Herald/Lantern/Dispatch 17 April '85 35

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Premenstrual Syndrome is the topic of this new series of articles in response to numerous re- „ quests from readers. The concept of PMS was first recognized by the medical community only in 1931. \ 1

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; Health Watch by Dr Robert C. Beitman

This late recognition was I probably due to the cultural taboos against discussing such a "personal" subject and the fact that the age of onset of menstruation is so much earlier now, and women on the whole spend less time pregnant and nursing. It is now well accepted that PMS is a real physical ailment. However, many women who seek medical assistance believing they are suffering from PMS, in fact to not have it. Studies show that up to 80 percent of women who believe they have PMS can be objective^ ly shown that their sympf toras do not meet the criteria for PMS. THIS KEY criterion is that the symptoms must cease for at least one week during the menstrual cycle. Further, the symptoms of PMS must take place anywhere from 1 to 14 days before the menstrual cycle. Some 150 symptoms have been attributed to PMS. You may experience one or several. It has been estimated that 30 percent of women will have severe PMS at some point in their lives. PMS should not be con-

fused with dysmenorrhea, which is the technical term for painful menstrual periods. Dysmenorrhea has well defined biological explanations and symptoms. The biological cause of PMS is unknown. YES. YOU READ about many theories, but none are proven as of yet. We know it is a real physical problem because so many women describe the same sets of symptoms. As we will discuss in our next article, some of the symptoms of PMS cafe"*" mimic life-threatening disorders such as brain cancer, uterine cancer, ^gallbladder disease and many digestive illnesses. Those with severe PMS should seek screening to ensure that other causes of the symptoms can be ruled out. NEXT WEEK: PMS, the Symptoms Up Close. Health Watch is a public education project of the Cape May County Unit of the American Cancer Society, of which Dr. Beitman is presiBtnt elect. Letters to Dr. Beitman should be addressed care of 116 N. Main St.. Cape May Court House. N.J. 08210.

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