What is the meaning of PMS?

Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) is a group of symptoms such as bloating, headaches, and moodiness that most women experience before having their period. It both mentally and physically taxes a woman and will occur one to two weeks in advance.

Learning about PMS will tell you a lot about why, at this stage in your life, you will not be yourself both in your head and your body. Symptoms of PMS start appearing with hormonal shifts naturally, preparing your body for your period. As soon as your period comes, symptoms will cease naturally.

Symptoms of PMS will vary a lot between individual women. For many of them, symptoms will have no effect at all, and for others, symptoms can have an impact both in routines and in moods.

Learning about them in advance will enable you to work with them and have a life practically indistinguishable from a normal one during your period.

Symptoms of PMS include:

Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) can range in severity in its impact upon a female, and symptoms can range enormously in severity and intensity. There are, nevertheless, a variety of symptoms with which many suffer, and knowing them can allow you to differentiate and recognize them and any other disease.

Physical Symptoms

 • Dizziness and aches and pains in pelvis: Women suffer with aches and aches in pelvis, starting a few days beforehand.

 • Breast soreness: Full and puffy, and even painful, feeling in breasts.

 • Bloating and water retention: Bloated, with puffiness in areas of your body.

 • Headaches: Vary in severity, and sometimes with accompanying symptoms.

 • Exhaustion: Feeling drained, with lack of energy, in general.

Emotional Symptoms

 • Displacement and irritation: Sudden moods and feelings of irritation, and even anger.

 • Anxiety and depression: Feeling nervous, worried, and even sometimes entering a state of depression.

 • Problems with concentration: Concentrating and remembering information a challenge.

 • Disturbed sleep: Difficulty sleeping, sleeping, and sleeping too much.

The severity of these symptoms varies, and not everyone will suffer with them all. Usually, one to two weeks beforehand, and then, when a period, symptoms will ease off.

If, monthly, with each period, these symptoms arise, then possibly, and most probably, it could be an indication of PMS. Knowing them can allow you to manage them and make a decision about when it will be wise to seek guidance with a doctor or medical practitioner.

Causes of PMS

Knowing what brings on PMS helps you navigate the symptoms much more easily. The exact causes of PMS aren’t known but multiple factors are thought to contribute.

Hormonal fluctuations – the largest contributing cause for PMS, hormonal fluctuations in a monthly period. Your body prepares for a pregnancy each and every month, and your hormone levels, including estrogen and progesterone, go up and down regularly. All of these fluctuations have a significant impact on your body and state of mind, and therefore, produce symptoms of PMS.

Brain neurotransmitters – the changes in hormone levels can also affect the brain chemicals like serotonin. Serotonin is a neurotransmitter that keeps your mood regulated; its low level contributes to PMS depression, tiredness, food cravings, and sleep problems.

Lifestyle factors can contribute a lot towards severity of symptoms of PMS. Poor nutrition, inactivity, tension, and poor sleep have all been linked with increased symptoms.

Other medical ailments can make symptoms of PMS worse, too. For instance, tension and emotion can exacerbate symptoms. Individual women will react in a range of ways to hormonal fluctuations, and symptoms vary immensely for that reason alone.

Nobody knows exactly why PMS occurs, but these factors have a strong suspected role in its development. By knowing them, you can make decisions that will ease your symptoms.

Managing PMS

Dealing with PMS isn’t about enduring misery monthly; it’s about creating techniques that work for you in an attempt to lessen symptoms and maintain your life’s quality. What works for one won’t work for all, but below are effective techniques for dealing with PMS

1. Adjustments in your life

Exercise: Physical exercise can contribute a lot in lessening symptoms of PMS. Get at least 30 minutes of moderately paced exercise most days in a week. It could range between a quick run in your locality to cycling to swimming.

Eat healthy: Include fruits, vegetables, whole grain foods, and lean proteins in your meal intake. To know about food tips during your period, refer to our blog regarding the best foods to have during your period.

Hydrate: Drinking enough water is significant. It can ease bloating and ease digestion, both of them becoming a problem during PMS.

Get sufficient sleep: Getting enough sleep is significant. Sleep helps your body in regulating its hormonal and tension-raising processes.

 2. Mitigation of stress

Relaxation exercises: Relaxation exercises including yoga, reading a book, and even a little meditation can ease tension, and subsequently ease symptoms of PMS.

Do what makes you happy: Spend a little time in your leisure activity and your happy activity. It’s a natural form of raising your spirits and fighting off symptoms of PMS.

 3. Medical options

Medicine: Over-the-counter medicine such as aspirin and ibuprofen can ease your headaches, sore breasts, and your cramps. Consult your doctor first, of course, whenever taking new drugs.

Hormonal therapy: Birth control, or hormonal therapy, can be taken in an effort to stabilize your cycles and ease symptoms of PMS. Consult your doctor in selecting one that will best suit your needs.

 4. Alternative Therapies

Complementary therapies: Acupuncture and reflexology have gained a following with women who prefer alternative therapy for PMS. With mixed success, many have noticed a lot of improvement.

Healthy living, proper medical care, and sometimes alternative therapies work best for dealing with PMS. In case your symptoms have not lessened through time, then it’s advised to seek a doctor’s consultation for guidance.

When to consult a doctor?

Some level of discomfort during PMS is a norm, but at times, symptoms can make it a necessity for you to go and consult a doctor. Here’s when and why to go for a doctor’s consultation:

Continuing symptoms - In case your symptoms don’t go and affect your routine, it’s a wise move to have a chat with a doctor. They can evaluate whether whatever is happening with you is a norm or not, and whether something else is at work.

Overwhelming effect - In case your symptoms become too overpowering and affect your routine, then it could mean something else, not a case of PMS. That’s particularly important in case your mood shifts become extreme, such as extreme depression and even thinking about harming yourself.

Ineffective home remedies - Perhaps new foods, exercise, and over-the-counter medicines haven’t showed any positive impact, and a doctor can introduce alternative options that can work.

Suspected PMDD - In case your symptoms become unbearingly strong and your work, relationships, and overall state of living suffer, then it’s a chance that you have premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), a severe case of PMS. That’s when a doctor can provide personalized guidance and make your life easier during your period.

Understanding Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) is important for recognizing and managing the various physical and emotional symptoms that many women experience before their menstrual period. PMS can significantly affect daily life, but with knowledge and proactive management, its impact can be minimized. By identifying the causes, such as hormonal fluctuations and lifestyle factors, and exploring effective management strategies—from lifestyle adjustments and stress mitigation techniques to medical and alternative therapies—women can find relief and maintain a quality of life. It’s important to remember that while some discomfort is common, persistent or severe symptoms should prompt a consultation with a healthcare provider to rule out more serious conditions like PMDD.