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Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Premenstrual Tension

Almost all women experience some symptoms before they begin their period. These symptoms are called premenstrual syndrome, or PMS. It is estimated that 20 percent of women have these emotional or physical changes. In a few women, it will severely affect their work, family, or lifestyle.

The main emotional symptoms may include:

• crying spells

• depression

• fatigue

• difficulty thinking or forgetfulness

• feeling irritable or sensitive and

• lack of interest in activities

The main physical signs include:

• abdominal bloating

• acne

• breast tenderness

• headache

• food cravings and

• fluid retention and swelling

PMS is related to hormone changes. There are ways to limit its effect on you. Daily exercise and limiting caffeine and salt may help decrease the symptoms. Over-the-counter drugs, like naproxen or ibuprofen, may be helpful. Sometimes just taking a warm bath, listening to some soothing music, or some other relaxing activity can help.

If you have symptoms in spite of these treatments, you should seek medical care. Before seeing your healthcare provider, keep a diary of your symptoms. Use a rating system, such as one to ten, with ten being most severe, to record how severe that day's problems were. This will help your provider figure out just what is wrong.

Helpful medications may include:

• mild diuretics

• hormone therapy or

• antidepressant drugs

PMS is a frustrating problem for many women and their families. You do not need to deal with this by yourself. To learn more about PMS, visit your local library or bookstore for helpful books and articles.

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