Men may complain about many things, but the fact is if they have half the problems women have, and they should count their lucky stars how fortunate they are. They are lucky they don't need to experience two of the most painful things women go through: the first one is childbirth, where for nine months, they have to endure changes both in body and emotions. The second one is something far more common; 90% of women don't have any choice but to experience it: the dreaded PMS.

PMS is the shortened form of premenstrual syndrome. It is a condition characterized by different symptoms—physical, emotional and psychological—that come during the woman's menstrual cycle. During this time, a woman can have mood swings, food cravings, fatigue, irritability, and pain that feels infernal, and which affects their daily activities. Men whose girlfriends are suffering from PMS are often looked upon with sympathetic eyes by their fellow guys. After all, it's been said that a woman with PMS is like a nuclear bomb just waiting to explode.

Perfectly Miserable Syndrome

The cause of PMS is not fully known. There are women who only experience mild PMS that lasts for just a day, while there are others who seem to experience all of the discomforts and pain of full blown PMS, lasting for as long as a week or two. There are several factors that contribute to PMS. One important cause is the cyclic changes in the woman's hormones, since the signs and symptoms of premenstrual syndrome are observed to change with fluctuations in hormones. They disappear when a woman is pregnant or is in menopause.

Another factor seems to be chemical changes in the brain. Fluctuations of a brain chemical called serotonin that plays a crucial role in the mood of a person could trigger the symptoms familiar in PMS. For example, insufficient amounts of it may lead to premenstrual depression as well as some more familiar PMS symptoms such as food craving, fatigue and problems sleeping.

Lastly, low levels of vitamins and minerals are linked to some PMS symptoms. An abundance of salty food can cause retention of fluid, and drinking alcohol and caffeine can cause disturbance in mood and energy levels.

Practically Many Symptoms

PMS is characterized by many symptoms. According to some experts, there are about 200 symptoms for PMS, all of which affect women in different combinations and intensities. While it is a given that no one will experience all 200 of the symptoms, the most common symptoms women often get include:

• anxiety and tension
• depression
• mood swings and irritability
• changes in appetite, specifically a craving for food
• insomnia and sleep problems
• headache
• breast tenderness
• bloating
• pain

The physical pain and emotional stress can sometimes be so debilitating as to affect a woman's daily functions and routine. Most times though, these symptoms disappear after the woman starts her menstrual period. However, there are some women who experience what experts call premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). PMDD is a severe form of PMS—essentially, PMS on steroids. Women with this condition experience severe depression, feelings of anger, hopelessness, irritability and tension.

Getting Rid Of PMS

If you're experiencing PMS, then you know that it's just a matter of holding on until you get to your menstrual period, after which it will hopefully go away. In the meantime, here are some tips that will hopefully help alleviate or reduce the severity of the symptoms.

• Eat a balanced and healthy diet. In order to reduce bloating and the sensation of fullness, eat smaller, but more frequent meals. You can follow the food pyramid guidelines but be sure to limit the intake of salt and sugar because they contribute to bloating as well as dizziness. Avoid caffeine and alcohol. Caffeine increases anxiety and breast tenderness, while alcohol messes with your moods and can increase fatigue.
  
  

  Choose foods that are rich in calcium. Fruits and vegetables also contain complex carbohydrates that provide energy and may actually cause your brain to produce serotonin. Finally, take vitamin supplements daily.

• Get plenty of exercise. Exercise is recommended even if you don't have PMS, but when you do, exercise becomes a very valuable method in combating some of its symptoms. Even regular aerobics exercise or a 30 minute brisk walk or jog can give you a surplus of energy during the day and help you sleep better at night. Exercise also prods our brain to release endorphins that can give feelings of calmness and pleasure, as well as ward off physical pain. If that's not all, exercise will even help you tone your body.
• Take medications to help ease your symptoms. Medications, especially painkillers, can help make your PMS discomfort bearable. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, taken before the onset of your period can help reduce cramping pains and breast discomfort by reducing inflammation. If you're depressed, antidepressants can help in alleviating this.
  
  

  Just remember that before you take any of these medications, consult your doctor.

• Reduce stress. You don't need any more problems to add to your existing PMS conditions, so make sure to reduce any stress you have, either from work or at home. Hormone fluctuations during PMS can amplify the effects of stress and this can exacerbate your current condition.

PMS is hellish and is not a pleasant experience at all. Add to this the fact that women have to contend with it every month. Hardly the weaker sex at all.

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