A STUDY ON PREVALENCE OF PRE MENSTRUAL SYNDROME, ITS ASSOCIATION WITH DIETARY HABITS AND STRESS LEVELS AMONG ADOLOSCENT GIRLS STUDYING IN GIRLS COLLEGE OF HYDERABAD

Pre-Menstrual Syndrome is a group of physical, psychological, and emotional symptoms that begins 7-14 days before menses and fade once menses begins. PMDD is a psychiatric diagnosis of PMS. The cause of PMS is unknown. Hence studies need to be conducted to know the various lifestyle and dietary habits that increases the risk of PMS. The aim was to study the dietary pattern of adolescent girls aged 17-19 years of Girls college of Hyderabad during the PMS period. The objectives were to study the prevalence, association between lifestyle habits, dietary pattern and stress with PMS in these adolescent girls. Adolescent girls of Girls College, answered a self- constructed, pre tested, standardized questionnaire for the prevalence study. Information on lifestyle and dietary habits, dietary preferences and symptoms observed in PMS period, and the observed stress level was collected. Chi – square test and non- parametric test was done to interpret the data. Among the 300 respondents, 19.3% had PMDD, 46.3% had moderate to severe PMS and 34.3% had mild/no PMS. There was an association between PMS and consuming high calorie foods, herbal teas during PMS period (p is less than 0.05) and also with stress (pis less than0.05) Reducing high calorie foods help to reduce PMS symptoms. Adequate sleep, less screen time and avoiding skipping of meals, consuming less fast food would reduce the prevalence. Having higher level of stress increases the risk of developing PMS or even PMDD.