Premenstrual syndrome
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a special set of symptoms that manifest in a woman on the eve of the next menstruation. Its manifestations can be:
vegetative-vascular;
endocrine;
neuropsychic.
The content of the article:
Causes of premenstrual syndrome
Symptoms of premenstrual syndrome
Diagnosis of premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
Treatment of premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
Premenstrual syndrome
Although there is a widespread opinion in society that PMS is a common thing, and all women face it, in fact this is not the case. This phenomenon refers to menstrual disorders and is a deviation from the norm. Most often it occurs in representatives of the Caucasian race, residents of large cities, subject to great intellectual and psychological stress. According to this feature, premenstrual syndrome falls into the same category with chronic fatigue syndrome, Alzheimer’s disease and obesity.
Premenstrual syndrome in one form or another manifests itself in 70 percent of the fair sex. Its severe course is observed in 10-30% of women. Unpleasant symptoms occur several (two to ten) days before the onset of menstruation and disappear in the first days of the cycle.
Premenstrual syndrome can exist in three stages:
compensated, when symptoms persistently appear in the second phase of the cycle, disappear with the onset of menstruation, do not progress;
subcompensated, when symptoms continue in the first days of menstruation, and from year to year it becomes harder to tolerate them;
decompensated, when symptoms do not stop even after bleeding, the intensity of their manifestation increases significantly.
A mild premenstrual symptom allows a woman to lead a normal lifestyle. To an average extent, it affects her performance and relationships with others. Finally, with a severe degree of PMS, you can lose your ability to work.
It is worth noting that premenstrual syndrome is the lot of the beautiful half of humanity. Sometimes there are conversations about male PMS, but this is a term far from medicine. This refers only to changes in the mood of a man at a time when their lovers suffer from premenstrual syndrome. This suggests that the couple’s biorhythms coincide in some sense, and the man simply “becomes infected” with a depressive state.
Causes of premenstrual syndrome
Premenstrual syndrome (or, as it is also called, premenstrual tension syndrome) is not just a woman’s mood variability. This is a pathological condition, behind which there are serious failures in the body. The causes of its occurrence have not yet been established. With the development of such a science as physiology, scientists are discovering more and more factors that can explain the appearance of premenstrual syndrome.
The most common theory these days is hormonal. She explains the premenstrual syndrome by an imbalance between estrogens and progesterone. It is implied that the level of estrogens that cause sodium retention increases. As a result, fluid in the body is also delayed, which entails the appearance of edema.
Other theories of the occurrence of premenstrual syndrome:
hereditary (genetic predisposition);
allergic (sensitivity to endogenous progesterone);
neuroendocrine (fluctuations of serotonin and GABA affecting the course of peripheral neuroendocrine processes);
psychosomatic (biochemical fluctuations cause changes in the psyche);
prostaglandin (violation of the synthesis of universal tissue hormones caused by improper nutrition).
In addition, scientists have noted that overly suspicious girls are more predisposed to premenstrual syndrome than those who do not focus on the little things. This is a case when a reverent attitude to your body does more harm than good.
Symptoms of premenstrual syndrome
Doctors distinguish four clinical forms of premenstrual syndrome:
Neuropsychic form of premenstrual syndrome. In teenage girls, in most cases it is expressed by aggressive behavior, in more mature age, depressive states prevail. The symptoms of premenstrual syndrome in this case can be divided into two groups.
From the side of the psyche:
mood swings;
irritability;
the desire to cry;
depression;
aggression.
From the body side:
numbness of the limbs (more often — hands);
breast enlargement;
hypersensitivity to smells and sounds;
flatulence.
Edematous form of premenstrual syndrome. It is caused by fluid retention in the body during the second phase of the cycle. Main symptoms:
swelling (fingers, face, shins);
bloating;
soreness and swelling of the mammary glands;
mild irritability;
slight sweating.
Cephalgic form of premenstrual syndrome. In three cases out of four, calcification of the pineal body and dura mater is characterized. Its symptoms:
headache in the temporal region, giving into the eyeball;
vertigo;
nausea;
vomiting;
pain in the heart area;
hypersensitivity to sounds and smells;
sweating;
depression.
The crisis form of premenstrual syndrome. It is based on sympathoadrenal crises, accompanied by the following symptoms:
slight increase in blood pressure;
chills;
tachycardia;
numbness of the limbs;
feeling of tightness behind the sternum;
increased urination;
fear of death.
It is worth noting that stress, fatigue and infectious diseases provoke the development of the fourth — crisis — form of premenstrual syndrome.
In general, such a condition as premenstrual syndrome has the following symptoms:
From the nervous system:
increased sensitivity;
vertigo;
headaches;
epileptic seizures.
From the gastrointestinal tract:
bloating;
changing taste perception;
loss or excessive increase of appetite;
nausea;
vomiting.
From the skin:
unusual dryness or greasiness;
itching;
urticaria;
acne;
the appearance of pigmentation.
From the urinary system:
fluid retention in the body.
From the musculoskeletal system:
decreased muscle strength;
joint pain;
muscle pain;
pain in the bones.
From the side of the psyche:
increased fatigue;
aggressiveness;
high excitability;
change of mood;
memory degradation;
problems with concentration;
decrease or increase in sexual desire.
