Teen PMS often overlooked

Premenstrual syndrome, or PMS, is a condition that affects women, young and old, who are still of childbearing years. A recent report indicates that PMS is common in young girls, and their symptoms are similar to those reported by older women. The study suggests that the commonly accepted myth that adolescents suffer more from dysmenorrhea, or menstrual cramps and pain, and older women suffer more from PMS is not true. The 6- month study has a subject pool of 94 girls, aged 13 to 18 years, who kept a Daily Symptom Report. Thirty-one percent of the girls had self-reported and confirmed PMS, while 54% had self-reported PMS but not confirmed PMS, and 15% reported no PMS.

At the present time, researchers estimate that up to 80% of menstruating women under the age of 20 experience some signs and symptoms of premenstrual syndrome. Unfortunately, these symptoms are often ignored, because of the girl’s age and because the mood swings, irritability and anxiety are attributed to the emotional and physical changes of adolescence, instead of being diagnosed as premenstrual syndrome.

Parents and educators often reason that a teenager’s mood swings are due to hormonal changes, and will assume that a depressed teenage girl is going through a normal stage of life. However, if you are experiencing a pattern of depression, physical discomfort or disruptive behavior that declines or disappears when menses begins, you may actually be experiencing premenstrual syndrome.

Teenage girls who experienced premenstrual syndrome will also find that their behavior affects their relationship with family and friends as well. Parents of teens with PMS report increased tension in the home and a deterioration of family relationships during the daughters weeks prior to menstruation. Other symptoms such as fatigue, insomnia and lack of focus can also negatively impact your educational and after school activities.

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder, or PMDD, is a severe form of premenstrual syndrome that affects not only women but also teenage girls. Approximately 5 to 10% of women who experience PMS also experience premenstrual dysphoric disorder. If you believe you may fall into this category you should seek medical advice because treatment is available and there is no reason to suffer in silence. What’s more, prolong depression or aggressive behavior in teenage girls can be symptoms of other more serious underlying conditions than just premenstrual syndrome. Not treating the underlying medical condition can have significant negative consequences for your future health.

Other signs and symptoms of premenstrual disorder in teenagers includes bloating and weight gain, tension, anxiety or crying spells, depression, breast tenderness, fruit cravings, joint or muscle pain and nausea or vomiting. Other symptoms include headaches, trouble with concentration and fatigue.

Fortunately, there are actions you can take to alleviate or avoid the symptoms of PMS. One thing is to eat correctly. While it may take several months for some results to be noticeable, the sooner any preventive actions are taken the sooner you will see any differences in your symptoms. It is suggested that you eat more frequently but eat smaller portions, take calcium supplements of at least 1200 mg per day, 200 mg of magnesium per day and eat plenty of fruits and vegetables as well as whole grains products. It’s important that you cut out salt, caffeine and alcohol from your diet, as these items will increase your irritability and breast tenderness.

Exercise is an important addition for any successful treatment of premenstrual syndrome. Aerobic exercise of 20 to 30 minutes three times a week will help to boost your overall health and well being and can reduce the feelings of fatigue, depression and moodiness.

If you think you may be suffering from premenstrual syndrome, keeping a record of your symptoms, or a Daily Symptom Report will help your doctor make an accurate diagnosis of your PMS and to prescript the best treatment for you. In your diary keep records of what the symptoms are, when the symptoms occur and for how long, when the symptoms go away, and on a scale of one to 10 how the symptoms make you feel.

Although most women and young girls with PMS will likely experience some symptoms as long as they continue to have normal menstruation periods, researchers believe that even severe form of teenage PMS may improve with time as a girl’s menstrual cycle because more regular.