PMS - From Young to Old
PMS is an umbrella term used to describe a large number of symptoms women may experience during the premenstrual part of their monthly cycles. While all women undergo monthly hormonal changes that can cause various premenstrual symptoms, some women do not experience these symptoms. PMS is a set of symptoms related to your menstrual cycle. Most women experience these symptoms in the week before their period.
PMS is easy to understand if we think of the hormonal changes the woman’s body undergoes every month. As we ovulate, in the middle of the cycle, exactly 15 days before our next period, the levels of estrogen and progesterone we make peak. PMS is a sign that needs you to pay attention. Remember if the warning light goes on in your car you would not want to just pull the fuse out, you would want to understand why that light was going on and fix whatever the problem that light was warning you about.
PMS is related to hormonal fluctuations in the second half of the menstrual cycle. One common feature of women with PMS is higher-than-normal levels of a hormone known as prolactin which is secreted by the pituitary gland at the base of the brain.
PMS is part of the life cycle — not just a ‘female’ problem. From a girl’s first period, PMS is one of the most common complaints amongst females younger than 40 years of age. A female menstruates approximately 500 times in her life time, which is related to the number of eggs she can produce during that time. PMS is a troublesome combination of physical and emotional distresses and typically occurs during the luteal phase of menstruation.
PMS is known to amplify other underlying challenges such as clinical depression, anxiety disorders, paranoia and even rare psychotic experiences. Mitral valve prolapse (a mild heart condition characterized by irregular heart beats, chest pains and anxiety) is common among women with PMS, and these responses are often exacerbated during PMS time.
Premenstrual syndrome, also known as the notorious PMS, is a recurrent, yet variable cluster of uncomfortable physical and emotional symptoms that occur 1-2 weeks prior to the onset of the menstrual period. Fortunately, many symptoms of PMS typically subside when menstrual bleeding begins.
