Restless Leg Syndrome
A good night’s sleep allows the body to regenerate and the mind to rest. The lack of adequate sleep can cause irritability, confusion, fatigue, etc.. Those who suffer with the symptoms of restless leg syndrome, also suffer from the affects of inadequate sleep. Restless leg syndrome is often abbreviated and referred to as RLS. It is also known as Ekbom's syndrome. Restless leg syndrome is a neurological condition may affect up to 10% of the population. Most suffers have a mild form of the disorder. For those who have severe symptoms in can interfere with daily living. Often RLS is misdiagnosed.
To be diagnosed with RLS, the following criteria must be met:
- A strong (sometimes irresistible) urge to move your legs that may be accompanied by uncomfortable sensations, the sensations may be described as creeping, itching, pulling, tugging or gnawing.
- Symptoms start or become worse during rest, lengthy times of rest increase the chance that the symptoms will occur and tend to occur with increased severity.
- When legs are moved the symptoms lesson, relief may be complete or partial but generally begins very soon after an activity is started, relief continues for as long as the motor activity continues.
- In the evening symptoms are worse, especially when lying down, activities that bother you at night are not a problem during the day.
Women tend to suffer from this a little more often than men do. Symptoms begin most often in middle age. Anyone can get restless leg syndrome, even infants, though it is uncommon.
There are some common factors among restless leg syndrome suffers, but the cause has not been isolated, but may be related to the common factors. RLS runs in families. When family members have restless leg syndrome, the symptoms may first appear at a younger ages than those with no family history of restless leg syndrome.
Symptoms of restless leg syndrome vary from person to person. They can be mild or severe. Restless leg syndrome is treated with activity change, identifying any medical condition that may contribute to it, medication, or home remedies. Sometimes more than one treatment will be needed to provide relief.
Education, testing of treatment effectiveness, and possibly medical care will minimize the affect that restless leg syndrome has on daily living.
Cause of Restless Leg Syndrome
What is the Cause of Restless Leg Syndrome?