Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)

Even with the fact that mature women will get their period every given month, the menstrual cycle is still a phenomenon that is considered very mysterious. Though most of us will argue that we know everything about these cycles, it will surprise you to know that there are quite a number of things that you are yet to know.

-One fact is that though most people believe that the menstrual cycle varies from one woman to the other, it is interesting to note that these cycles they may also vary from month to month. This may be dependent on the kind of diet that was taken for the month as well as the stress levels.

-Worth noting is the fact that, some women can actually feel themselves ovulate. There may be some subtle changes such as breast tenderness and abdominal pains.

-Another fact that people are not aware of is that the menstrual cramps can occur in other places other than the abdomen. These parts include the upper legs, the pelvic area not to forget the lower back.

-If you didn’t know, when one is ovulating, men may tend to find them more attractive. This has been arrived at after some a study from the journal Psychological Science which discovered that when men smelled clothes that were worn by women who were ovulating, their testosterone levels significantly went higher more than when they sniffed to clothes worn women who were not ovulating.

Though some menstrual cycle such as abdominal cramps may be normal during a period, others may not be. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) can primarily be considered as a severe form of premenstrual syndrome. It is usually characterized by obnoxious physical and psychological symptoms that include fatigue, irritability, palpitations and mood changes. Abdominal bloating and dizziness are also other symptoms under the PMDD symptoms umbrella. When a woman is just about to reach menopause, it is quite normal to have a PMS premenopausal symptom that is usually accompanied by some feeling of nausea. The change in hormonal levels is the major cause of any given PMS premenopausal symptom. In some cases, a PMS premenopausal symptom can cause insomnia, which can consequently cause dizziness.

To relieve the PMDD symptoms, most doctors recommend the use of birth control pills. Having some regular exercise is also a good way of relieving the symptoms. Anti depressants can be used to control a PMS premenopausal symptom. Consuming healthy diets as well as the daily intake of a good multi vitamin is also a good way of preventing both kinds of symptoms.

Well, for many individuals it might be exactly that simple. You will find a number of vitamin inadequacies that can result in depression signs and symptoms.

The B-Complex Vitamins

The B-complex vitamins are crucial to emotional and mental well-being. They can’t be saved within our physiques, therefore we depend positioned on our diet to provide them. B vitamins are destroyed by alcohol, refined sugars, nicotine, and caffeine so it is no wonder that lots of people might be deficient during these.

Vitamin for depression

Here is a rundown of latest finding concerning the relationship of B-complex vitamins to depression:

Vitamin B2 (thiamine): The mind uses this vitamin to assist convert glucose, or bloodstream sugar, into fuel, and without them the mind quickly expires of one’s. This may lead to fatigue, depression, irritability, anxiety, as well as ideas of suicide. Inadequacies may also cause memory problems, lack of appetite, insomnia, and intestinal disorders. The intake of refined carbohydrates, for example simple sugars, drains your body’s B2 supply.

Vitamin B3 (niacin): Pellagra-which produces psychosis and dementia, among other signs and symptoms-was eventually discovered to be triggered by niacin deficiency. Many commercial food items now contain niacin, and pellagra has virtually disappeared. However, subclinical inadequacies of vitamin B3 can produce agitation and anxiety, in addition to physical and mental slowness.

Vitamin B5 (pantothenic acidity): Signs and symptoms of deficiency are fatigue, chronic stress, and depression. Vitamin B5 is required for hormone formation and also the uptake of proteins and also the brain chemical acetylcholine, which mix to avoid certain kinds of depression.

Vitamin B6 (pyridoxine): This vitamin helps within the processing of proteins, what are foundations of proteins plus some the body’s hormones. It’s necessary for the output of serotonin, melatonin and dopamine. Vitamin B6 inadequacies, although unusual, cause impaired immunity, lesions on the skin, and mental confusion. A marginal deficiency sometimes happens in alcoholics, patients with kidney failure, and ladies using dental birth control methods. MAOIs, ironically, could also result in a shortage of the vitamin. Many nutritionally oriented doctors think that most diets don’t provide optimal levels of this vitamin.

