Our bodies are in a constant state of flux, alerting us to changes and making adjustments to maintain equilibrium. While no one loves to experience Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS), this is simply your body's way of dealing with the approaching changes in your menstrual cycle.
People have a lot of negative things to say about Premenstrual Syndrome. It is spoken about as "a curse" and blamed for all kinds of things from grumpiness to stomach aches. Here is some information that can help you identify PMS and manage it. Incorporating some of the changes in your life will definitely be a positive thing, whether or not you feel the effects of PMS severely.
What is PMS?
Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) usually occurs a week or two before your period begins. While the causes of PMS are ultimately unknown, women are thought to be affected to varying degrees because of changing hormone levels in their bodies. Although stress does not cause PMS, it may exasperate the situation.
Symptoms are varied. Some women experience a few of these quite mildly, while others may feel them much more acutely. The more common symptoms include:
- Fatigue
- Swelling and tenderness of your breasts
- Having trouble sleeping
- Bloating
- Headache
- Food cravings
- Irritability
- Cramps
- Diarrhea
- Anxiety
- Depression
This is not an exhaustive list, but a comprehensive list of the most common signals.
Will I have to experience PMS forever?
When menopause occurs, usually in your early 50s, your monthly periods end and so does PMS. So while you can expect to experience PMS just before your period, it only lasts for as long as you have periods.
What can I do about it now?
The first thing to do is monitor your physical and emotional symptoms, mentioned above, and note when they tend occur within your menstrual cycle. If you are approaching your period, it is likely that the fatigue you're feeling is related to premenstrual syndrome. However, at other times of the month, your fatigue may simply be an indicator that you're not getting enough sleep. So awareness of the occurrence of the symptoms with your menstrual cycle is the first step in managing it.
Premenstrual syndrome is not a disease. It is not something to be cured with medication. Adopting healthy lifestyle choices is the best way to manage the symptoms. Regular exercise, adequate rest, and watching your diet are methods that you should probably integrate into your life, anyway. Knowing that they help manage symptoms of PMS is an added benefit.
Additional recommendations include not smoking, reducing salt, sugar, caffeine, and alcohol. Making sure you get enough vitamins, particularly calcium, which will also help reduce the risk of osteoporosis. These are all healthy lifestyle choices that should be integrated into your life anyway, so knowing they help balance your physical and emotional symptoms does not come as a surprise.
While stress does not cause PMS, it can make it worse. Whenever possible, plan on reducing stressful activities in your life during this time, particularly if you feel the symptoms severely. Schedule highly stressful activities when you know that you're going to be able to manage keeping yourself together as well as the project! Find comfortable routines or schedule an afternoon at the spa to help reduce the feeling of stress.
Sometimes the use of painkillers, like ibuprofen, or the regular use of birth control pills can reduce the severity of the symptoms as well. Again, make changes in your diet and exercise regimen first to see if those things help diminish your symptoms before running to the medicine cabinet.
In severe situations you may consider using prescription medications, like antidepressants, but PMS is a natural occurrence so for most, occasional prescription solutions are available but PMS is probably best managed with natural solutions.
PMS is not a curse, it is simply your body adjusting to the physical and hormonal changes taking place as part of your menstrual cycle. Whether or not you are looking to deal with your PMS symptoms, making healthy lifestyle changes is the best choice. They will not only help manage the physical and emotional changes you experience, they will simply help you lead an enjoyable and healthful life.
See Also:
PMS - Natural Remedies
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