What is PMS(Pre-menstrual Syndrome)?

Understanding your body system What is PMS(Pre-menstrual Syndrome)? PMS (Pre-menstrual Syndrome) is a term used to describe any symptoms which occur any time after ovulation and disappear almost as soon as the period arrives. So the crucial point is not what symptoms you experience but when. What are the symptoms of PMS? This is where a lot of confusion has arisen because over 150 symptoms can be classed as PMS. These can include: Mood swings Irritability Anxiety and tension Bloating Breast tenderness and swelling Water retention Acne Tiredness Weight gain Headaches/migraines Crying Spells Depression Sugar and food cravings Constipation Dizziness Quite a list! Personality changes associated with this time can be very severe with some women describing a Jekyll and Hyde change where they literally become a different person pre-menstrually. Women say that they know they are feeling and thinking differently to the point of being irrational but they have no control over those changes. For some women at that time the world seems completely negative, ‘everything seems black’, doom and gloom and they will often cry at the slightest thing without any real reason. Types of PMS In order to make classification of PMS easier, Dr Guy Abraham in America, devised a system of categories for the different types of PMS symptoms. These fall into four categories Type A – Anxiety This category which is very common in up to 80% of women each cycle, includes those symptoms such as mood swings, irritability, anxiety and tension. Type C – Cravings This group includes cravings for sweets or chocolates, increased appetite, fatigue and headaches. Up to 60% of women can experience these kinds of symptoms leading up to the period. Type H – Hyperhydration Type H includes symptoms such as water retention, breast tenderness and enlargement, abdominal bloating and weight gain. Up to 40% of women can experience these changes. Type D – Depression Depression is the largest symptom in this group but it can also include confusion, forgetfulness, clumsiness, withdrawal, lack of co-ordination, crying spells, confusion. Only 5% of women experience these symptoms but these can be the most serious if the woman is verging on the point of being suicidal. Many women will get symptoms from each Type during any one cycle. And for some women these symptoms can change from month to month, so they are not always experiencing exactly the same symptoms before each period. Source of Article: Dr Marilyn Glenville Women’s Health Issues Photo credit: Shutterstock