Vitamin B12: Because vitamin B12 is essential to red-colored bloodstream cell formation, deficiency results in an oxygen-transport problem referred to as pernicious anemia. This disorder may cause mood shifts, paranoia, irritability, confusion, dementia, hallucinations, or mania, eventually then appetite loss, lightheadedness, weakness, shortage of breath, heart heart palpitations, diarrhea, and tingling sensations within the limbs. Inadequacies have a very long time to build up, because the body stores a 3- to 5-year supply within the liver. When shortages happen, they’re frequently because of deficiencies in intrinsic factor, an enzyme that enables vitamin B12 to become absorbed within the digestive tract. Since intrinsic factor reduces as we grow older, seniors tend to be more vulnerable to B12 inadequacies.

Folate: This B vitamin is required for DNA synthesis. It’s also essential for producing Mike (S-adenosyl methionine). Poor nutritional habits lead to folate inadequacies, just like illness, alcoholism, as well as other drugs, including aspirin, oral contraceptives, barbiturates, and anticonvulsants. It is almost always given together with vitamin B12, since a B12 deficiency can mask a folate deficiency. Women that are pregnant are frequently advised to consider this vitamin to avoid neural tube defects within the developing fetus.

Ascorbic Acid

Subclinical inadequacies can produce depression, which requires using supplements. Supplementation is especially important for those who have had surgical procedures or an inflammatory disease. Stress, pregnancy, and lactation may also increase your body’s requirement for ascorbic acid, while aspirin, tetracycline, and oral contraceptives can deplete your body’s supply.

Minerals

Inadequacies in many minerals may also cause depression.

Magnesium: Deficiency can lead to depressive signs and symptoms, together with confusion, agitation, anxiety, and hallucinations, in addition to a number of physical problems. Most diets don’t include enough magnesium, and stress also adds to magnesium depletion

Calcium: Depletion affects the nervous system. Lower levels of calcium cause anxiety, apprehension, irritability, and numbness.

Zinc: Insufficiencies lead to apathy, insufficient appetite, and lethargy. When zinc is low, copper in your body can increase to toxic levels, leading to paranoia and fearfulness.

Iron: Depression is frequently an indicator of chronic an iron deficiency. Other signs and symptoms include general weakness, listlessness, exhaustion, insufficient appetite, and head aches.

Manganese: This metal is required for proper utilisation of the B-complex vitamins and ascorbic acid. Because it also plays a part in amino-acidity formation, an insufficiency may lead to depression stemming from low quantity of a chemicals serotonin and norepinephrine. Manganese likewise helps stabilize bloodstream sugar and stop hypoglycemic mood shifts.

Potassium: Depletion is often connected with depression, tearfulness, weakness, and fatigue.

PMDD symptoms

Many women during the premenstrual period is observed psychological and physical discomfort, only a small percentage of these women develop PMDD symptoms severe enough to meet diagnostic criteria for PMDD symptoms. PMDD symptoms should be sufficient in severity to interfere with normal daily life and must be differentiated from exacerbation of concomitant medical and mental pathology.

Different PMDD symptoms

1. First PMDD symptom Clearly depressed mood, feelings of hopelessness or self-deprecating thoughts.

2. Second PMDD symptom Distinct anxiety, tension, feeling “keyed up”.

3. Third PMDD symptom Distinct affective lability (eg, rapidly advancing sadness or tearfulness, or increased sensitivity to rejection of others on request of a patient).

4. Fourth PMDD symptom Stable and distinct anger or irritability or increased frequency of interpersonal conflicts.

5. Fifth PMDD symptom Reduction of interest in daily activities (eg, work, school, friends, hobbies).

6. Sixth PMDD symptom Subjective difficulty concentrating.

7. Seventh PMDD symptom Lethargy, tiredness, a distinct reduction in vigor.

8. Eighth PMDD symptom A distinct change in appetite, overeating or specific taste preferences.

9. Ninth PMDD symptom Drowsiness or insomnia.

10. Tenth PMDD symptom Subjective feeling of depression or uncontrollable.

11. Eleventh PMDD symptom Other physical symptoms such as increased sensitivity or engorgement of the mammary glands, headaches, joint or muscle pain, slight swelling, weight gain.

