Friday, April 2, 2010

The diagnosis of PMS .

depends on the timing of symptoms in each menstrual cycle, and not on the symptoms themselves. It is the timing of these symptoms that determine whether you have PMS. The symptoms will occur on a regular basis, beginning after ovulation, and ceasing with menses.

The only positive method of diagnosis is the simple method of recording the symptoms and the dates of menstruation on a menstrual chart for a three month period. Symptoms scattered about the chart with no discernable pattern indicate that factors other than PMS are affecting the woman. Symptoms clustered before menstruation indicate PMS, however, most women know intuitively when they have PMS.

Increased demands on their time, negative changes in their diet and nutrition, increasing stress, and lack of proper exercise, leave women struggling to balance their lives. The harsh reality of the modern-day woman’s life is one of constant physical and emotional wear and tear.

The woman’s carefully synchronized body is out of equilibrium and she is out of touch with her true emotions. Devoured, and often not much appreciated in the balance, many women feel a sense of living on the brink.

PMS in most women is brought on by a combination of diet, stress, vitamin and especially mineral deficiency.

Premenstrual syndrome PMS.

PMS for the majority of women is brought on by a combination of diet, stress, vitamin and especially mineral deficiency. Certain physical and psychological symptoms recur regularly at the same phase of each menstrual cycle. PMS symptoms begin after ovulation, often intensifying as menstruation approaches. Symptoms cease with the onset of menstruation, or bleeding.

Every woman with PMS suffers a different set of physical and emotional symptoms. Symptoms and their intensity vary from woman to woman, and from month to month, making each PMS sufferer unique. Listed below are the major, but by no means all, of the symptoms most often reported.

Women who experience PMS .

As women, our bodies go through a cycle every 28 days, during which the body's ultimate objective is to become pregnant. According to the laws of nature, our objective is to keep the human race moving forward. Unfortunately for many of us, moving forward is not part of the monthly plan. Premenstrual syndrome(PMS) is a collection of symptoms that negatively affect millions of women each month.

Check out these PMS facts for a real eye- opening look at this all too common phenomenon:

- 90% of all women experience some of the painful and uncomfortable symptoms of PMS

- 40% of women are affected by PMS to a degree that interferes with their daily lives.

- As many as eight out of 100 women experience a more severe form of PMS called premenstrual dysphoric disorder or PMDD

- Women who experience PMS have a wide range of different symptoms, making the condition difficult to treat medically.

- More than 1,000 medical conditions have been tied to PMS ranging from mood swings to anemia and pre- mature aging.

- PMS often causes depression in women with a family history of depression.

- Even women who experience no harmful, physical effects from PMS place a long- term, monthly strain on their bodies. PMS is hard on a woman's body month after month.

- PMS is more likely to occur in women between their late 20s and early 40s, though the symptoms can appear in women of any age who still get their periods each month.

This syndrome is more likely to occur in woman with at least one child, though again, the symptoms may appear in women of all childbearing ages including young teen girls.

Though difficult, sometimes painful and even debilitating for some women, PMS is common and simply a part of the nature and physiology of the female body.

To take control PMS patterns.

Premenstrual syndrome also known as PMS is a disorder due to changes in your hormonal balance that cause unwanted symptoms to women all over the world. Out of about 40million women who suffer from PMS about 5million require medical attention due to mood and behavioral changed, as well as severe pain.

It is important for women to take control of understanding her PMS patterns. Also learning about what's happening within her body is important as well. Only then can she realistically evaluate their effects on her life and make informed decisions about management.

Symptoms are both physical and emotional. Your time of month may range from warning sign free to uncontrollable emotions and pains. You may feel the same symptoms every month, or new ones can occur month after month.

Physical symptoms may include headache, fluid retention, constipation, abdominal cramping, joint pain, and slight weight gain. When we women say, "I feel like I am going crazy" this is true. When PMS strikes and your hormones change you have emotional attacks. These attacks can include anxiety, depression, irritability, lack of coordination, and even poor work ethic.

PMS starts at puberty which can vary in females. Your period usually regulates it self and stays the same month to month. There are many factors that can change your cycle. After pregnancy, if you start some type of birth control, have a hysterectomy or tubal ligation, start menopause, or have an abortion your menstrual cycle will be thrown off. After this you may notice new symptoms or lose them.

Doctors are not 100% sure what causes PMS, or why some women have severe pains and emotions and why women have none. They believe it has to do with how much estrogen is in your body. The estrogen hormone begins to rise during your menstrual cycle, peaks at mid ovulation and falls at the end of your menstrual cycle.

Some females may gain weight while on their cycle. This is because estrogen holds fluid and then comes fluid retention, creating water weight. When the estrogen levels lower you will loose the weight. This is where the bloated feeling comes from.

Exercising is helpful for premenstrual syndrome because it acts as a mood elevator, reduces stress and tension, and improves blood circulation by increasing natural production of beta endorphins as well as provides a sense of happiness. Many physicians recommend exercising about 3 times a week for approximately 20 minutes. This doesn't have to be an extensive workout. Doing aerobics, walking riding your bike, swimming, and walking are the most suggested ways to exercise.

