Stellate ganglion block relieves mental stress

Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is a syndrome characterized by recurrent cycles of somatic and psychiatric symptoms during the luteal phase. It is most common in women between 25 and 45 years of age. Symptoms appear 1 to 2 weeks before menstruation, with physical, emotional and behavioral symptoms occurring periodically, including headache, breast tenderness, abdominal fullness, irritability, anxiety, depression, change in libido, lack of concentration, and memory loss, etc., and the symptoms decrease rapidly after the onset of menstruation until they disappear. The cause of PMS is not very clear, initially, it is believed that the imbalance of estrogen and progesterone ratio is the cause of PMS, patients with insufficient progesterone or tissue sensitivity to progesterone malfunction, estrogen level is relatively too high; the decline in the level of progesterone a few days before the menstruation may be the triggering factor of PMS. In recent years, it has been found that its pathogenesis may arise from estradiol, progesterone and/or their metabolites in the corpus luteum. As a result of their cyclic changes, they affect the function of certain areas of the brain through the mediation of neuromediators, resulting in psychoneuroendocrine disorders and a series of symptoms. These symptoms seriously affect the daily life of women. Clinically, estrogen and progesterone combination is often supplemented to reduce the cyclic changes of sex hormones. Although it can relieve some of the symptoms, the side effects of hormones often reduce the patient’s compliance or even discontinue the treatment. Our pain treatment center uses stellate ganglion block to regulate the internal homeostatic function of the body, promote the recovery of physiological functions, regulate the function of hypothalamus by improving the blood circulation of hypothalamus, maintain the stability of the internal environment and make the autonomic function and endocrine function of the body return to normal. For patients with severe premenstrual syndrome with a clear diagnosis, we use the stellate ganglion block bilaterally starting from 5-7 days after the menstruation to get satisfactory efficacy. The results have been satisfactory. Studies have shown that long-term mental stress and adverse stimuli or sudden and intense mental trauma in women are more likely to lead to endocrine disorders if they exceed the range of individual physiological regulation, triggering irritability, depression, anxiety, chest swelling, chest pain and other uncomfortable symptoms of premenstrual syndrome. Stellate ganglion block can relieve this excessive sympathetic nervous tension, improve blood flow to the brain, especially the mesencephalon and subthalamus, and supply energy to improve their functions. Along with the above treatment, psychotherapy should also be strengthened to eliminate mental adverse stimuli, which is especially important for the early recovery of patients.