Read more about – PMDD, premenstrual dysphoric disorder

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder symptoms

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a severe form of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). About 75% of women of childbearing age susceptible to PMS. Approximately 2 – 10% of them suffer from the premenstrual dysphoric disorder.

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder symptoms

Symptoms of the premenstrual dysphoric disorder:

* Sadness, hopelessness, self-condemnation;

* Stress, anxiety;

* Frequent mood swings from episodes of tearfulness;

* Constant irritability, anger, state of conflict;

* Appetite changes with overeating or the need for specific (and sometimes inedible) food;

* Reduction of interest in usual activities;

* Difficulty concentrating;

* Tiredness, lack of energy, drowsiness;

* Physical symptoms (tension or pain in the breast, a feeling of swelling of the body or weight gain, headaches, joint and muscle pain).

* Sleep disturbances (drowsiness or insomnia)

These premenstrual dysphoric disorder symptoms hinder professional activities, training, violate interpersonal relationships. If these premenstrual dysphoric disorder symptoms occur in 10 – 14 days before the anticipated onset of menstruation and disappear without your intervention when the month begins, it is possible that you suffer from the premenstrual dysphoric disorder. To determine this for sure, consult a physician or family doctor.

Reasons of the premenstrual dysphoric disorder

The exact causes of the premenstrual dysphoric disorder are not known. Hormonal changes preceding menstruation may be one reason for the premenstrual dysphoric disorder. Stress, depression and predisposition of PMS or the premenstrual dysphoric disorder also increase the chance of developing the disorder.

Read more - How to treat PMDD.

PMS cramps

Premenstrual disorders occur quite often with women of all ages, since the beginning of menstruation cycle functioning and even in menopausal period. One of the most widespread problems is PMS cramps – uterine muscle contracts caused by prostaglandin substance. Usually cramps occur right before the periods start, muscle contracts help blood and other liquids release outside. Sometimes cramps can begin in a couple of days before, usually in the morning when a woman wakes up, however painful symptoms usually weaken in an hour or so. In the first-second days of menstruation cramps are the severest and can cause a big affect on women’s feeling. Sometimes women are unable to follow their usual lifestyle and need taking rest until pains become weaker.

It is fully possible to get rid of discomfort caused by PMS cramps using both drug and non-drug therapies. The most popular method is to take pain relieving medications. For treating menstrual cramps over-the-counter pain killers are usually used, they are naproxen, aspirin or ibuprofen. These medications also influence positively on other PMS symptoms like headache. If you experience some emotional PMS disorder symptoms, before taking any pain killer it is recommended to consult your physician, to get sure that the drugs match other symptoms.

Besides drugs physical training is also popular. Regular exercises help to gain a good body form, keeping your inner muscles in a good tone. This also helps to reduce painful PMS cramps, as well as other discomfort. Regular training normalizes blood circulation and metabolism, that helps your body manage with different unpleasant PMS disorders. Another way of physical influence is massage. A massage of abdomen and lower back will relax your muscles that will make cramps less intensive. Be careful not to damage yourself with intensive massage moves, use relaxation techniques. It is better when someone will help you with this.

Sometimes such simple remedy as a heating pad can relieve pains caused by PMS cramps better than other therapies. Just put it on your lower back or abdomen. Heat also relaxes muscles and calms down your body tenderness caused by muscle contracting. If you have no heating pad you can substitute it with bottle of hot water.

For the better effect it is obviously recommended to have some rest. Menstruation period, as well as premenstrual phase of a cycle is a time when women experience weakness and needs to lower the lifestyle rhythm to give a body a little rest. If you know that a few days before menstruation is a hard period for you, do not plan some physically intensive activities. Try to take a rest if it is possible in order to help yourself to go through PMS period with maximal ease and comfort.

If the aforementioned methods don’t help, you need to consult a doctor. Using medical tests a specialist can define the nature of your cramps and prescribe proper therapy. It is not recommended to stand sever pains, as this may cause emotional disorders like irritation, depression and a lot of other. That is why timely medical assistance is so preferable.

