Premenstrual syndrome or PMS is actually a cluster of symptoms that occur two to ten days before menstruation. These symptoms vary, but mostly mood swings, depression, breast tenderness, bloating, or even night sweats. Sometimes women get severe mood changes, and that can be then redefined as premenstrual dysphoric disorder, which is called PMDD. That requires intervention and often these women are prescribed SSRIs.

Premenstrual syndrome or PMS is actually a cluster of symptoms that occur two to ten days before menstruation. These symptoms vary, but mostly mood swings, depression, breast tenderness, bloating, or even night sweats. Sometimes women get severe mood changes, and that can be then redefined as premenstrual dysphoric disorder, which is called PMDD.

That requires intervention and often these women are prescribed SSRIs. Often seeing a local family physician or a physiotherapist in conjunction with a registered dietitian and athletic therapist is a great option to take control of this condition. Smart Food Now and exercise is also optominal for overall health.    

However, for general PMS, women can often do a lot on their own. There’s a lot of lifestyle modifications that they can do at home and one of the big things is stress management techniques such as meditation and relaxation.

Taking vitamins such as B6 is very important, evening of primrose oil has also been shown to be very effective both for breast tenderness and for moods. There are also ways that you can modify your diet so that you’re not using a lot of caffeine or alcohol which can also alleviate some of the symptoms.

Keeping a perimenopause diary or premenstrual diary is a very effective way to monitor your own symptoms. Seeing your local Family Physician can often be a good place to start with treatment for PMS – Pre-Menstrual Syndrome .  Souvent, consulter un médecin de famille local ou un physiothérapeute en collaboration avec un diététiste et un thérapeute du sport est une excellente option pour prendre le contrôle de cette condition. Les traitements peuvent varier selon le patient et selon le médecin, alors encore une fois, prenez rendez-vous et parlez-en à votre médecinà Montréal et à Québec.

If the symptoms are severe, you do require your physician to do an assessment and sometimes a referral to a PMS clinic is required for the severe cases.    Often seeing a local family physician or a physiotherapist in conjunction with a registered dietitian and athletic therapist is a great option to take control of this condition. Smart Food Now and exercise is also optominal for overall health. 

Presenter: Dr. Bal Pawa, Family Doctor, Vancouver, BC

Now Health Network Local Practitioners: Family Doctor