Also taking an all natural supplement can control your hormones. Vitamin B has been known to help with side effects on PMS symptoms. In taking about 1,200 mg of calcium everyday will help with cramping when it comes time for your period. B6, Vitamin E and essential fatty acids help as well. Try the product Femasooth it is designed to rejuvenate the hormone balance as well as provide relief, anxiety, cramps, fatigue and bloating. Containing all of the all natural supplements and many of these important vitamins there is no other way to go.

Natural treatment for PMDD and severe PMS .

can be administered by a holistic or medical doctor. The exact cause of PMDD and severe PMS is not known, however, several theories have been proposed. One theory states that women with PMDD react to the normal fluctuations of hormone levels of estrogen and progesterone with a decreased level of serotonin levels in the brain. Evaluating the levels of serotonin, dopamine, norepinephrine and GABA levels to gain data of what levels are. Doctors taking a medical history try to identify if the following symptoms are present, indicating PMDD or severe PMS:

during a year's time, during most menstrual cycles, five or more of the following symptoms must be present:

- depressed mood
- anger or irritability
- moodiness
- difficulty in concentrating
- increased appetite
- insomnia or hypersomnia
- feeling overwhelmed or out of control
- symptoms that inhibit occupational, social or physical functioning

Natural Treatment for PMDD and severe PMS - Natural Treatments

To successfully achieve relief with natural treatment for PMDD and severe PMS it is necessary to understand some things about the menstrual cycle. The luteal phase of the menstrual cycle begins on Day 14, after ovulation occurs and continues until Day 1 of your next period. A small study done at UCLA (Rasgon et al, 1999) tested L-tryptophan in women who suffered from PMS and found that even at high levels of tryptophan in the blood stream a the uptake of L-tryptophan decreased during the luteal phase. L-tryptophan is the precursor (needed to produce the calming hormone, serotonin). Women who suffer from PMDD and severe PMS seem to have a more difficult time processing certain amino acids (animal proteins) at that time.

This is the reasoning behind limiting animal protein during the highest levels of estrogen and progesterone. Researchers point to the possibility of enzymatic differences between women with PMDD and PMS and those who don't suffer.

The saturated fat and cholesterol in meat and fatty dairy products tend to raise blood levels of all sex hormones, in particular estrogen, adversely affecting symptoms of PMS. These bad fats contribute to the production of the pain hormone prostaglandin. Prostaglandins are known to increase menstrual cramps and pain. Another important reason to avoid saturated and trans-fats. Read all labels of packaged foods, avoid any food that contains hydrogenated oils or partially hydrogenated oils. There are "good" fats that should be consummed

The good fats:

- Canola Oil
- Olive Oil
- Flaxseed oil and Flaxseed meal
- Fatty Fish and Fish oil

Natural Treatment for PMDD and severe PMS - Medicinal Treatments

PMDD and severe PMS is sometimes treated with bioidentical natural progesterone in suppository or tablet form. You can choose between brand name formulas, such as Prometrium, or custom-compounded USP (bioidentical) progesterone from specialty pharmacies. Women taking progesterone should have their hormone levels checked every three to six months to ensure that the progesterone is not being converted into estrogen. Other women find that they respond well to different birth control pills.

Certain antidepression medication can also alleviate the symptoms of PMDD and severe PMS or at least lessen them. The latest trend in PMDD treatment is prescribed selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors (SSRI's). Research does show relief from many symptoms but if the causes of PMS symptoms are nutritionally related, the nutrient deficiency could be masked. If drug therapy loses effectiveness, nutritional factors could be the reason.

The ebook offered below gives all the facts and information you should know to relieve your PMDD. See the link below to access the book; Womens Health - PMDD & PMS Treatment/Advice Ebook.

Why suffer each month with PMS or PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder) when natural treatment for PMDD and severe PMS is available. Get all the facts and treatments for PMDD and severe PMS by reading the following ebook, available at the following website, Severe PMS. Your time is too valuable to be out of commission a a week out of every month. This book can solve the problems and symptoms of PMDD and severe PMS.

PMDD .

It seems there is very little information available about PMDD treatment options. For years, many women were simply told that they have more severe cases of PMS and would just have a battle through it. Finally, after years of knowing this was not the case, there is new medical information that can help diagnose PMDD in women.

But, this was just the first step in a long process to find relief. In general, PMDD can be diagnosed if there are multiple severe symptoms of PMS at any given time. Commonly, if you exhibit three or more of the symptoms of PMS at any one time, chances are you have PMDD. Symptoms generally include the following:


Severe headache (almost migraine or cluster type headaches)
Overwhelming depression for more than a day
Uncontrollable mood swings lasting several days
Excessive tenderness in your breast
Swelling of your breast
Loss of appetite or excessive appetite swings
Crying
Any other PMS type symptom
PMDD is an actual disease and treatment options are being developed. If you have PMDD, then you know that normal over the counter medications are not working to help with your symptoms. Finding a solution on managing the problem more effectively is a priority.

