Restless legs syndrome: what to do if sleep is difficult

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

Perhaps you just do not have enough hardware.

There is evidence that one in ten people suffer from this disorder. Restless Legs Syndrome Fact Sheet. Suffers, but is silent.

The reason is simple: people simply do not realize that the discomfort in the legs, which makes them twitch, is a common neurological failure that is quite treatable.

What is restless legs syndrome

Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS, also known as Willis-Ekbom disease) is a condition of Restless Legs Syndrome, in which itching, tingling, throbbing, burning, or other obsessive sensations occur in the muscles of the lower extremities. Discomfort is reduced by moving the legs. Therefore, a person who suffers from RLS begins to unconsciously touch the lower limbs, pull them.

Most often, discomfort occurs during moments of relaxation. This usually happens in the evening or at night. You go to bed and your legs begin to move.

Women suffer from restless legs syndrome twice as often as men.

Where does the RLS come from, scientists have not yet really figured out. It is only assumed that discomfort in the legs is associated with an imbalance of dopamine - one of the most important neurotransmitters in the brain involved in the control of muscle movement.

By the way, Parkinson's disease is also associated with disturbances in the production of dopamine, the most popular symptom of which is twitching limbs. So in a sense, this type of dementia and RLS are "relatives."

What is the danger of RLS

Restless legs syndrome is rarely associated with a serious medical problem. More often than not, it just keeps you awake. You move your legs, twirl, you cannot fully rest. As a result, you feel sleepy and tired during the day.

Constant sleep deprivation caused by restless legs syndrome can lead to chronic fatigue syndrome or depression.

Chronic sleepiness itself is a gift. Because of this, you lose productivity, you do not have enough strength for a career or a relationship. But restless legs syndrome can be a sign of much more trouble. Sometimes he accompanies the states of Everything you need to know about restless legs syndrome, such as:

• Peripheral neuropathy. This is the name for nerve damage in the arms and legs. This can be caused by diabetes or alcoholism.
• Iron deficiency in the body.
• Renal failure
• Rheumatoid arthritis.
• some lesions of the spinal cord.

Therefore, restless legs syndrome cannot be ignored.

How to recognize restless legs syndrome

There are four main symptoms. If you have all of them, then, with a high probability, we are talking about RLS.

• Unpleasant sensations in the muscles of the legs occur when you remain immobile for a long time. For example, lie in bed or sit in a car, plane, or movie theater.
• The only way to get rid of discomfort is to move your legs or stretch your muscles.
• The sensations become more acute in the evening and at night. In the morning and during the day, you may not notice them.
• As you fall asleep and sleep, your legs twitch.

Typically, symptoms affect both lower limbs. But sometimes only one of them is involved or discomfort is added in the hands.

What to do if you suspect you have an RLS

Be sure to talk to your therapist about this. Once again, RLS should not be ignored, as it can be a sign of serious illness.

How to treat restless legs syndrome

Let's say right away: it is necessary to correct this disorder. If you don't, restless legs syndrome can be with you for life. And it will definitely spoil it.

Your therapist will ask you about your symptoms, do a physical exam, and offer a blood test to check for possible iron deficiency. Further therapy will be prescribed depending on the results of the examination.

If there is a lack of this mineral in the blood, your doctor will prescribe you iron supplements - in the form of tablets or injections. If the therapist assumes the presence of a concomitant disease, then first it will be necessary to cure it - after that, restless legs syndrome will disappear by itself.

In the case when there is RLS, and the doctor does not understand the reasons for it (by the way, this happens most often), you will be advised to make some changes to Everything you need to know about restless legs syndrome in your lifestyle:

• Enjoy a warm foot bath and light massage every night. This will improve the condition of the muscles and help them learn to relax without the hectic “special effects”.
• Practice good sleep hygiene. The more you get tired, the more RLS symptoms appear. Therefore, do everything to get enough sleep despite the syndrome. Take a walk before bed in the fresh air. Set up your bedroom - it should be quiet, dark and cool. Try to go to bed and get up at the same time.
• Lead an active lifestyle. Walk more, ride your bike, swim - in general, connect your legs. But make sure that the loads are moderate. Overexertion can worsen RLS symptoms.
• Practice yoga or breathing exercises.
• Cut back on caffeine. Sometimes refusal from coffee, strong tea, energy drinks, chocolate can nullify the syndrome. Do not use the listed products for several weeks and monitor your condition - suddenly this is your option for salvation.
• Include foods high in iron in your diet (pork, red meat, dried fruits, seafood, dark green leafy vegetables). You also need vitamin C (citrus fruits, currants, strawberries, leafy greens) - it helps the gland to be absorbed.
• If symptoms occur, apply a heating pad or an ice pack wrapped in thin cloth to your feet.

If lifestyle changes don't work, your doctor may prescribe medications. Most often, prescription drugs are used for restless legs syndrome:

• drugs that increase the production of dopamine in the brain;
• opiates;
• anticonvulsants;
• muscle relaxants and sleeping pills.

It is impossible to say in advance which of the means is right for you. There is an option that the doctor will make several attempts before choosing a really effective medicine. But then you will finally start getting enough sleep.