronic pain syndrome, thyroid disorders, and mood disorders such as depression and anxiety. Your doctor may order tests such as thyroid function tests or psychological screening tests to help make a better diagnosis.

Symptoms of premenstrual syndrome
The list of signs and symptoms of PMS is long, but most women experience a few of the following:
Emotional and behavioral signs and symptoms
tension or anxiety
Depressed state
crying
Mood swings and irritability or anger
Changes in appetite and food cravings
Difficulty falling asleep (insomnia)
Away from society and seclusion
Difficulty concentrating
Change in libido
Physical signs and symptoms
Joint and muscle pain
Headache
tiredness
Weight gain related to fluid retention
Flatulence
Breast tenderness
Increased acne
Constipation or diarrhea
Alcohol intolerance
For some women, the physical pain and emotional stress is so severe that it affects their daily life. Regardless of the severity of the symptoms, the signs and symptoms generally disappear within four days of the start of the menstrual period for many women.
But a small number of women with PMS experience debilitating symptoms each month, a form of PMS called premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).
Signs and symptoms of PMDD include depression, mood swings, anger, anxiety, feeling overwhelmed, difficulty concentrating, irritability, and tension.

Causes of Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
The exact cause of PMS is unknown, but several factors can aggravate the condition:

Periodic changes in hormones: Signs and symptoms of PMS change with hormonal changes and disappear with pregnancy and menopause.
Chemical changes in the brain: Fluctuations in serotonin, a brain chemical (neurotransmitter) that appears to play an important role in mood states, can cause PMS symptoms. Inadequate amounts of serotonin may cause premenstrual depression, fatigue, increased appetite, and sleep problems.
Depression: Some women with severe PMS have undiagnosed depression, although depression alone does not cause all symptoms.

Strategies to reduce stress in premenstrual syndrome
Get enough sleep.
Relaxation and muscle relaxation exercises or deep breathing to help reduce headaches, anxiety, or sleep problems (insomnia).
Try yoga or massage to relax and relieve stress.
Record your PMS symptoms for a few months: Taking a history and journaling of your symptoms to identify triggers and timing of your signs and symptoms will allow you to find and implement strategies to help alleviate symptoms.