Health Blurbs

Do you experience PMS? And does your PMS symptoms of depression, irritability and tension prior to menstruation seem more severe than those of other women? Then you may have premenstrual dysphoric disorder, or PMDD. It’s essentially a severe form of PMS.

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder is marked by an assortment of symptoms that occur after ovulation and before menstruation. These PMDD symptoms can be so severe that they literally interfere with your ability to function. And they subside once your period starts.

What causes PMDD’s severe PMS symptoms is not precisely known. But it’s believed the disorder involves neurotransmitters in your brain abnormally responding to the natural cyclic fluctuations of estrogen and progesterone female hormones.

Although seasonal affective disorder, depression, anxiety and extreme stress are some health conditions that can coincide with premenstrual dysphoric disorder, they are not considered to be involved in its causation. Nor has vitamin or other nutritional deficiencies been shown to be causative for PMDD.

However, all these health related conditions might play a part in the severity of your symptoms. Also, these other factors that may play a symptomatic role as well:

• family history
• alcohol abuse
• lack of exercise
• too much caffeine

The symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder parallel those of PMS, but they’re more severe or intense. PMDD symptoms vary widely, yet some of the more common ones are:

• acne
• fatigue
• nausea
• backache
• hot flashes
• weight gain
• poor judgment
• muscle spasms
• irritability, anger
• heart palpitations
• flu-like symptoms
• breast tenderness
• recurrent cold sores
• headaches, dizziness
• joint pain, muscle pain
• depression, disinterest
• constipation or diarrhea
• ankles, hands, feet edema
• anxiety, panic attacks, tension
• abdomen swelling, bloating, gas
• certain food cravings, binge eating
• overwhelmed, out of control feeling
• lack of appetite, increased appetite
• abdominal pain, cramps, heaviness
• trouble sleeping, sleeping too much
• gastrointestinal probleem, stomach upset
• sadness, hopelessness, suicidal thoughts
• mood swings, oversensitivity, crying spells
• confusion, difficulty concentrating, forgetfulness

Again, many women experience several of these PMS symptoms on a monthly basis. What sets PMDD apart is symptom severity, and for some they’re to a life crippling extent.

So what’s a girl to do. Well, one angle for treatment starts at home. You can help yourself by:

• exercising regularly
• setting a lifestyle tone conducive for adequate rest
• decreasing your salt, sugar, alcohol, caffeine intake
• consuming a diet rich in plant based foods & whole grains

For your headache, backache, menstrual cramping and breast tenderness you may find relief in taking OTC pain relievers, like aspirin or ibuprofen.

Additionally, limited studies have shown a reduction in PMS and PMDD symptoms via dietary supplementation of calcium, magnesium, vitamin B6 and vitamin E. Never know, may work for you.

Some prescription drug treatments you might want to try to discover if they have a positive effect on diminishing your symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder include:

• SSRIs antidepressants
• diuretics ~ useful for fluid retention
• oral contraceptives that suppress ovulation
• GnRH agonists ~ inhibit pituitary gland produced regulatory hormones which results in condition similar to menopause
• danazol ~ creates high androgen & low estrogen hormonal level which interferes with ovulation & ovarian estrogen production

Some of these drug have side effects that could prove to be more annoying than the PMDD symptoms themselves.

• About Postpartum After Childbirth Symptoms, Postpartum Depression, Baby Blues Signs
• Infertility: Male, Female Infertility Cause(s), Fertility Problems and Infertility Treatment(s)
• Amenorrhea Missed Period, No Menstrual Period Causes, Primary, Secondary Amenorrhea Treatment
• Pregnancy Symptoms, Signs of Pregnancy, Early Signs of Pregnancy Symptoms are Hormones Cause