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DESCRIPTION:
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a term commonly used to describe a wide range of recurrent
symptoms a woman experiences seven to ten days before her menstrual period
begins. The condition affects approximately 1 in 3 menstruating women. In 5
to 10 percent of these women, the symptoms may be severe enough to disrupt
their lifestyle. PMS can appear at any time between puberty and menopause,
although it is most common in women during their 30's and early 40's.
How does PMS develop?
In allopathic circles, no one knows exactly what causes PMS. Estrogen excesses,
progesterone deficiencies, vitamin B6 deficiencies, an excess of the hormone
prolactin and altered glucose metabolism are among the many different theories
that attempt to explain PMS. Chemical changes in the brain may also be involved.
A complex interaction of neurohormones such as endorphins and serotonin and
other brain chemicals may trigger PMS. Stress and diet also are linked to
the symptoms of PMS. High stress and a diet full of high fat and salt with
low vitamin intake seem to aggravate the symptoms.
In addition, with menstral disorders like PMS, an estradiol excess (which
can occur by taking oral contraceptives or other synthetic forms of estrogen)
often is found to be part of the patient's physiology. Knowing that the development
of the disease may be closely linked to this factor, natural medicine practioners
always address this excess in treating these conditions.
What are the symptoms of PMS?
The list of potential symptoms associated with PMS is long. Most women with
PMS will experience only a few of these problems. About 7 percent of women
suffering with PMS have a form called premenstrual dysphoric
disorder (PMDD) in which the symptoms are so severe that it has its own psychiatric
designation.
The most common physical and emotional symptoms associated with PMS include
weight gain from fluid retention, abdominal bloating, breast tenderness, tension
or anxiety, depression, crying spells, mood swings and irritability or anger,
appetite changes and food cravings, joint or muscle pain, nausea and vomiting,
headache, difficulty concentrating and fatigue.
Conventional medical treatments may help relieve the symptoms
of premenstral syndrome but they do not address the root of the problem. Discover
why we believe that natural medicine treatments are the best way to treat PMS.
Learn about the treatments for
Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
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