“Period flu”: The largely unknown PMS symptom is the reason why you often feel sick before menstruation
Fever, shaking frost, head, neck and body pain are typical symptoms of flu; But you can also be typical signs that theThe next menstruation is increasing to the end and (again). In fact, cold complaints are among the many symptoms of the, PMS for short, as well as, among other things, water retention, abdominal pain, troubled and night sweat. So if you have the feeling of getting sick before the period, you probably suffer from the so -called “period flu”.
What is the term “period flu”?
“The 'period flu' or period flu is not a real medical diagnosis, but refers to various symptoms that during or in front of oneAccording to Gynecologist Prof. Dr. Mandy Mangler, chief physician at the Auguste-Viktoria Hospital (Vivantes) in Schöneberg, Berlin, and at the Klinikum Neukölln, host of the podcast “Gyncast” and an expert in the women's health platform MySummer.de. ”Some of them similar to a flu, general discomfort or sensitivity of the skin, However, you cannot transfer them and to infect others. ” But even if the “Period Flu” is not a “real” flu infection, this does not change the fact that it feels real and can influence everyday life thanks to its various symptoms.
“Period flu”: These symptoms can go hand in hand with it
The classic symptoms of the “Period Flu” include symptoms that are known from a cold. These can, Sore throat, body aches, cough, fever, chills, nausea and exhaustion contain, according to Prof. Dr. Mangler could also go hand in hand with the “period flu” to want to withdraw.
This triggered cold symptoms before menstruation
The “period flu” has hardly been scientifically examined. Therefore, the cause is not fully clarified. However, it is assumed that the “period flu”, like PMS, is caused by the hormone fluctuations before menstruation. This in turn means that one is more susceptible to infections: "The immune system is less active in the second half of the cycle. This can promote infections and infections. For example, this is expressed in recurring herpes," says Prof. Dr. Mandy Mangler. OneStudyThe Louisiana State University Health Science Center from 2022 also suggests that the fluctuating estrogen and serotonin levels are particularly responsible for the “Period Flu” symptoms.
However, hormone fluctuations not only influence the immune system, alsocan be favored in particular before ovulation and before menstruation, i.e. in the second half of the cycle. In addition, the cycle affects the histamine level, which is primarily noticeable before and during menstruation. Histamine intolerance is not an allergy, but a metabolic disorder, but, like a hay fever, it manifests itself through sneezing, a clogged nose, cough and asthma. Further symptoms can be gastrointestinal problems such as flatulence, rash or swollen eyelids. Such histamine intolerance can increase regular and PMS complaints.
That helps with “period flu”
The bad news first: You can't really prevent the flu -like symptoms before menstruation. Prof. Dr. However, Mandy Mangler recommends a generally healthy lifestyle to stabilize the hormonal balance and the immune defense: “If you want to counteract the 'period flu', you can pay attention to general hygiene such as regular hand washing. But also a balanced diet, sufficient exercise and sleep help the immune system.
The good news is that the symptoms usually subside with the insertion of the period. So if you have the feeling of suffering from cold symptoms in the course of the cycle, you should. So you get a better feeling for signs of illness and can better assess it. Sometimes it is enough to know that you are not "really" sick and there is a light at the end of the tunnel to feel better.
