Restless Leg Syndrome - RLS

RESTLESS LEG SYNDROME (RLS): WHEN YOUR LEGS JUST WON'T SETTLE DOWN

OVERVIEW: The day has been long and hard. At last it's time to crawl into bed. Unfortunately, your legs just don't want to stop and rest. They feel antsy, like there is a prickly or tugging sensation that is keeping them from lying still. The condition is called "Restless Leg Syndrome" or RLS for short. It affects older people more often than younger ones, and it is believed to be more common among women than men. The causes vary and are often unknown, but it can be linked to stress and psychological disturbances. Hence, the sufferer finds themselves up walking the floors when they'd really like to be snoozing.

CAUSES: The Restless Legs Syndrome Foundation is an organization that supports research into this condition that often results in sleep deprivation for its sufferers. They have not yet found a single cause for the ailment. Some RLS seems to run in families, and is called primary RLS. When RLS happens as a side effect of a medication or some other cause, it is called secondary RLS, because it is a result of another condition. Anemia, kidney disease, diabetes, and pregnancy are all conditions that can bring about instances of restless legs. RLS during pregnancy often clears up after the birth.

SYMPTOMS: RLS is a common complaint, affecting as many as one-tenth of the population. The primary symptom is that you can't get your legs to rest, particularly when you are trying to go to sleep. A crawly or unpleasant sensation under your skin makes you move your legs, which results in a short period of relief. A person with RLS is likely to be run down and tired through the day, due to interrupted sleep. Their sleeping partner has probably noticed their leg jerking, and has been kept up as well. Restless leg syndrome is a major cause of insomnia.

DIAGNOSIS: Often when you have RLS, you go to the doctor because you are run down and can't sleep, but there is nothing found that is wrong with you. To determine whether you have restless leg syndrome, a physician will ask you a lot of questions about the symptoms you have, such as jerking legs, insomnia, and the sensations in your legs. Blood tests might be done to determine if you are low on iron. In severe cases, you might be asked to schedule an appointment with a sleep lab, where you will be monitored throughout a night of sleep.

TREATMENT OPTIONS: There are several prescription drugs that are sometimes prescribed for restless leg syndrome. One is the new drug, Requip. Hopefully, the RLS can be treated by making sure you are getting enough iron in your diet or by eliminating alcohol or another medicine that might be aggravating the condition. Exercise can help calm restless legs, particularly if it is sustained aerobic exercise and done at least three hours before bedtime. More research is being done, so treatment methods are bound to become more effective. Good sleep habits are a first line of defense against any sleep disorder. Try to get up at the same time each day and relax before bedtime, which should also be about the same time each night.