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Article #433: Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS)

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Restless Legs Syndrome is an affliction it occurs in families of 50% of those who
that manifests itself as an uncomfortable suffer.
feeling your legs. There are other contributing factors as
Lying down and sitting has the tendency well such as pregnancy and stress; as
to aggravate these feelings. The only either of these can seem to aggravate the
form of relief for the individual to symptoms.
relieve these uncomfortable feelings in Restless leg syndrome can be difficult to
their legs is by getting up and moving diagnose for a number of reasons. First
around. Most commonly these feelings of all, the actual cause can be
occur during sleep and when they do; the attributed to a number of reasons or
person must wake up and move around. This circumstance. Secondly, the vast majority
is why this syndrome is categorized as a of sufferers don't seek medical attention
sleeping disorder - it is the constant for their condition.
disruption of sleep that the affected In order to accurately evaluate and
person must deal with. diagnose, doctors need to ask a variety
A hard to describe uncomfortable feeling of questions including the type of pain,
in the person's legs (and even arms) is when the pain occurs, the frequency of
the most common symptom of restless leg the occurrences, and what seems to make
syndrome. The feelings themselves are the symptoms go away. Certainly a visit
difficult to describe or to put into to a sleep clinic can go a long way
words... but suffers of RLS know these toward the diagnosis because you can be
aren't feelings of typical cramps or monitored as you sleep.
muscle soreness. Restless leg syndrome Moving about is the preferred method by
results in anything from a tingling to a most people when it comes to seeking
burning type of sensation. These feelings relief. Walking stretching and flexing
are most prominent during the nighttime exercises help when no other diagnosis
or periods of inactivity i.e. trying to has been arrived at. However, if it is
sleep. The onset of restless leg syndrome determined that the cause is related to
can vary both in frequency and in something such as an iron deficiency,
intensity. treating that specific element can many
An off chute of RLS is involuntary leg time alleviate the symptoms and pain.
flexing and extension; otherwise known as Many times simple lifestyle changes are
Periodic Limb Movements of Sleep (PLMS). prescribed to eliminate the symptoms of
The difference is that PLMS occurs during restless leg syndrome.
periods of sleep and most people who Occasionally RLS will be treated by
exhibit this aren't aware that it is stronger prescription type of medications
happening... except for anyone who may be but to date this type of treatment has
in the same bed. had only mixed results.
A bodily chemical called dopamine (which Non-prescription treatments include
controls muscle movement) appears to be over-the-counter pain relievers, hot or
the common denominator with restless leg cool packs, massage, yoga, exercise and
syndrome. The conventional thinking is development of a sleep routine that
that RLS may be somewhat hereditary since encourages better sleep.






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