PMS- Pre menstrual Syndrome

You probably get some signs that your period is coming. For most women, it’s no big deal -- maybe tender breasts or a taste for sweets. But for others, the days before their period are harder. If it messes with your daily life, you might have premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)

Your period is a natural part of your life. And you can do anything you would do any other time of the month. If PMS is a problem for you, there are ways to manage it.

PMS is a group of changes that can affect you on many levels. They can be physical, emotional, or behavioral. The changes come 1 to 2 weeks before your period. Once your period starts, they go away.

Symptoms

• Most women have at least one sign of PMS every month. But it’s not the same for everyone. It can change as you get older. It can be hard to know if you just have a few symptoms before your period, or if it’s really PMS. Another way to know is if you have symptoms 5 days before your period, for 3 months in a row.
• Women with PMS deal with it in lots of ways. You can make changes to improve your diet, sleep and exercise. You can also learn ways to relax their mind and body. If what you try doesn’t seem to work, you can talk to your doctor.

Physical signs

Bloated tummy

Cramps

Tender breasts

Hunger

Headache

Muscle aches

Joint pain

Swollen hands and feet

Pimples

Weight gain

Constipation or diarrhea

Behavioral signs

Forget things

Loss of mental focus

Tired

Girls and women who still get their period can get PMS. But it’s most common in women who:

Are in their late 20s to early 40s.

Have had a child.

Have family members with depression

Had baby blues (postpartum depression), depression or bipolar disorder

Emotional signs

Tense or anxious

Depressed

Crying

Mood swings

Can’t sleep

Don’t want to be with people

Feel overwhelmed or out of control

Angry outbursts

Causes

Even though PMS is common, doctors don’t know exactly what causes it. It probably has to do with the changes in your body chemistry around the time of your period.

Some conditions affect PMS, but don’t cause it. PMS can start, or can get worse if you:

Smoke and take lot of stress

Don’t exercise

Don’t sleep enough

Drink too much alcohol or eat too much salt, red meat, or sugar

Women with other health problems may find that those problems get worse before their period. Some of those are migraine headaches, asthma and allergies.

What You Can Do

Exercise about 30 minutes a day.

Eat healthy foods like whole grains, fruits, and vegetables.

Try to get enough calcium from food (think dairy, green leafy vegetables, and canned salmon).

Avoid salt, caffeine and alcohol.

Don’t smoke.

Get plenty of sleep.

Don’t take stress.

Track your moods and symptoms in a journal.