Tired of dealing with and just barely surviving PMS every month?
Whether you’re a teenager or a mother of a teenager, you don’t have to just survive and get by with the various symptoms of PMS that you consistently suffer with during the week-two weeks before your period comes.
What is pre-menstrual syndrome?
PMS is a hormonal disorder which recurs monthly anytime during the two weeks before the menstrual cycle and subsides once the period has begun or slightly afterward.
What are the symptoms?
There are over 150 different symptoms but the most common are grouped as physical, emotional and mental.
Physical symptoms include:
- headaches
- breast tenderness
- weight gain
- bloating
- fatigue
- constipation
- appetite changes with carb cravings
Emotional symptoms can range from:
- sadness to anger
- uncontrollable irritability and anxiety
- loneliness and depression
Mental changes include:
- difficulty with concentration
- forgetfulness
- difficulty sleeping well during this time
What can I DO about my PMS?
- Avoid caffeine and alcohol
- Try eating 6 small meals a day to avoid blood sugar changes
- Even though you might crave carbs, avoid refined sugar which otherwise makes bloating and swelling worse
- Eat more cruciferous vegetables. These vegetables contain substances called indole-e-carbinol or DIM that help the body metabolize estrogen in a more effective way.
- Drink 60-80 ounces of water daily
- Move your body even if for 20-30 minutes daily to reduce stress and improve mood
- There are specific supplements like Vitamins A, E, B that treat PMS naturally. Talk to a physician who focuses in natural, integrative treatments
- Have your hormones tested to see if there is an imbalance between estrogen and progesterone. If there is an imbalance, there are many herbal therapies that can be helpful.
- Treatment with bio-identical natural hormone therapy may be helpful in certain situations.
For more information about working with your PMS or other issues, contact Dr. Kaufman at Kaufman Health and Hormone Center in Louisville.
