PREMENSTRUAL SYNDROME

(PMS) group of physical and emotional symptoms that occur in women before the onset of menstruation and that are characteristically cyclical in nature. These symptoms generally begin from 7 to 14 days before menstruation and end within 24 hours after menstruation has begun. The medical condition, termed premenstrual syndrome by British physician Katharina Dalton in the 1950s, has only been studied since about the 1930s. In 1985 biologists working in Kenya found that premenstrual female baboons were subject to a similar phenomenon; the premenstrual baboons were observed to withdraw from social contact and to spend a much greater percentage of time up in the trees feeding. Among the 40 percent of human females believed to suffer from PMS, the types of symptoms and the degree of their severity vary markedly. In about 10 percent of those affected, the syndrome appears in a relatively severe form. Physical symptoms may include headache, cramps, backache, bloating, constipation or diarrhea, and a number of related disorders. Emotional symptoms range from irritability, lethargy, and rapid mood swings to hostility, confusion, aggression, and severe depression. Though they are the major subject of current research, the causes of PMS are not yet established. The most widely accepted theories centre on hormonal changes (the rapid fluctuation of levels of estrogen and progesterone in the bloodstream), nutritional deficiencies (particularly in regard to the vitamins-notably B vitamins-that affect nerve transmission in the brain), and stress (which has been shown to be a factor in the severity of symptoms). Many researchers suspect that fluctuations of chemical transmitters in the brain are largely responsible. For purposes of treatment, a chart that records the nature and date of occurrence of an individual's symptoms can aid diagnosis. The major method of treatment for most cases of PMS involves some combination of regular physical exercise, avoidance of stress, and nutritional therapy. Restriction of sodium intake, avoidance of xanthines-found in coffee, tea, chocolate, and cola-and a diet that is high in protein and complex carbohydrates are a few of the dietary measures that can be taken to alleviate or reduce much of the physical discomfort. More severe cases may require drug therapy (including the use of analgesics, diuretics, antidepressants, and sedatives) and psychotherapy to aid stress management.