[Premenstrual PMS dizziness] How to deal with headache and nausea? Improve with herbal medicine & acupuncture points!

Many women feel unwell before menstruation. This is called "premenstrual syndrome (PMS)", and it is said that there are more than 200 types of symptoms. Individual differences are large, and there are many people who are troubled by themselves. This time, I will introduce dizziness among the malfunctions that can occur in PMS. If you often feel dizzy, but every time you look back, you've had premenstrual dizziness, PMS may be the culprit. If you need to visit a medical institution, we will tell you which department you should visit.

Find out in this article

• Causes of dizziness in PMS
• How to deal with dizziness
• The difference between PMS dizziness and menopausal dizziness

Dizziness in PMS

PMS refers to premenstrual syndrome and is defined as "a wide variety of mental and physical symptoms that develop in the late luteal period 3 to 10 days before menstruation and diminish or disappear with the onset of menstruation." 1). It is said that there are more than 200 kinds of malfunctions that occur in PMS. Dizziness is one of the physical symptoms of PMS. If you have frequent premenstrual symptoms such as lightheadedness without strenuous exercise, you may have PMS dizziness.

PMS symptoms and causes

PMS symptoms can be divided into physical and psychological symptoms. Vertigo is classified as a physical symptom. PMS is thought to be caused by an increase in progesterone that occurs after ovulation, but it is said that various other factors are involved in a complex manner2). We will also introduce the causes of dizziness due to PMS and the difference from dizziness that occurs during menopause.

Symptoms that are likely to occur at the same time as dizziness in PMS

Symptoms that often accompany dizziness in PMS include tinnitus, headache, irritability, and shortness of breath. In addition, many people feel nausea and fatigue due to being fluffy. After ovulation, progesterone, a corpus luteum hormone, becomes dominant, and the body retains water and tends to swell. There are many causes of vertigo, but one of them is thought to be the accumulation of fluid in the part of the inner ear that controls balance. Swelling of the inner ear can cause tinnitus and headaches along with dizziness.

Causes of dizziness in PMS

It is still not clear why PMS occurs. However, it is true that changes in female hormones play a major role. During the luteal phase from ovulation to menstruation, progesterone is secreted in large amounts. However, during the late luteal phase, progesterone levels drop sharply. In addition, the secretion of estrogen, one of the female hormones, also decreases, and the autonomic nervous system is disturbed. It is thought that one of the causes is that the autonomic nervous system is disturbed due to large fluctuations in female hormones, and hormones and neurotransmitters in the brain are affected. In addition, PMS and stress are closely related, and stress leads to exacerbation of PMS symptoms3).

Is menopause a cause of dizziness? Difference between PMS and menopause

There are many causes of dizziness. One of the causes is menopause. The main cause of dizziness during menopause is a decline in ovarian function, but it is also believed that physical changes, psychological factors, and social environmental factors are intricately intertwined 4). The difference is that PMS dizziness occurs only before menstruation, whereas menopausal dizziness occurs daily. If you feel dizzy for the first time after the age of 30, or if you continue to have dizziness even before menstruation, you may have dizziness due to menopause.

How to deal with and improve dizziness caused by PMS

Here, we will introduce how to deal with dizziness caused by PMS and how to improve it. We will tell you how to review your lifestyle, how to control stress, and what to be careful about when visiting a medical institution. Try starting with something that is easy to incorporate.

reassess one's lifestyle

First, review your lifestyle. A regular lifestyle and moderate exercise are effective in relieving PMS. In addition, keeping the body cool, low-fat diet, intake of vitamin B6, and diet rich in minerals are said to lead to improvement 2). Also, be mindful of your intake of calcium and magnesium, and avoid caffeine, alcohol, and smoking. It is also necessary not to cram work and schedules in advance when PMS is likely to cause malfunction.

use herbal medicine

PMS varies greatly from person to person, and various symptoms occur, so treatment with Chinese herbal medicine may be advanced. In Oriental medicine, it is said that the balance of "qi", "blood" and "water" in the body changes greatly before and after ovulation. Herbal remedies are used to restore balance. Chinese herbal medicines prescribed for dizziness include Tokishakuyakusan and Ryokeijutsukanto. However, since it is necessary to decide which Kampo medicine to use according to each individual's physical constitution, it is better to consult a medical institution once and have a prescription 2).

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Relieve stress and fatigue and relax

Although the mechanisms that cause PMS have not yet been fully elucidated, it is said that hormones and neurotransmitters in the brain are susceptible to stress. Therefore, in order to relieve dizziness caused by PMS, create a relaxing environment without accumulating stress. There is a pressure point called Saninko, four fingers above the highest point on the inner ankle of the foot. Sanyinko is said to alleviate menstrual cramps and gynecological problems, so it is recommended that you gently press it after taking a bath or before going to bed.

Visit a gynecologist or clinic

If you change your lifestyle and reduce your stress but still can't feel the effects, or if you have dizziness that interferes with your daily life, see a doctor. Please see an otolaryngologist first. It is also a good idea to ask your family doctor for a referral. They may be able to give you advice about co-administration with your current medications. In addition, if the spinning dizziness lasts for more than 30 minutes, or if you have tinnitus or hearing loss, an otolaryngologist will specialize. If nothing abnormal is found by the otolaryngologist, be sure to visit a gynecologist or a women's clinic.

Is this dizziness PMS? menopause? What is the difference?

Some people complain of dizziness during menopause. Menopausal dizziness is said to be caused by the disturbance of the autonomic nervous system due to the rapid decrease in estrogen and the aging of sensory organs due to aging. If you feel dizzy for the first time after reaching the age of 30, or if you feel dizzy all the time other than before menstruation, you may have dizziness due to menopause. Conversely, if you feel dizzy only before menstruation, it is considered to be dizziness due to PMS. However, both dizziness due to PMS and dizziness due to menopause are considered to be one of the causes of the disturbance of the autonomic nervous system, so it is better to treat them in the same way, such as not accumulating stress.

summary

There are individual differences in PMS, and the disorder that occurs will also change depending on the physical condition at that time. If you feel dizzy often, the first thing to do is to figure out when the symptoms occur. Even if it's not monthly, if it only happens before your period, it's likely PMS dizziness. There are many things that can be improved by reviewing your lifestyle and reducing stress, so please do what you can first. However, if the dizziness is severe enough to interfere with daily life, do not hesitate to consult a medical institution.

References

1) Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology: “[Obstetrics and Gynecology Practice Guidelines – Gynecology Outpatient Edition 2020”, 2020 https://www.jsog.or.jp/activity/pdf/gl_fujinka_2020.pdf

2) Nahoko Shirato: “Diagnosis and Treatment of PMS and PMDD – Differentiation from Other Diseases”, Showa Gakushi Gakkai, Vol.77, No.4, 360-366, 2017 https://www.jstage.jst.go .jp/article/jshowaunivsoc/77/4/77_360/_pdf/-char/ja

3) Yumiko Suzuki et al.: “Is there a relationship between cognitive function and irritable hormones throughout the menstrual cycle?” Japanese Cognitive Science Society, 2021 https://www.jcss.gr.jp/meetings/ jcss2021/proceedings/pdf/JCSS2021_P2-42F.pdf

4) Keiko Miyamoto et al.: “Recent Management of Menopause,” Showa Gakushikai Journal, Vol. 77, No. 4, 367-373, 2017 https://www.jstage.jst.go.jp/article/jshowaunivsoc/ 77/4/77_367/_pdf/-char/en