Get rid of premenstrual bad mood blues
By KAYLA DUNKMAN
Cox News Service
THE DEAL
Women, you know how this goes. About once a month, you want to punch your friends, scream at your family and you feel like you swallowed a balloon. Why all these horrible feelings? Blame it on PMS.
THE SOLUTION
Learn more about PMS and discover some tricks to feel better during that time from Dr. Amy Byerly, D.O., from Southview Hospital in Dayton, Ohio.
DEFINITION
PMS stands for premenstrual syndrome. “(It is) a cyclic occurrence of symptoms that are severe enough to interfere with someone’s daily life and occurs the week before the menstrual cycle,” Byerly said.
CAUSES
Byerly said the exact cause of PMS isn’t known. However, there are some theories. The decrease of the hormones serotonin, estrogen and progesterone the week before the menstrual cycle begins are thought to be some causes.
SYMPTOMS
There are several symptoms of PMS, Byerly said. Mental symptoms can be depression, irritability and anxiety. Breast tenderness, headaches, swelling and bloating are the main physical symptoms.
Don’t confuse these symptoms with ones, such as cramping, that happen the week of the cycle. PMS is different. “PMS is more how you feel overall,” Byerly said. “You are angry, depressed, bloated and can have headaches.”
REMEDIES
Byerly says watching your diet and eliminating most sugar and salts will decrease bloating and keep your energy level up. Exercising the week before your menstrual cycle will help, too.
Medicinal remedies include daily taking 1,200 mg of calcium and the recommended levels of magnesium and vitamin E. Also try natural progesterone creme. You can take the medicines every day or the week before PMS usually begins and see results, Byerly said.
If symptoms are really unpleasant and other therapies won’t work, you can try selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, SSRIs, or antidepressants. Taking birth control pills is another option that may lessen symptoms.
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