How to Manage PMS Symptoms Before and During Period?

It is normal to feel discomfort during your period and a lot of women can relate with. Some experience mood swings, some suffer cramping and back pain, others have to go through it all. We understand your pain and we’re here to help.

Enjoy this quick read to explore ways to prevent, minimize, and cope with PMS symptoms. You discover tips like taking multivitamins, drinking herbal teas, and more for fighting fatigue during that time of the month. Keep scrolling!

Learn About Its Symptoms and Causes

Women who menstruate experience symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) that roughly start around a week or two before period and last 3 to 4 days of the period. It happens to the hormonal functions throughout the menstrual cycle.

Research suggests that in women the female hormones progesterone and estrogen begin to fall after mid-cycle which can affect the brain chemicals such as serotonin and dopamine. These chemical changes affect moods and lead some women to feel more depressed, anxious, and sad than others. The symptoms of PMS can also affect physical health and lead to:

• Bloating
• Sleepiness
• Body ache
• Food cravings
• Irritability
• Breast tenderness
• Moodiness

These symptoms go back to normal after the period as the estrogen and progesterone levels start to rise.

Management Tips

Here are some of the tips to manage the symptoms of PMS and what you might call period blues. Take a look:

• Take foods that improve progesterone and estrogen levels in the body such as nuts, avocados, flax seeds, berries, dark chocolates, etc. 
• To alleviate depressive mood, take natural antidepressants like vitamin C and B12. These can be easily taken via multi-vitamin tablets from pharmacy stores after a doctor’s consultation. 
• Hormonal contraceptives can be recommended by your health consultant for management of painful PMS symptoms.
• Drink herbal tea to soothe your nervous system and calm your mind. Your options like chamomile tea, hibiscus tea, peppermint tea, oolong tea, etc.
• Get plenty of sleep and do deep-breathing exercises to reduce mental stress.
• Do mild exercises like stretching and gentle yoga exercises to improve, focus, mood, and energy.
• Reduce muscle soreness with easy-to-consume protein-rich foods. Due to the low peanut butter price, this butter can be an affordable and healthy option for your muscle health.
• Replace unhealthy snacks with homemade shakes, smoothies, and natural sweeteners like jaggery.

In A Nutshell

Experiencing discomfort such as bloating, cramps, and mood swings during the period is common for many women and is referred to as premenstrual syndrome (PMS). This happens due to the fluctuation of estrogen and progesterone levels in the body. Alleviate PMS symptoms by practicing self-care, consuming a well-balanced diet, taking antidepressant, and more. Consult a doctor if the PMS symptoms are causing a lot of emotional and physical discomfort.