{"id":1874,"date":"2018-06-13T05:22:16","date_gmt":"2018-06-13T05:22:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/?p=1874"},"modified":"2021-05-17T19:16:32","modified_gmt":"2021-05-17T19:16:32","slug":"10-most-frequent-pms-symptoms","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.io\/10-most-frequent-pms-symptoms\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Most Frequent PMS Symptoms"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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PMS is short for post-menstrual syndrome, and it\u2019s something that you can expect most women to experience during their lifetime. It happens to everyone, though most women don\u2019t spot the symptoms of PMS for what they are \u2013 leading to much wasted time at doctors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Just how prevalent is PMS? It\u2019s estimated that approximately 85% of women in the United States experience PMS during their fertile years \u2013 and let\u2019s not forget that there are many women who experience early-onset menopause symptoms earlier on in life, too. It\u2019s a normal aspect of life that most women will inevitably go through, but that doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s going to be fun. Would you be able to spot the symptoms of PMS if they were happening to you? Here are the ten most frequent symptoms of PMS and what you can do to make life a little easier when you have to deal with them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Hot Flushes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Hot flashes<\/a> are the symptom that most people associate with PMS. Most people experience this as a hot and stuffy feeling that has little to do with the external temperature \u2013 and while most people associate this symptom with PMS when they hear of it, most people don\u2019t think that they might be going through PMS themselves when it happens to them. Hot flushes are easy to identify.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If it feels like you\u2019re spending summer in Hell and nothing seems to do the trick, then eliminate a fever first. If there\u2019s anything left after that, then it\u2019s likely that it\u2019s hot flushes. This is because your hormones and blood flow are being affected when you are going through PMS. This discomfort is usually easy to correct: Hormone treatments can make things a lot easier on you, and for the other times, get a handheld fan or just invest in some ice packs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Mood Changes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

PMS <\/a>is characterised by sudden, often very drastic mood changes that occur with no apparent trigger. You can go from happy to sad to depressed to manic, and this is particularly a shock for people who have gone their entire lives without experiencing as much as a hint of mood fluctuations \u2013 at least not of the sort that they might now. You can rest assured that mood changes are a completely normal part of going through PMS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It happens because your hormone levels are changing and trying to adjust themselves to a new phase of your life, and often correcting the hormone levels is more than enough to make sure that the mood changes are less severe. If not, you can also ask your doctor to prescribe a basic mood stabilizer or antidepressant to deal with your symptoms for when you experience more severe bouts of mood swings or depression.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Diet Changes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Diet<\/a> changes can be a symptom of PMS, too: We\u2019re not just talking about the fact that you might have to change to a healthier, fresher diet when you\u2019re going through PMS. We mean that your diet is bound to change anyway. Have you been experiencing any type of weird food cravings lately? Listen to them and find the nutrient behind the craving \u2013 your body is usually trying to tell you that you are in need of this particular nutrient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you crave burned toast, you likely need to either have your blood pressure looked at or take carbon supplements. Almost every craving has a nutritional root: And if you get to the bottom of it, then you\u2019ll be able to put a stop to the craving at the same time. Drastic diet changes and cravings just happen because your body is changing: It\u2019s the same when you\u2019re pregnant.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Period Changes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Of course, the most obvious period-related symptom of PMS is the fact that your periods will stop: Everyone knows that women will eventually cease to experience their menstrual cycle<\/a>. But that\u2019s not necessarily a symptom of PMS as it is an end result. The truth is that right before you are set to go through PMS and while you are actively experiencing it, your period will change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take note of your period cycles and any changes in frequency or flow. Changes like a skipped period can happen because of plenty of reasons, including stress, but it can also point to PMS or early-onset PMS, so consult with your doctor to rule out the different causes that your period might be changing: There are times where it might not be PMS, but things like a changing or heavy flow could point to more serious health problems like endometriosis or internal bleeding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Gastrointestinal Issues<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Gastrointestinal issues is an umbrella term that refers to your entire digestion system: This can mean sudden issues with your stomach <\/a>or gut that you didn\u2019t experience before, and all of them can be attributed to the hormones and the changes that your body is going through as you undergo PMS. In most cases, the worst of gastrointestinal most people will experience is limited to some bloating \u2013 and maybe some stomach upsets from time to time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But there can also be other symptoms that also fall under the umbrella of gastrointestinal, including inexplicable bouts of nausea. Again, this is all hormonal \u2013 though you might also find relief from taking over the counter medication to relieve the individual symptoms. Sometimes, though not always, heartburn can also become characteristic when you are going through PMS: And this can cut out foods that you used to love. Just make some small diet changes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Appetite<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The symptoms that you could experience with PMS can be twofold: You might experience either an increase in appetite or a total decline, and which of the two you go through is a completely individual experience. Sometimes your appetite will be affect only by cravings for specific things \u2013 like overly sweet or salty. Like we\u2019ve already mentioned, when you are craving something, this only means that your body is trying to tell you to replace vitamins or minerals lost: Listen to your cravings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Appetite <\/a>changes can best be tackled by finding healthy things you like to eat if your appetite has declined: The same is true if you have a constant urge to snack. A dietician can usually help you to outline a proper diet plan that meets all of your nutritional needs. Supplements are also a very useful addition \u2013 necessary when your body is in need of a boost.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Insomnia<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are some people who experience insomnia <\/a>for most of their lives and can eventually get by on very little sleep \u2013 or manage to find something that puts them to sleep, be it sleeping medication or warm milk before bed. But for most people, insomnia is not a normal part of their life \u2013 and they\u2019ll be pretty surprised when they suddenly can\u2019t sleep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For extreme cases, we\u2019d recommend a visit to your doctor or a sleep clinic to rule out other causes and find something that will help: Serious insomnia can eventually affect every part of your life, and it can even be dangerous to get too little sleep. Many times insomnia strikes as part of PMS, and in that case simple sleeping medication should be enough to get you back to a normal sleeping routine: Hormone treatment, generally prescribed anyway, should also help to take care of your insomnia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Weight Changes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