Not only is the strain of this problem evident on you, but it can certainly affect those close to you. Friends, family, spouses and co workers will all be impacted as you sometimes can not control your feelings or depression. Happening on a monthly basis, this can be a serious problem.

Getting help treating PMDD may seem like an impossible task. Recently, I discovered a new book that talks in detail on the many triggers of PMDD, and how to manage your condition do reduce and eliminate your symptoms. This information is has been extremely helpful. You can get more details here: Treatment for PMDD.

First symptoms of menopause .

Since, the first symptoms of menopause may appear years before actual menopause (which is when a woman has not had a menstrual period for 12 consecutive months) alternative treatments may be the best choice.

Menopause signs, symptoms and conditions that may appear up to ten years before actual menopause include:

Irregular periods

The first symptoms of menopause that usually appear are changes in menstrual periods. These may be normal, but it is important to see your doctor regularly and report things like; heavy bleeding, periods that last several days longer or are more frequent than what you are accustomed to, and spotting between periods or after sex.

Herbs that help to correct hormonal imbalances, including black cohosh, red clover and sarsaparilla, may help regulate and normalize periods. Black cohosh is one highly recommended alternative menopause treatment.



Mood swings, Depression, Anxiety

These emotional difficulties may be menopause signs/symptoms related to changing hormonal levels. They could be symptoms of pre-menstrual syndrome if they occur in the last two weeks before a period. They can be caused by changing life situations or life events that cause cumulative stress. When mood swings, depression or anxiety affect your quality of life or your relationships, you should see your doctor, counselor or psychologist.

If you have had suicidal thoughts, do not delay. An alternative menopause treatment that addresses emotional difficulties is 5-HTP. Used by the body to create serotonin, which regulates sleep, mood and sexuality, small amounts of 5-HTP are found in turkey and other foods and is an ingredient in some health supplements. Because, the action of 5-HTP is similar to prescription antidepressants, they should not be taken together, without consulting your doctor.

Increased symptoms of PMS, fatigue, breast tenderness

Fatigue and breast tenderness are some of the first symptoms of menopause, but are also symptoms of PMS, which (not to be repetitive) can be one of the first symptoms of menopause. Women who have never suffered from PMS sometimes start to see symptoms in their thirties.

As with all of the other menopause signs/symptoms, other conditions should be ruled out, before assuming that you are suffering from PMS. The symptoms of PMS are believed to be caused by decreased levels of estrogen. Sometimes recommended as an alternative menopause treatment, phytoestrogens found in soy and red clover can help relieve the symptoms of PMS. Phytoestrogens are plant components that have an estrogen-like effect on the body.

Decreased sex drive, vaginal dryness, painful intercourse

The majority of women report a decreased sex drive as one of the first symptoms of menopause, but some women notice an increase in sex drive. Depending largely on whether or not vaginal dryness causes pain during intercourse. Other changes in a woman’s body can cause discomfort during sex at this time and normal monthly changes of the cervix can cause pain in certain positions. Painful intercourse should always be reported to your doctor to rule out other causes.

Tribulus terrestris is among the herbs recommended to increase sex drive, by regulating hormonal levels. Vaginal dryness can be relieved by using K-Y jelly or lotions. Among the newest varieties are ones that "heat up" when applied and ones with pleasant fragrances. Changing positions can be more comfortable and more fun.



Urine leakage or urgency

Most women consider it a part of getting older, but this is one of the more embarrassing first symptoms of menopause. It can be related to other conditions, but is usually caused by decreased levels of estrogen in the body. An alternative menopause treatment that addresses this symptom is Kegel exercise, which strengthens the pelvic muscles.

Other things that you can do include; losing weight if you are heavy, limiting caffeinated beverages, avoiding artificial sweeteners and train the bladder to gradually hold more urine (waiting longer before you go).

Hot flashes

You feel hot, for no reason. You may sweat more than usual. You may have red blotches on your face, neck and chest. Caused by changing estrogen levels (isn’t everything), these may not be the first symptoms of menopause that you notice, but they are some of the more easily recognizable ones. Black cohosh is an alternative menopause treatment that has been shown in numerous studies to effectively relieve these symptoms.

Night sweats

These are the same as hot flashes only that happen in bed at night and may wake you up, interrupting your sleep and possibly leading to the next symptom.

Insomnia

Difficulty sleeping may be caused by night sweats or many of the other menopause signs/symptoms. Though not recognized by many health care professionals as such, an alternative menopause treatment that addresses this symptom is 5-HTP, previously mentioned, it can improve the quality of sleep.

Not all women experience all of these menopause signs/symptoms and there are others that are not mentioned here, including headaches, body aches, joint pain and migraines. If you seek help when you notice the first symptoms of menopause, then you may be more comfortable throughout these years. If conventional menopause treatment does not appeal to you, you are not alone. Many women, me included, seek alternative solutions.

The best product that I have found is Female Rejuvenator by the Xtend Life Natural Products Company. It contains 5-HTP, black cohosh, red clover, tribulus terrestris and other minerals and herbs designed specifically to relieve symptoms of menopause and PMS.