JOY TIKU'S BLOG

Pre-menstrual syndrome, commonly called PMS, is a medical condition that affects many women of child-bearing age. It starts during the second half of the menstrual cycle; that is 14 days or more after the first day of the last menstrual period, and stops on the first or second day after the menstrual period starts.
But according to Dr. Ifeanyi Onyekpa, the exact cause of premenstrual syndrome has not been identified, but a number of changes can lead to it. He pointed out that a major cause of premenstrual syndrome is psychological, and that other causes include Genital Tract Infection, pain menoral, hormonal cause which leads to mood swing, and excess prostaglandin in the womb.
Prostaglandin also controls the substance involved in the transmission of nerve impulses, participates in the body’s defence against infection, and regulates the rate of metabolism in various tissues.
SYMPTOMS OF PRE-MENSTRUAL SYNDROME
The most common physical symptoms include; breast tenderness, clumsiness, food craving, headaches, diarrhea, fatigue, feeling slow or sluggish, edginess, and irritable, hostile or aggressive behaviours with outburst of anger towards others, mood swings, feeling of guilt, poor judgement and increased fear.
Since the exact cause of PMS is not fully understood, various possible factors may contribute to the symptoms. These are;
Hormonal symptoms: During your menstrual cycle, levels of hormones such as oestrogen and progesterone rise and fall.
Hormonal symptoms are thought to be the biggest contributing factors to many of the symptoms of PMS. The fact that PMS improves during pregnancy and after the menopause, when hormone levels are stable, supports this theory.
Chemical symptoms: Like your hormone levels, certain chemicals in your brain such as, serotonin, fluctuate during your menstrual cycle. Serotonin is known to help regulate your mood and make you feel happier. So, it is possible that women with low levels of serotonin are particularly sensitive to the symptoms of PMS. Low levels of serotonin may also contribute to symptoms such as, tiredness, food cravings, and insomnia (difficulty in sleeping).
TESTS AND TREATMENTS
Tests
There are no specific lab tests that can diagnose PMS. To rule out other possible causes of symptoms, it is important to have a complete medical history, physical examination, including pelvic examination.
Treatment
A healthy lifestyle is the first step to the treatment of PMS. Drink plenty of fluids, water or juice - not soft drinks, alcohol or other beverage with caffeine - to help reduce bloating, fluid retention and other symptoms. Eat frequent, small meals and a balanced diet with extra whole grains, vegetables and fruit, and less or no salt and sugar.
Get regular aerobics exercises throughout the month to help reduce the severity of PMS. Birth control pills may increase or reduce PMS. Dr. Onyekpa said ibuprofen is most times the best prescription for PMS, although aspirin and other NSAIDs may be prescribed for headaches, backaches and breast tenderness.