Women’s Health

Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) and Nutrition

Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) is a disorder that affect many women during the one to two weeks before menstruation begins.

Symptoms can include any or all of the following: abdominal bloating, acne, anxiety, backache, breast swelling and tenderness, cramps, depression, food cravings, fainting spells, fatigue, headaches, insomnia, joint pain, nervousness, skin eruptions, water retention, and personality changes such as drastic mood swings, outbursts of anger, violence, and, sometimes, even thoughts of suicide.

Hemorrhoids

Hemorrhoids are swollen veins around the anus and in the rectum (the very lowest portion of the colon) that may protrude from the anus.

The word hemorrhoid comes from hemo, which is Greek for “blood,” and rrhoos, “discharging.” They are also known as piles, from the Latin word pila, meaning “ball.” Hemorrhoids are very much like varicose veins in that they enlarge and lose their elasticity, resulting in saclike protrusions into the anal canal.

They are not tumors or growths. They can be caused, and aggravated, by sitting or standing for prolonged periods, violent coughing, lifting heavy objects (or lifting relatively light objects the wrong way), and straining at bowel movements (especially when constipated).