ARE YOU IGNORING PMS?  WHAT IS YOUR BODY TRYING TO TELL YOU? If you are unsure of this question ladies, ask another member of your family.  Despite current beliefs, PMS is not normal.  Premenstrual syndrome or premenstrual tension and its myriad of symptoms is your body talking to you, telling you that your hormones are not in balance. So what is the definition of PMS.  It is the most common (but not OK just because its is common) of all female hormone related disorders.  It is defined as the emotional and physical symptoms that occur from 1 and 14 days before menstruation occurs. There are 5 categories. See which one/s you may identify with.  Some women are a mix of 2 or more categories. Are you a PMS – A type which stands for ANXIETY Symptom check list (now be truthful or get a family member to help you out!) -irritability, nervous tension, insomnia, anxiety and mood swings (anyone reading this identify with black moods that you just cant shake and your know you are being a cow and just can’t stop being horrid). What causes these symptoms – research suggests that women with this range of symptoms have a relative excess of oestrogen and are low in progesterone.  More specifically this type of imbalance is often caused by poor liver clearance of oestrogen, so it recycles and hence the heightened levels.  Low progesterone can be attributed in some cases due to anovulatory cycles or faulty progesterone receptors. Are you a PMS – C type which stands for CRAVINGS Symptom check list. -craving for sweets, chocolate and carbohydrates, increased appetite, feelings off fatigue, and low blood sugar, get dizzy or feel faint, experience headaches that make you feel disconnected and sometimes experience heart palpitations. What causes these symptoms – this category is often experienced in conjunction with other types, especially type A (anxiety). Low levels of prostaglandins. Deficiencies in magnesium (chocolate cravings as its high in magnesium).  Poor digestion and poor carbohydrate metabolism and low blood sugar levels are all significant indicators. Are you a PMS – D type which stands for DEPRESSION Symptom check list -You find yourself withdrawing from others and show a tendency towards feeling low in mood and depressed, become really forgetful, cry easily and often over something small or nothing at all, feel muddled and confused and suffer from insomnia. What causes these symptoms – its believed that these symptoms are due to a deficiency in oestrogen  and an increase in progesterone during the luteal or second half of a cycle.  Another contribution factor can be a reduction in serotonin levels. Are you a PMS – H type which stands for HYPER HYDRATION Symptom check list – breast tenderness, bloating around the abdomen, water retention and weight gain.  Some women explain it as if someone has blown them up, sometimes a whole dress /jean size. What causes these symptoms – these symptoms are all about fluid retention.  This is prompted by an increase in aldosterone which is created by low progesterone and high oestrogen levels.  Magnesium is often depleted and potassium levels are  often out of balance.  In addition serotonin and or dopamine are not in balance and stress if often a player in this picture as well.  For women who experience the breast tenderness, this is attributed to imbalances in prolactin. Are you a PMS – P type which stand for PAIN Symptom check list – an increased sensitivity to aches and pains, lowered pain threshold, cramping and headaches What causes these symptoms – research shows that an increase in inflammatory series II prostaglandins caused by raised oestrogen levels and and high intake of animal fats. So do you suffer from these symptoms and have been ignoring them.  You don’t have to suffer, correcting the imbalance means no more PMS.  For those of you in the peri-menopause phase (ie leading towards menopause, so anyone from 40ish onwards!!!) if you suffer from PMS, you are more likely to suffer with heightened menopause symptoms.  So sort your PMS out and you are more likely to breeze through menopause.