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- What are Anorexia and Bulimia?
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- PMS: a guide for irritable, tired, bloated teens!
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Article: - PMS: a guide for irritable, tired, bloated teens!

PMS (also known as PMT) is something which affects loads of teenage girls. In fact, around 80% of the female population are thought to have it to some degree, with around 30% saying that it significantly affects their life and 5 to 10% having really severe symptoms. Women of all ages can suffer from PMS as long as they are having periods. So we better stop dreading it and work out a way to deal with it.

PMS stands for premenstrual syndrome, whilst PMT stands for premenstrual tension. They are both pretty much the same thing: the physical and emotional changes which you go through in the time leading up to your period.

Some girls will only be affected for a couple of days a month, whilst others have to put up with it for around a fortnight. However, what everyone with PMS has in common is the sudden drop off in symptoms when their period starts.

What are the symptoms?

The main symptoms of PMS include:

-   Irritability and mood swings (how many of you have blamed an argument on that time of the month and managed to get your own way and get some sympathy too – the only upside of periods really!)
-   Loss of confidence (Ever thought it could be because of your period??)
-   Feeling down
-   Poor concentration
-   Tiredness (again great to use to get out of helping with the washing up)
-   Bloating (and it always happens just when there is the party, or the night out...)
-   Weight gain
-   Swollen ankles
-   Headaches
-   Breast tenderness

As you can see, some of these are to do with the mind, such as irritability and feeling down, whilst others are physical effects, such as bloating. Despite the fact that emotional problems are a big part of PMS, it is officially classed as a physical disorder.

What causes PMS?

Scientists aren’t sure what causes PMS but it seems that it is to do with some of the hormones which are released when you are coming up to that time of the month. However, it isn’t to do with the levels of hormones released, as girls who get PMS have the same levels as those who don’t. Instead, it has been suggested that some girls are just more sensitive to these hormones, and that is what causes the PMS.

Can I do anything about it?

PMS can be a real problem for teens who have more severe symptoms, as it can be disruptive in all aspects of life; with your friends, family and at school. It is only natural to want to do something about it and as PMS hangs about as long as you are having periods, it’s a good idea to find a way to help sort it!

Quite a few people with bad PMS have found that their symptoms can be eased by changing their eating habits. Read our tips for easing PMS.

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