Premenstrual syndrome is an array of symptoms which women usually experience around and during their menstrual cycle.
Women experience a lot of strange symptoms, some of which you might not even know are affiliated with your time of the month.
Here are some PMS symptoms you might not know about and how to curb them.
1. Cramps in your stomach and back
These are quite common and are experienced by a lot of women, some more extreme than others. Menstrual cramps can be agonizing! You do not want to underplay the amount of pain we are describing. This happens because the uterus contracts itself to shed its walls. Back pain caused by PMS is usually muscular and is caused by hormonal changes in the body.
Drinking ginger tea and using a hot compress like a hot water bottle can help alleviate these symptoms. There are also various painkillers you can take, talk to a pharmacist for the best recommendation.
2. Gastrointestinal symptoms (Diarrhea, Constipation, Bloating, Nausea etc.)
Gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms simply refer to ailments that are related to the digestive system. We know you are wondering what menstruation has to do with your digestive system. In order to make your uterus contract to shed its walls, the body produces hormones called prostaglandins which cause your intestines to contract as well. This is what causes the GI symptoms that women so commonly experience during their period. Treatment depends on the symptom.
Most women get bloated, try certain yoga poses and drinking peppermint tea to reduce bloating. Nausea can be curbed by eating/drinking ginger, peppermint and lemon. Aromatherapy is also helpful.
3. Headaches
Headaches that are caused by menstruation are called ‘Hormonal Headaches’. They occur because of the fluctuation of estrogen and progesterone in the body. These changes affect neurotransmitters such as serotonin in your brain, causing a headache.
The best way to alleviate this is to stay hydrated. If it persists, you can ask a clinician to prescribe a painkiller for you.
4. Increased body temperature
Have you ever felt hot and sweaty on your period despite everyone else saying the weather is normal? The fluctuation of estrogen throughout the cycle causes changes in body temperature. Your body temperature can rise by up to an entire degree when menstruating. It may not seem like a lot but this might make you feel hot and sweaty when you’re on your time of the month. Women with low estrogen can even experience night sweats and hot flashes.
Managing heat can be done with a fan and wearing light and comfortable clothes.
5. Insomnia and Hypersomnia
Being unable to sleep while menstruating is a common symptom and can be owed to many reasons. Pain, discomfort and higher body temperature all affect being able to bring yourself to sleep. On the other hand, hormonal fluctuations can cause hypersomnia which means constantly feeling sleepy despite not having an underlying disease.
To combat insomnia on your menses, consider having a cold shower or cooling your room before you sleep and drinking chamomile tea. Hypersomnia is hard to get over; we advise you to give in and take a nap or have a cup of coffee.
6. Mood swings
Being moody while menstruating is a symptom that has been patronized by men. Has a man ever asked you if it is your time of the month when you were upset with them? For this reason, women do not acknowledge the moodiness they experience at different times in the cycle due to hormonal changes, but they really do take a toll on us. Some women are easily triggered to cry and/or become irritable and that is perfectly fine.
Managing your moodiness is done through long-term lifestyle changes like stress management, nutrition, exercise as well as getting enough sleep.
7. Breast Tenderness
Also known as, cyclical mastalgia, it’s what happens when your breasts swell and feel sore during menstruation. This happens because of the hormones estrogen and progesterone. Estrogen causes your breast ducts to enlarge while progesterone causes the milk glands to swell. This is what makes your breasts hurt.
To alleviate these symptoms, you can use a hot compress, wear a comfortable bra or none at all and take painkillers such as ibuprofen which also fights menstrual cramps and back pain.