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PMS Causes and Cures

While the exact causes of PMS (premenstrual syndrome) are unknown, the reported symptoms have remained virtually unchanged for decades. PMS is experienced by women of child-bearing age and symptoms include emotional, physical and psychological disruptions. Here we will evaluate what is happening in the body during a bout of PMS and how you might use vitamins and supplements to ease the severity of the symptoms.

PMS seems to occur when estrogen levels drop. In a normal menstrual cycle, estrogen levels slowly rise until about two weeks before menstruation. Then, they sharply fall until menstruation begins. During this two weeks, many women experience anxiety, fatigue, headaches, mood swings, fluid retention, insomnia and depression.

There seems to be a link with the drop in estrogen and production of the mood, appetite and sleep regulating hormone, serotonin. While there is no medical proof that low serotonin levels result in PMS, the symptoms are consistent with low levels of serotonin. Additionally, we know that estrogen keeps serotonin from breaking down and the two normally work together in the body to regulate mood and cognition.

Treatment for PMS revolves around treating the symptoms. Your doctor may recommend drugs for depression, therapy, dietary changes and exercise to ease symptoms. In addition, you may find supplementing with certain vitamins helpful. Talk to your doctor about the proper dosages before you buy vitamins.

Many studies have been done to determine which vitamins and minerals are most helpful in relieving PMS symptoms. There is substantial proof that taking calcium, vitamin D, magnesium, vitamin B6 and vitamin C can ease symptoms, each in a different way.

Calcium supplements can relieve all PMS symptoms except fatigue and insomnia. Almost all women that suffer from PMS are calcium deficient. It can take up to three months of supplementing to correct the imbalance, so be patient and take your supplements regularly.

Calcium works in three ways. The nervous system, muscular system and the hormonal systems all require a certain amount of calcium to function properly. When estrogen levels drop, the demand for calcium is increased. The body takes the calcium that it needs from the bones.

The calcium that is taken from bone is very hard for the body to use and it is believed that a lot of the fatigue associated with PMS is attributed to the body’s concentration on processing the bone calcium. Low calcium levels cause muscle cramps and spasms. Nerve impulse transmission is also affected. Additionally, low estrogen levels make the absorption of calcium more difficult.

Vitamin D can also be taken to increase absorption of calcium. Magnesium is also proven to greatly reduce PMS symptoms by working with estrogen to reduce stress, water retention, and relax muscles. Magnesium combined with vitamin B-6 also can relieve anxiety.

Many women suffer heavy menstrual bleeding, which can lead to anemia through iron loss. Vitamin C has a significant impact on iron absorption and can help with fatigue. Heavy bleeding is generally caused by weak and fragile blood vessels. They leak as inflammation increases and can make menstruation more painful, exhausting and even dangerous. Vitamin C taken daily reduces heavy bleeding by strengthening blood vessels and reducing inflammation. If vitamin C is not well tolerated by your stomach, try a buffered vitamin C powder.

Talk with your doctor about treating your PMS with vitamins and supplements before you buy vitamins. It is important to be sure that your symptoms are caused by PMS and not another underlying condition.

About the Author: Phil Le Breton is owner at Wholesale Nutrition. He has a strong interest in helping people achieve greater brain and body health with vitamins and supplements. Wholesale Nutrition has the best vitamin C Powder on the market (C-Salts). Visit http://www.nutri.com to buy vitamins or buy supplements of the highest quality.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/women’s-health-articles/pms-causes-and-cures-1356259.html

Vitamins and Supplements: Managing Menopause

The metabolic changes that occur during menopause need to be considered when determining a woman’s daily requirement of vitamins and supplements. Certain vitamins and supplements can help to curb the symptoms of menopause, but also may help to reduce other health risks, like heart attack, stroke, and metabolic syndrome, that increase at the onset of menopause.

The most common symptom of menopause is hot flashes. Over three-fourths of women experience them. During a hot flash, the body’s core temperature rises. The woman’s body seems to be more sensitive to even slight temperature changes during menopause. The temperature change can cause the skin to suddenly become flush and women report sweating profusely. An episode can last several minutes and can occur multiple times a day. Most women overcome hot flashes naturally after one to five years, but some women continue to experience them for the rest of their lives.

Some women successfully manage hot flashes by taking estrogen, but the side effects can bothersome or even dangerous. Side effects, such as an increased risk of stroke, heart attack, and dementia shy many women away from treating menopause symptoms with estrogen, especially since the risk of heart attack and stroke are already increased by the menopausal phase itself.

Cholesterol increases at the onset of menopause, which contributes to many of the risks that are associated with menopause. Certain vitamins and supplements help with controlling cholesterol levels and can greatly reduce your risk of developing these diseases.

Soluble fiber can drastically reduce LDL (bad cholesterol) levels by as much as 20% when consumed through diet or through supplement form. Omega-3 fatty acids, like DHA and EPA, can greatly reduce triglycerides. Vitamin B-5 (pantothenic acid) helps the body use and distribute the estrogen that it is making. Vitamin E has been shown to reduce hot flashes by as much as 50% in many studies. Niacin helps raise HDL (good cholesterol) and lower LDL levels. It is especially effective when combined with vitamin C.

Vitamin C helps many vitamins and supplements to move through glucose, increasing their effectiveness, especially in diabetics. Vitamin C also works with CoQ10 (coenzyme Q10) to produce collagen and elastin needed to repair and strengthen arterial walls, reducing plaque in the heart and the other risks associated with heart disease and menopause. Cholesterol medications can disrupt the production of CoQ10, so ask your doctor about supplementing if you are taking them.

Hot flashes disrupt sleep and interrupt the lives of menopausal women. But, they also deplete the body of vitamin C. During menopause, hormone production switches over from the ovaries to the adrenal glands. Higher levels of vitamin C are necessary for the support and function of the adrenal glands, but most menopausal women do not have enough vitamin C in their diets or supplement regimens to support this need.

If you are menopausal or post-menopausal, talk to your doctor about which vitamins and supplements may help you with your symptoms. When you buy vitamins, remember that your need for vitamin C can be much higher than the normal daily recommendation.

To curb stomach upset, damage to teeth, excipient intake, sugar consumption, and expenses, consider taking a buffered vitamin C powder supplement instead of a chewable vitamin C. You should talk to your doctor before you buy vitamins. Ask about drug interactions and safe dosages for your situation before you begin your regimen.

About the Author: Phil Le Breton is owner at Wholesale Nutrition. He has a strong interest in helping people achieve greater brain and body health with vitamins and supplements. Wholesale Nutrition has the best vitamin C Powder on the market (C-Salts). Visit http://www.nutri.com to buy vitamins or buy supplements of the highest quality.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/women’s-health-articles/vitamins-and-supplements-managing-menopause-1356277.html

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