Survey study, 2020
How do diet and lifestyle factors relate to PMS and PMDD in medical students?
Alcohol and tobacco use were linked to PMDD. Diet type was not linked to PMS or PMDD. Anger and irritability were the most common symptoms.
What they did
Cross-sectional survey of 79 female medical students in Ahmedabad, India using the 14-item Premenstrual Symptoms Screening Tool (PSST). Assessed mood, appetite, sleep, anxiety, physical symptoms and functional impairment in five domains.
What they found
Anger or irritability was most common: 46.3% mild (n=76) and 41.4% moderate to severe (n=68). Other common symptoms were headaches, joint or muscle pain, breast tenderness, weight gain and bloating. Most common functional impairment was college or work efficiency reduction (48.2%, n=79). Alcohol and tobacco consumption had significant association with PMDD; diet type did not.
What it means for you
Mood and physical symptoms are most bothersome in these students. Alcohol and tobacco may worsen symptoms. This was a small observational study, so we cannot prove these factors cause PMS.
79
Students studied
46.3%
Mild anger or irritability
41.4%
Moderate to severe anger or irritability
About the study
- Original title
- Association of socio-demographic, dietary and lifestyle factors with Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) among undergraduate medical students of a tertiary care institute in Ahmedabad, Gujarat
- Authors
- Shah RS, Christian DS
- Journal
- Journal of family medicine and primary care
- Year
- 2020
- Study design
- Survey study
- Participants
- 79
- What was tested
- None; observational study of lifestyle factors
- Open access
- Yes
- Read the paper
- doi.org/10.4103/jfmpc.jfmpc_1553_20
Topics
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