PMS Treatment
PMS treatment is rightly ‘sought-after’ because the symptoms can really be annoying.
There is no single ‘cure’ to completely treat PMS. However, PMS
remedies now exist that target specific symptoms to provide relief.
Much
is being said and suggested about effective options. Remember that not
every suggestion you may encounter has a scientific basis.
I
will present below a brief review of the PMS treatment options which
are available today with or without scientific evidence of efficacy,
with tips to guide you into using them. Remember that though evidence
might not exist for some, they actually seem to help other women.
But first, remember to seek medical attention in these three situations
- Symptoms
persist after about 2 to 3 days of the onset of your period. Each
woman should know her cycle and know when the symptoms go beyond normal
duration. It could be something other than PMS. - Symptoms more severe than normal with serious impact require medical evaluation.
- Just
to mention again than PMS cure need only come after you are certain you
actually have PMS. Consult your Doctor if there is any doubt.
Home Self-care
Less that 35% of women with PMS usually seeks medical therapy. Of
course no doctor expects her to come every month! Home care is an
important part PMS relief because most women will not show up at the
doctor’s office. All that is necessary is that you identify options that
are not only effective but also save.
In using home care, it is
important to note that you are different and therefore may not respond
to the treatment options that worked for a friend or relative. The key
is to identify what works for you.
General Measures
I
often advise women to apply these measures because not only they safe
for the most part but they are part of just keeping healthy lifestyle.
No one will penalize you for developing healthy habits!
These measures include
- Exercise.Regular
exercise has been shown in some studies to improve symptoms for some
women. Besides, it is a healthy habit and therefore highly recommended.
It may also significantly reduces stress. - Diet for PMS. What
you eat can affect the severity of your PMS symptoms. You may therefore
want to avoid foods that trigger your symptoms and consume those that
may provide some reliefYou should avoid or at least reduce salt,
caffeine, alcohol, chocolate and simple sugars. Eat more of fruits,
vegetables, milk, complex carbohydrates and low-fat diet. - PMS Supplements. Recent
research has shown that calcium, magnesium, vitamin B6 and vitamin may
provide benefit for a wide array of PMS symptoms. Supplementing calcium
with diet especially or supplements when necessary is especially
recommended for most women as calcium was suggested to be partly
responsible for PMS symptoms in some women. - Herbs for PMS. Herbs
have been used as part of PMS treatment efforts. They are not advisable
to be used alone or as a first line treatment option. Of all the
herbs, chaste tree berry is the one that has recieved the most
scientific evaluation and seems to be most beneficial. Others include
evening primerose oil, black cohosh, St John’s wort and others. - Psychological support. Psychosocial
support from family, friends or your healthcare provider is a very
important part of the treatment. If you suffer from it and apparently
has no one at home to offer such help, find out what support groups
exist in the community.
Medications
Over-the-counter
anti-inflammatory medications are very good for controlling symptoms
such as cramps, bloating, breast tenderness and headache. These
medications are also those used for menstrual cramps relief.
Medical care
Several medications may be used by the physician in treatment one or more PMS symptoms, including
- Prescription anti-inflammatory when over-the-counter drugs are not longer effective
- Hormones.
Hormones like leuprolide and naferelin suppress ovulation and can
provide be effective PMS treatment drugs. Danazole counteracts the
action of female hormones and can help relief symptoms. It however can
have serious side effects. - Some antidepressants
drugs increase the levels of serotonin and are effective in treating
mood symptoms like depression and anxiety. - Diuretics or the ‘water pills’ significantly help reduce the weight gain, breast swelling, and bloating associated with PMS.
Surgery
When things are out of control, surgery may be performed to relief
symptoms especially for older women. This will be suggested by the
physician whenever it is a possible option.
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