For women going through PMS, it can feel like a battle. Whenever that time of the month approaches, countless women suddenly find themselves betrayed by their bodies. Although PMS symptoms can’t be cured by the usual medicine for headache and fever, there’s a lot that women can do to minimize the pain and discomfort.
But first, what exactly is Premenstrual syndrome, or PMS? According to medical experts, it’s a set of both physical and emotional symptoms that manifests around 5-10 days before the menstrual period begins. Although it usually goes away a few days after the menstrual period ends, PMS can wreak havoc on a usually sane woman’s life. If you suffer from PMS, here are a few helpful hints that could help you survive the war that is Premenstrual syndrome.
Keep a Calendar
First, it would help if you keep a calendar where you can plot out the different symptoms you experience leading to your period. This way, it will be easier for you to keep track of the flow (pardon the pun) and allow you to make the necessary lifestyle adjustments.
Watch what you Eat
During this time, it would also benefit you a lot to follow a strict diet of complex carbohydrates and fruits and vegetables. A high fat diet can throw off your hormonal balance, so if you want to minimize any emotional flare ups, it would be best if you avoided food with high fat and salt content. Excessive alcohol consumption is also strongly discouraged during this time as it is known to lower serotonin levels in the body that can lead to mood swings.
Get your Groove on
We know that exercise is the last thing on your mind when you have PMS, but it can be an effective means to reduce tension and improve your overall well being. Taking a moderate dance class is a great way to forget about your PMS troubles, and increase your endorphins at the same time.
Know your Supplements
You should also try to be more vigilant in taking your daily dose of natural supplements to make up for the loss of vitamins and minerals during your period. Calcium and magnesium from food supplements can help reduce food cravings and improve moods, while St. John’s wort can help treat mild to moderate depression.
Go for Over the Counter Help
For fast relief, you can always count on over the counter medicines to help you combat PMS. If you’re looking for an effective pain reliever, Ibuprofen can help reduce all sorts of pain like headaches, muscle pain, and those dreaded cramps. Feeling bloated and fluid retention is getting your down? Then taking mild diuretics can get your body back into order. Just make sure to consult a doctor when in doubt.
Take a Breather
Last but not the least, don’t forget to breathe. As long as you follow the tips above, you’ll be able to overcome the nasty effects of PMS in no time.
Have any tried and tested tips that you would like to share on how you yourself overcome PMS? Let us know in the comments section below. We would love to hear from you.