PMS doesn\u2019t just affect your appetite and gut health, the onset of PMS might also have a drastic effect on your metabolism <\/a>and your weight. Again, this is a symptom that\u2019s experienced differently by different people, and some people will experience sudden weight gain while others will experience sudden weight loss. Both cases mean that you should make an appointment with a medical expert to make sure that it\u2019s not anything more serious causing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And when it\u2019s PMS, then it should be easy enough to treat with hormone treatments and a few changes to your diet: In the case of weight loss, increase your intake of healthy fats; in the case of weight gain, exercise more and cut out any unhealthy things \u2013 or foods high in hormones, like pork or chicken. Yes, there are many foods that can make your hormonal imbalance during PMS feel and seem much worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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9. Acne<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes the symptoms of PMS can make people go through the same symptoms they did when they were going through puberty \u2013 it is, after all, the same hormones causing these changes in your body even though it\u2019s a different phase of your life. One of these symptoms is acne<\/a>. Even if you\u2019ve never had acne as a teenager, it can suddenly manifest when you are going through PMS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t wash your face to the point of obsession and don\u2019t use much more than simple soap and water: This can only strip your skin of valuable bacteria, making the problem worse. There are a couple of factors that can cause or aggravate acne \u2013 a huge part of these are dietary, so if you have a food-related trigger, cutting it out of your diet should be enough to keep acne at bay. Make-up can also be an aggravating factor for serious outbreaks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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10. Depression<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve already talked about the mood changes that you can experience as a symptom of PMS, but depression <\/a>can be such a severe symptom that it deserves to be written about as a separate point. The hormonal and chemical fluctuations that you go through during PMS can easily change your overall mood or temperament, and it\u2019s easy for it to switch over to depression: The overwhelming feeling of despair.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One should always take depression seriously, even if you consider it only to be a temporary symptom of something else. This can affect every aspect of your life from your personal life to your career \u2013 and it\u2019s advised that you get yourself to a doctor immediately. Simple antidepressants can be enough to take care of the symptoms of depression, and if it\u2019s more severe your doctor can point you in the direction of the right psychiatrist before the problem becomes bigger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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11. Anxiety and Tension<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Your period may bring on feelings of tension and anxiety<\/a>, as your hormones start to shift. Our hormones govern every biological and neurological process in our body. Disruption in their normal function leads to the development of a variety of physiological and psychological conditions. Anxiety occurs due to the increase in the hormone cortisol, which is the hormone responsible for the fight-or-flight response. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When cortisol production gets out of control, it floods the body with adrenaline-like hormones that keep your mind and body at full alertness. While this is fantastic if you were a human living ten thousand years ago, when predators are looking to feast on you and your family, it\u2019s not so great in today\u2019s technological world. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Increases in cortisol lead to insomnia and anxiety, leaving your feeling frazzled. The tension created by the influx of cortisol affects your mind and body, leading to the development of headaches and migraines, as well as night sweats and feelings of nervousness.<\/span><\/wp-block><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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12. Crying Spells<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Hormones <\/a>play with our mind. The increase in progesterone and estrogen during your menstrual cycle can leave you feeling like a different person. Many women notice that they start to experience feelings of irritation and frustration as levels of these hormones continue to rise. When these levels peak, some women find that they become an emotional mess, and they\u2019re prone to outbursts of crying and sobbing. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Increases in estrogen are also responsible for the development of depression. However, most of these symptoms dissipate after the menstrual cycle ends. If you find that you still receive feelings of depression, anxiety, and nervousness after your period ends, you may be dealing with the onset of an autoimmune disorder. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Make an appointment with your doctor \u2013 they\u2019ll take your blood and analyze it to see the state of your hormone profile. If they find an abnormality, they may treat it using hormone replacement therapy drugs.<\/span><\/wp-block><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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13. Bloating and Inflammation<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Changes to the levels of estrogen and progesterone induce bloating <\/a>during the days around your period. You may notice that you gain a few pounds on the bathroom scale, as your body holds onto more water than usual. Estrogen acts as a protective agent, drawing more water into your body to protect the reproductive organs in the body from shock. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, the body cannot move additional water to a specific area, and as a result, it uniformly spreads the water accumulation through muscles and tissues. As a result, you may find your face looks a little puffy, your breast swell, and your thighs seem thicker than usual. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

All of these symptoms start to dissipate after your period passes, and you can expect to return to normal in a day or so as the body flushes out the additional fluids through your urine. Bloating can be a psychological blow during your fragile emotional state, so it’s important to realize that it will pass.<\/span><\/wp-block><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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14. Fatigue<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Shifts in hormone production around the time of your period can lead to extreme feelings of fatigue <\/a>and lethargy. Estrogen acts as a sedative on the body, causing you to slow down. This natural defense mechanism prevents you from doing anything extreme during the days around your period. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This symptom affects every woman differently, with some barely noticing any signs of tiredness, while others may struggle to get out of bed in the morning. If you struggle with your fatigue symptoms, try drinking an extra cup of coffee, or pull yourself together and go for a workout at the gym. Exercising is an excellent way to deal with the symptoms of fatigue. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you workout, you elevate your heart rate \u2013 improving circulation, and lifting the signs of fatigue. If your tiredness does not go away the day after your period ends, you may be dealing with an underlying health issue, such as an autoimmune disorder, like adrenal fatigue. Arrange a consultation with your doctor for a diagnosis of your condition.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n

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