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PMS Magnification - Symptoms and How it Aggravates Other Conditions

PMS symptoms are often viewed as a regular part of the entire menstrual cycle and most women experience it off and on during their viable reproductive years. Some people do not have significant hormonal changes during the cycle so symptoms of PMS may be light or not occur at all. However, when the symptoms interfere with your routine and affect several areas of your life, chances are your hormones are fluctuating wildly.

It is important to note that women differ in the symptoms they experience and at different intensity levels as well. In addition, a woman may experience the symptoms one month and then nothing the next month. For others, the appearance of cramping and food cravings arrives like clockwork between ovulation and the start of the period. There are over 150 notable symptoms that are linked now with premenstrual syndrome. Here is a sampling of some of the more frequent ones:

* Skin breakouts

* Food cravings

* Fluid retention and bloating

* Constipation or diarrhea

* Breast tenderness and possible nipple discharge

* Low libido

* Insomnia or increased sleepiness

* General aches and pains such as abdominal cramping

* Emotional fluctuations like depression, anxiety, paranoia, mood swings, decrese in mental acuity and irritability

Doctors define PMS symptoms by the time they typically occur, between ovulation, the release of a mature egg by the ovaries to the start of menstrual cycle bleeding. Some women can experience a week of symptoms while others one experience a day or two. The pattern of symptoms and intensity of PMS may fluctuate too.

Because PMS is caused by an erratic acting endocrine system, the glands in the body that secrete chemicals and hormones, it is quite possible that other conditions can become exacerbated because of this. These health issues are usually worse during those days between ovulation and the first day of the period. Some conditions that can be a problem during PMS are:

* Any psychiatric disorder such as anorexia, bulimia, depression, manic depression, anxiety issues and panic disorders.

* Migraine headaches

* Seizure problems like epilepsy

* Irritable bowel syndrome aka IBS

* Pelvic concerns like endometriosis

* Allergies

* Any kind of glandular disease or dysfunction like diabetes

It is also possible that some of the conditions listed above could be the cause of the PMS symptoms rather than the other way around. The female body is quite unique and the whole hormonal biological workings are still somewhat of a mystery. Any health problem has the power to alter the production of certain body chemicals or even how it is absorbed and used in the body. For this reason, doctors can only treat the symptoms of PMS or its more severe form PMDD with a variety of medical or prescription drug treatments.

There is no surgery and no cure for PMS, although in extreme cases where relief cannot be obtained, removal of the ovaries and uterus may be done. No doctor wants to resort to these tactics but what can a woman do when the symptoms are so severe that her life is severely and negatively impacted. This, of course, is a drastic scenario that unfortunately does happen. If a pre-existing condition exists as well as PMS symptoms, study the condition and learn the ins and outs of it. It could be a simple matter of increasing or decreasing a certain medication which creates a domino effect in your body and alters the likelihood of certain PMS symptoms.