What Are the Causes and Symptoms of Premenstrual Tension?

QUESTION: Do you have any material about premenstrual tension? I think there
are a lot of husbands in your audience who could use a bit more information
than they now have.
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ANSWER: The causes of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) are not fully understood.
Many researchers believe the wide ranging symptoms that often occur in the ten
days before a woman menstruates are caused by an imbalance between estrogen
and progesterone during the second half of the menstrual cycle. Another
school of thought is that PMS is associated with a salt imbalance in the body,
resulting in the accumulation of water in the tissues just before
menstruation. Others think nutritional factors play a role. Many doctors
believe a combination of these factors are responsible for PMS, and that's why
the problem manifests itself with such variety among different women.
Some of the common symptoms of PMS include tension, irritability,
depression, anxiety, fatigue, difficulty in concentrating, abdominal cramps,
headache, backache, muscle spasms, breast tenderness, weight gain, swelling of
the joints, especially in the fingers and ankles, bloating, abdominal
heaviness, nausea, constipation and pelvic discomfort. Experts estimate the
condition affects 70 percent to 90 percent of women at some point during their
childbearing years. Few women suffer from all of the symptoms I've mentioned,
and for many, the symptoms and their severity vary from month to month. There
are a variety of ways to manage PMS. Many doctors recommend a change in diet
a week to ten days before a woman expects her period. It often helps to
eliminate caffeine, sugar and salt, as this can help reduce tension,
irritability, bloating and painful swelling breasts. To fight the depression
and fatigue associated with the syndrome, some suggest dividing food intake
into 3 small meals a day, plus 3 high protein snacks. A regular exercise
program can help cut down on water retention and ease premenstrual tension.
Vitamins, especially vitamin B6, are often recommended.
There are several over-the-counter drugs made specifically for relieving
the symptoms of PMS. Aspirin and acetaminophen can be helpful, and in some
cases, a diuretic (water pill) might be prescribed.