Premenstrual syndrome
PMS stand for Premenstrual syndrome which is the medical term used to refer to the unpleasant and uncomfortable symptoms a woman feels before menstruation. The PMS symptoms are varied and around 150 separate symptoms have already been identified. The symptoms can be of two types: physical and psychological. Some of the most common physical symptoms are headaches, breast tenderness, bloating, back pain, muscle pain etc. The psychological symptoms include depression, aggression, anxiety, mood swings etc. These PMS symptoms usually appear from up to two weeks before menstruation and disappear upon the onset of menstruation. For some women, these PMS symptoms so severe that they hinder her usual lifestyle. In this case, the disorder is referred to as PMDD.
PMS is not a rare condition. In fact it is estimated that most women will suffer from some of the PMS symptoms at some point during their lives, with the worst times for this disorder to be between the ages of 30-45. There are certain factors which make a woman more vulnerable and prone to PMS and these include stress, hormonal changes etc. There are no tests that specifically diagnose PMS so it is recommended that a woman charts her PMS symptoms for at least 2 cycles before visiting the doctor. For your convenience you can check out the PMS Symptom Chart. This chart can be downloaded for free and used to record the symptoms during the cycle.
There are no traditional drugs or medicine that will treat PMS although the birth control pill and diuretics have been prescribed in some cases. The practitioner who will examine you will recommend some practical suggestions to help reduce the symptoms of PMS. These include reducing caffeine intake, exercising regularly, taking all the necessary vitamins and sticking to a healthy balanced diet. More over herbal PMS remedies have been proven to be extremely effective in reducing, and in some cases even eliminating PMS symptoms completely.