Does drinking caffeine worsen PMS symptoms?

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a condition with distressing physical, behavioral and psychological symptoms in the absence of organic or underlying psychiatric disease.A potentially important dietary factor in PMS is caffeine.It is estimated that approximately 80% of the world’s population uses caffeine on a daily basis mainly in the form of coffee, tea, sodas and chocolate. So, Aim of this study: was to study the effect of caffeinated beverages intake on premenstrual syndrome among nursing students. Design: Correlative study design was utilized to achieve the aim of the study.. Setting: The present study was conducted at Faculty of Nursing in Benha University Sample::Purposive sample. Tools of data collection: Three tools were used: tool (1) interviewing questionnaire including five parts, tool (2):-Self Administered Questionnaire (Follow up sheet) consisted of five parts. tool (3):- Written leaflets. Results: Showed that there was no statistically significant difference regarding socio-demographic characteristics between both groups. No statistically significant difference was reported regarding consumption of any type of caffeinated beverages (p>0.05). Total caffeinated beverage consumption showed highly statistically significant decrease among students with moderate and severe PMS. Positive correlation between the reduction of caffeinated beverages intake and decrease in PMS severity and duration along all follow - up cycles. Conclusion: The study concluded that,caffeine consumption was strongly positively linked to both the severity and duration of PMS. Recommendations: The study recommended that counseling adolescent females to reduce caffeine consumption from diet especially the week preceding menstruation and encourage young females to use menstrual diary monthly. In addition, establishing education program for all female

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