PMS PMDD symptoms

Actually, both premenstrual syndrome, also known as PMS, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) reveal the same symptoms, and therefore may seem similar. However, they are distinct syndromes and should be told apart. In fact, PMDD is just a very severe form of PMS and should be determined as soon as possible. The explanations below will help you understand the differences between two syndromes.

First of all, you need to understand the typical symptoms of premenstrual syndrome. It normally involves the symptoms related to mood (mood swings, anxiety, and irritability) and physical condition – like headaches, cramps, fatigue, bloating, sleep disturbances, nausea, and breast tenderness.

Then, remember the symptoms of PMDD. Unlike PMS, it causes a depressed mood, difficulty concentrating, feelings of hopelessness, anxiety, and overwhelmed. In addition those women who suffer PMDD are usually also subjected to such feelings as irritability, sadness, or anger to a more severe degree than those experiencing PMS.

Finally, identify the differences between the two syndromes more precisely. Despite the fact that there’re a number of symptoms overlapping between them two, women suffering from PMDD experience more intense mood symptoms, and it considerably impairs their everyday life and relationships. Unfortunately, almost every aspect of life of such sufferers is affected by the syndrome.

The two disorders may be easily confused because PMDD sufferers usually experience the same physical symptoms as those with PMS. However, the recognition of the similarity in the timing of the syndrome’s symptoms may be helpful. Although both syndromes’ symptoms occur only during the premenstrual phase, the PMDD symptoms are required to be present for at least 2 consecutive menstrual cycles to be diagnosed.

If you suspect any of these disorders, start tracking your symptoms and schedule an appointment with your doctor. Remember that only a physician can accurately interpret your personal symptoms and figure out what you are suffering from.

How to eat with Premenstrual dysphoric disorder video.

Birth control medications are now used for treating the severest type of premenstrual syndrome – premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). The first such drug that was approved by FDA is Yaz. It was clinically proved that Yaz is able to relief PMDD symptoms with efficiency not less than 50%. These results motivated FDA for its approval.

What is more, Yaz showed its effectiveness in removing both physical and emotional disorders caused by PMDD, positively influencing on daily activity, relations with people and emotional stability.

Yaz, as other hormonal birth control medications, contains estrogen and the unique form of progestin. Its unique characteristics are very helpful in fighting PMDD, if to follow its 24-day intake schedule, according to the latest release from Berlex Inc., the American representative of Yaz manufacturer (Schering).

Andrea Rapkin, MD from UCLA’s David Geffen School of Medicine, reports: “Yaz is able to solve both problems. It combines facilities for effective contraception for preventing unwanted pregnancy and for reducing the PMDD impact on female organism”.
It is common for the most of women to experience PMS problems, but PMDD occurs only in 5% of cases. PMDD has the strongest symptoms that impact women making them unable to do their everyday activities.

PMDD: Aggressive PMS Successor

For the most of doctors and patients PMDD is something like PMS squared. For diagnosing PMDD women has to experience at least five of the symptoms described below:

· Mood swings, frequent wish to cry

· The feel of apathy, sadness or hopelessness

· Increased irritability worsening relationships with people around

· Tenseness or anxiety with no reason

· The feel of losing control

· Shortage of energy

· The loss of interest to things and people that usually were interesting

· Appetite changes like intense desire to eat, overeating

· Problems with attention and its concentration, slow mental work

· Slumber problems: not getting enough sleep or excessive sleeping

· Physical disorders like headaches, pains in muscles and joints, swelling, breast tenderness, increase of weight, etc.

It is required to experience one of the first four symptoms to give a diagnosis of PMDD. As a rule these symptoms appear the week before periods and totally disappear in a couple of days after they start.

PMDD is very hard to stand, that is why doctors often prescribe the whole complex of medications for its treatment, including antidepressants, hormonal drugs, water pills, vitamins. Nowadays many kinds of birth control pills are used to treat PMDD, but Yaz was the first one that received FDA approval.

The most popular side effects caused by Yaz are headaches and pain in breasts.

This article was written by a nurse from one of the US clinics that wished to stay anonymous.

She shares her knowledge about emotional symptoms during PMS and how to fight them. If you found the information useful, please leave your comments.

