Restless Leg Syndrome, or RLS  

Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) Restless Legs Syndrome may affect as many as 12 million or more people in the United States. Below are facts that are important to understanding this disorder

• Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a sensory disorder causing an almost irresistible urge to move the legs. The urge to move is usually due to unpleasant feelings in the legs that occur when at rest. People with RLS use words such as creeping, crawling, tingling, or burning to describe these feelings. Moving the legs eases the feelings, but only for a while. The unpleasant feelings may also occur in the arms.

• RLS affects both men and women. The disorder occurs more often in women.

• The number of cases of RLS rises with age. Many people are diagnosed in middle age. But in up to two out of every five cases, the symptoms begin before age 20.

• Symptoms of RLS can range from mild to severe. Symptoms tend to get worse over time. They sometimes begin during childhood.

• Depression and mood swings are associated with RLS.

• RLS can make it difficult to: concentrate, making it harder to learn and remember things, work, carry out other usual daily activities, take part in family and social activities.

• Many with RLS also have periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD). This is a condition in which a person’s legs twitch or jerk uncontrollably every 10 to 60 seconds. This usually happens during sleep.

• RLS can make it difficult to fall asleep and stay asleep. People with RLS often don’t get enough sleep and may feel tired and sleepy during the day.

• There are two types of RLS: primary and secondary. In primary RLS the cause is not known. However, it tends to run in families and may be genetically linked.

• Secondary RLS is caused by another disease or condition or, sometimes, by taking certain medicines. Symptoms usually go away when the disease or condition improves, or if the medicine is stopped. Some diseases and conditions that can cause RLS are: iron deficiency (with or without anemia), kidney failure, diabetes, Parkinson’s, damage to the nerves in the hands or feet (peripheral neuropathy), rheumatoid arthritis, pregnancy.

• Primary RLS, once it starts, usually becomes a lifelong condition. Over time, symptoms tend to get worse and occur more often, especially if they began in childhood or early in adult life.

• RLS is common in pregnant women. It usually occurs during the last three months of pregnancy and usually improves or disappears within a few weeks after delivery.

• Unpleasant feelings in RLS usually occur in the lower leg (calf). But the feelings can occur at any place between the thigh and the ankle and also in the arm. The feelings are worse when lying down or sitting for a long period of time and during the evening or night, more so than during the day

• Some types of medicines that can cause RLS are: anti-seizure and anti-nausea medicines, anti-depressants, some cold and allergy medicines. RLS symptoms usually go away when the medicine is stopped.

• Certain substances can trigger RLS symptoms or make them worse. These substances include: caffeine, alcohol, tobacco.

Relief of symptoms include:

• Having good sleep habits. Keep your bedroom or sleep area cool, quiet, comfortable, and free of unnecessary light or noise.

• Use your bedroom for sleeping, not for watching TV or using computers or cell phones.

• Go to bed every night at the same time and wake up at the same time every morning. Some people with RLS find it helpful to go to bed later in the evening and get up later in the morning. The important thing is to get enough sleep so that you feel rested when you wake up.

• Follow a program of moderate exercise that you truly enjoy.

Other activities that also may help relieve symptoms include:

Walking or stretching

Taking a hot or cold bath

Massaging the leg or arm

Using heat or ice packs

• Medicines can help treat more severe symptoms of RLS. The U.S. FDA recently approved ropinirole to treat moderate to severe RLS.

• Researchers are investigating the possible role of dopamine function in RLS. Dopamine is a chemical messenger responsible for transmitting signals between one area of the brain, the substantia nigra, and the next relay station of the brain, the corpus striatum, to produce smooth, purposeful muscle activity. Researchers suspect that impaired transmission of dopamine signals may play a role in RLS.

• Lifestyle changes can improve and relieve symptoms of RLS. Lifestyle changes may be the only treatment needed for mild symptoms of RLS.

Remember not to self-diagnosis; rather contact your healthcare provider. Research RLS and acquire knowledge necessary to understand this disorder.

For complete article www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/rls/rls_WhatIs.html

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