THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF PMS
Estimates of the number of women with PMS vary widely. Studies around the world have produced figures ranging from 40 to 95 per cent.
But what is clear is that PMS is not the same for everybody. Symptoms range from mild to severe, says Dr Diana Saunders from the University of Oxford in England. She puts women into three categories:
- Mild PMS affects 75-90 per cent of women at some time in their life. For these women PMS is not a debilitating condition. They can carry on with their normal routine, at work or at home, without major problems. They may simply feel more tired than usual, or a bit 'down in the mouth' or irritable.
- Serious pms affects around 10 per cent of women. They find the monthly round of PMS symptoms too much to cope with and need help.
- Severe pms affects up to 3 per cent of women. In these cases PMS symptoms are so severe and distressing that they wreak havoc.
Pigeonholing pms. Some pms researchers group women according to their type of symptoms. The UK-based Women's Nutritional Advisory Service uses the following system:
- Type A Is for anxiety symptoms - nervous tension, irritability and mood swings.
- Type H is for hydration symptoms - bloating and water retention.
- Type D is for depression ~ uncontrolled crying, feeling down in the mouth or sad, feeling confused, even suicidal.
- Type C is for cravings - wanting sugary foods, feeling weak and dizzy if you don't eat them.
As many women can fall into two or even three categories this classification is not widely used.
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Womens health
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PUBERTY
All of a sudden, strange things start to happen to our young Miss as she begins to grow up.
It can commence anywhere from nine years of age onwards. In recent years, for reasons unknown, it seems to be commencing at a younger and younger age in western lands. No doubt it is tied up with today's sophisticated way of living, earlier psychological development and earlier mental stimulation, all of which play a potent part. It is referred to as puberty.
Suddenly the system starts to develop potent chemicals, called sex hormones, and these have a rapid and far-reaching effect on many parts of the system.
Suddenly breast development commences. The unnoticed, flat, pinkish nipples become more marked, rounded and protrude as they rapidly increase in size. This is most noticeable between the ages of 8 and 15. Pubic hair commences to grow, this becoming obvious in the 8-14 age group at any time. Underarm hair also makes an appearance.
Menstrual periods make a tentative start, and anywhere from 10 to 161?2 years they will become more and more regular. There is usually a dramatic increase in height; this is called a 'height spurt' and takes place in the 9-141?2 age bracket.
The skinny, school-age child is transformed within a few short years into a modern young woman of vastly different appearance and shape. Most tend to put on weight, but there is an alteration of the system's fat deposits, giving the body the characteristic female curves which tend to remain for life. In brief, Nature has transformed her into an adult, with the physical and psychological issues that this involves.
But although the ages quoted are 'averages', the range is enormous and varied. Many develop sexually at an early age. Others are late developers, and often they may reach the age of 18 or 20 before some of the typical secondary sexual characteristics (as the doctors say) have appeared. This is especially so in regard to breast development.
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Womens health
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