During PMS many women experience various emotional problems like mood swings, stresses, sudden willing to cry or argue with everyone around. The most frequent emotional symptom of PMS is anxiety that causes big discomfort in everyday life.

During a long time scientists didn’t connect emotional discomfort to premenstrual syndrome, but later they realized that psychological state is directly connected to cyclic hormonal changes in the female organism, and anxiety and stress are common PMS symptoms.

Such emotional changes have various origins, not only PMS. It can be related to various problems at home or at work, conflicts in relationships, mental health disorders, etc. The environment can affect your emotional stability, causing stresses that can be regarded as PMS symptoms. Combined with hormonal changes, problems around can worsen the situation, turning woman into a deep depression.

It was found that the main reason of anxiety and other emotional changes during PMS is estrogen level changes. Perhaps severe stress is an alarm of PMDD that has a lot in common with PMS but its symptoms are much stronger and sometimes unbearable. PMDD is the most difficult case of PMS that requires medical assistance.

Every tenth woman of childbearing age suffers from PMDD in the USA. Most of them experience the same emotional problems that are typical for manic depression. As a rule patients with PMDD experience rapid mood swings from happiness in the first minute to deep sadness in the second. Such swings lead to deep emotional instability and exhaustion. Also they admit extraordinary sensitivity to things that has no matter to them before.

It is natural for women to be sensitive to different things, but the natural sensitivity has nothing in common with unbearable symptoms of PMS or PMDD especially. Stresses and feel of anxiety are only a part of possible reactions to hormones during premenstrual period, and women struggle from them each month before periods begin. The only way to fight instability is to learn how to control emotions and stresses, helping yourself to manage with PMS and return your life into the normal state.

Many specialists will advise you to take vitamins of B-group, go in for sports like aerobics, use relaxation practices like meditation and balance your diet to avoid potential impact on hormones.

Also natural progesterone creams showed effective results in treating anxiety and mood swings during premenstrual period. The alternative supplement for stabilizing emotions before periods is Kava Kava.

There are a lot of medications available today, that is why it is better to consult a doctor who can select the best treatment for your individual set of symptoms.

Don’t wonder if he will prescribe something that was not listed in this article, it is fully possible.

Do your best to tune your lifestyle on the right way and follow doctor’s advices to feel good at any period of cycle!

PMS is a complex disease influencing virtually all the systems of the body. However, PMS has the greatest effect on the very emotional condition of ours. You are sure to have noticed that few days before the cycle started you got touchy and angry, often went wrong with your family or took everything to heart. As for me, these days I cry as many tears as I don’t manage to cry over the whole month. I cry at the slightest opportunity. I can be touched by a dramatic moment in a movie, sad love song or even a homeless puppy on the street. And my vulnerability can turn into aggression in a second, that’s when I start making a row with the first person coming in my way. That is why for me a perfect PMS medication is the one that not only helps to get rid of pain in the belly and breast, but also improves my emotional condition. Prozac has positive calming effect on the nervous system and helps to return it to its stable condition.

Prozac is the very medication that brings relief during those few days before the cycle starts, when life becomes hell not only for me, but for my family as well. Indeed, this medication helps to see things positively and not to be distressed by trifles. Besides, Prozac calms the nerves down, so I stopped going wrong with my family and can adequately control my emotions. This medication removes the symptoms of depression, calms the body down, and makes me feel positive. Of course, Prozac does not give you the feeling of euphoria or excitement. It’s just that when I take it I feel calm and confident both before the periods start and during the menstruation or after it ends.

Well, Prozac has been talked about for long. In the USA over the last few decades this medication is taken by every twentieth person! Naturally, they prescribe it not only for PMS, but for other problems with nervous system as well. But the health professionals do not have the united opinion on it. Most of them are prone to thinking that it is absolutely safe, while some doctors claim that constant stimulation of serotonin generation (which is the major effect of Prozac) is not good for human body. Generally, when I take Prozac I found myself totally comfortable. The only problem provoked by this medication lies in periodical sleep disorders. Sometimes I felt sleepy during almost the whole day, while later on I could not fall asleep till dawn. When I started to have these symptoms, I reduced the dose of Prozac and the sleep disorders stopped.