People who suffer from restless leg syndrome (RLS) deal with uncontrollable movement and shaking of their legs. In many cases, RLS is accompanied by unpleasant sensations, including aching, tingling, or crawling that can only be relieved with movement. The symptoms of restless leg syndrome are often worse at night or during periods of inactivity.
What Type of Disorder Is RLS?
Restless leg syndrome is both a sleep disorder and a movement disorder. If you have RLS, it can interfere with your sleep quality and cause you to feel tired during the day. Many people who have RLS report symptoms similar to what they would experience with a lack of sleep. RLS can affect your concentration, memory, and mood. If RLS affects your ability to enjoy life, there are multiple remedies available, including natural remedies, pharmacological remedies, and lifestyle changes. RLS needs to be properly diagnosed so that you can effectively manage your symptoms.
What Are the Causes of Restless Leg Syndrome?
The cause of primary restless leg syndrome is unknown. People can develop RLS at any age, but it generally worsens as people grow older. Some researchers believe that there might be gene variants that cause people to develop RLS. Others think that RLS might be caused by dysfunction in the area of the brain that controls movement. This area uses dopamine to help to control smooth movement, and a disruption in the neural pathways or a dopamine deficiency might result in involuntary leg movements.
There are multiple risk factors for restless leg syndrome. For example, other sleep conditions, including insomnia and sleep apnea, can aggravate RLS. Anemia is another risk factor for developing RLS. People undergoing hormonal changes and those who consume antidepressants, nicotine, caffeine, or alcohol also have a higher risk of developing RLS. Restless leg syndrome also is more common in women than in men.
How Is Restless Leg Syndrome Treated?
The treatment for restless leg syndrome can vary, depending on the severity of the disorder. Many people use a variety of different natural remedies and lifestyle changes to be helpful. For example, reducing or eliminating your consumption of nicotine, alcohol, and caffeine might help to reduce the intensity of your symptoms. Regular exercise and massage have also been found to be helpful for those who suffer from RLS. There is also a foot wrap that has been approved by the FDA to manage restless leg syndrome and its symptoms. If you are anemic, taking iron supplements might help to relieve your symptoms. Finally, some people with RLS have co-occurring sleep disorders. Treating their sleep disorders might also lessen the symptoms of RLS.
There are also pharmacological options that might help, including benzodiazepines, anti-seizure medications, and dopaminergic agents. Since these medications also cause other side effects, it is important to talk to your doctor about which might be the right option for you.
Get Help from Accent Sleep Solutions
If you suffer from RLS, you might have a co-occurring sleep disorder. Schedule an appointment with the sleep professionals at Accent Sleep Solutions to learn more about how we can help by calling us at (352) 271-5375.