Thus, there are many manifestations of premenstrual syndrome, and the set of symptoms for each particular woman is purely individual.
Diagnosis of premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
In order to understand what the anamnesis of this condition looks like, it is worth remembering what premenstrual syndrome is. However, isolated manifestations of PMS symptoms do not yet indicate its presence. The patient should monitor her condition on the eve of menstruation. The doctor will need to be informed:
how long have the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome been observed;
when they appear;
when they disappear.
To make an appropriate diagnosis, follow-up should be carried out for at least three cycles. Further, more detailed studies will be assigned, one of which is a blood test for hormones. It is necessary to assess the content of the following hormones in the blood:
progesterone;
estradiol;
prolactin.
The results of the tests will make it possible to determine the form of premenstrual syndrome:
neuropsychic, cephalgic and crisis forms are accompanied by an increase in prolactin;
the edematous form is characterized by a decrease in progesterone levels in the second phase of the menstrual cycle.
A wider range of examinations depends on the complex of symptoms of premenstrual syndrome, which the patient complains about. You may need advice from specialists such as:
therapist;
endocrinologist;
mammologist;
cardiologist;
neurologist;
a psychotherapist.
Depending on the forms of PMS, the following diagnostic measures are assumed:
electroencephalography of the brain will be informative for any form of premenstrual syndrome;
the edematous form requires examination by a nephrologist, since the change in the daily excretion of urine in this case is a very important parameter;
with the cephalgic form of premenstrual syndrome, it is advisable to make an X-ray of the Turkish saddle and the cervical spine;
the crisis form involves careful monitoring of blood pressure.
In the presence of such a symptom as breast swelling or their soreness, it is worth doing a mammography (on the ninth day of the menstrual cycle).
In addition, a woman can be referred to an ophthalmologist to study the peripheral fields of vision and fundus.
We must not forget that chronic diseases against the background of premenstrual syndrome worsen. In such cases, the diagnosis is carried out differentially, in order to avoid attributing symptoms related to another disease to the premenstrual syndrome.
Treatment of premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
So, the doctor diagnosed “premenstrual syndrome”: how to treat this pathology? Before turning to medical methods, you should pay attention to simple ways to independently alleviate the manifestations of PMS.
Sleep is the best medicine, including for premenstrual syndrome. You need to sleep at least eight hours a day: then irritability will decrease, anxiety will go away. Insomnia can be overcome by:
taking hot baths before going to bed;
drinking warm milk at night;
breathing exercises.
Houses and walls are treated. During premenstrual syndrome, it is better to refrain (if possible) from going out on the street. Two factors play a role here:
before menstruation, the body is weakened and susceptible to viruses, so there is a risk of aggravating poor health;
the accumulation of people is an extra irritant, and it is better to isolate yourself from them.
Our food should be a remedy. With premenstrual syndrome, a woman needs to consume more fiber and less fat. We should not forget about vitamins: B6, calcium and magnesium effectively eliminate the unpleasant manifestations of PMS, and iron helps to cope with anemia. But these products are better to exclude from your diet:
coffee;
chocolate;
cheese;
salt;
alcohol.
They cause heart palpitations, can aggravate mood swings and are generally difficult for the body.
Sport is the key to health. Physical exercises performed regularly and for your own pleasure cause the release of endorphins. They improve mood, relieve stress and make you forget about the malaise. You can do exercises, go for a run in the morning, exercise on the simulators. An alternative to this is sometimes physical therapy.
In harmony with yourself. Psychological relaxation, normalization of the daily routine, stabilization of relationships — all this contributes to the elimination of many symptoms of PMS. Doctors recommend paying special attention to personal life.
But if the patient is still wondering “How to remove premenstrual syndrome”, it is better to consult a doctor. There are many treatment options that can be offered:
psychotherapy;
development of a special diet taking into account the need for iron, vitamins, nutrients;
selection of combined oral contraceptives;
hormone therapy;
treatment with antihistamines;
treatment with drugs that suppress prostaglandin synthesis.
If the patient is suffering from headaches, special attention should be paid to this in the treatment regimen. In addition to the immediate relief of pain syndrome, it is worth considering the prevention of the next manifestation of this symptom.
In the case when the patient complains of edema, the doctor prescribes diuretics, which must be started about a week before the expected arrival of menstruation.
The most optimal duration of treatment is from three to six months with breaks of three months.
Finally, it is worth paying attention to how to treat premenstrual syndrome with folk remedies. To do this, there are many recipes for decoctions and fees:
cornflower tincture;
decoction of dandelion roots;
tea with lavender and mint;
calendula tincture;
carrot and spinach juice mixture;
decoction of juniper fruits, rhizomes of naked licorice and yarrow grass;
decoction of motherwort grass, chamomile flowers, hawthorn flowers and dried grass.
In addition, women often resort to homeopathy, reflexology and yoga.
In general, premenstrual syndrome responds well to treatment. But, unfortunately, it does not lend itself to prevention. The maximum that can be done is to prevent some symptoms by adhering to a healthy lifestyle. It is worth remembering that a sudden change in climate, another abortion or severe stress can provoke the appearance of premenstrual syndrome.
It has little effect on the reproductive system: the connection can be traced in the study of the content of sex hormones in the blood. Premenstrual syndrome does not reduce the ability to get pregnant, but late reproductive age is a factor in its occurrence.
