Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder
Friday, May 2, 2008

Do your spouse and co-workers note that your mood changes before your period? Dr Ken Davis discusses a possible diagnosis in today’s 60 Second Housecall.

Almost 75 percent of women of childbearing age have some form of premenstrual symptoms. Two to 10 percent have Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder or PMDD.

These symptoms of PMDD begin 10 to 14 days before your period and improve when your period starts.

The symptoms of PMDD include:

• Trouble sleeping
• Sadness and crying
• Feeling nervous, anxious, and irritable
• Being quick to anger
• Strong cravings for certain foods
• Problems paying attention and concentrating
• Fatigue, and
• Physical symptoms such as breast tenderness, headaches, joint or muscle pain, and bloating

Keep a log of these symptoms. Every day rate each on a one to 10 scale. If there is a clear cyclic nature to your symptoms, you may have PMDD.  Treatment may considerably improve life for you as well as those around you. Take this symptom log to your physician for counseling and treatment.

For North Mississippi Medical Center, I’m Dr. Ken Davis.