| Restless Legs Syndrome is an affliction | | | | since it occurs in families of 50% of |
| that manifests itself as an | | | | those who suffer. |
| uncomfortable 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 |
| form of relief for the individual to | | | | the symptoms. |
| relieve these uncomfortable feelings in | | | | Restless leg syndrome can be difficult |
| their legs is by getting up and moving | | | | to diagnose for a number of reasons. |
| around. Most commonly these feelings | | | | First 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. | | | | circumstance. Secondly, the vast |
| This is why this syndrome is categorized | | | | majority of sufferers don't seek medical |
| as a sleeping disorder - it is the | | | | attention for their condition. |
| constant disruption of sleep that the | | | | In order to accurately evaluate and |
| affected 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 | | | | relief. Walking stretching and flexing |
| feelings are most prominent during the | | | | exercises help when no other diagnosis |
| nighttime or periods of inactivity i.e. | | | | has been arrived at. However, if it is |
| trying to sleep. The onset of restless | | | | determined that the cause is related to |
| leg syndrome can vary both in frequency | | | | something such as an iron deficiency, |
| and in 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 | | | | Many times simple lifestyle changes are |
| as Periodic Limb Movements of Sleep | | | | prescribed to eliminate the symptoms of |
| (PLMS). The difference is that PLMS | | | | restless leg syndrome. |
| occurs during periods of sleep and most | | | | Occasionally RLS will be treated by |
| people who exhibit this aren't aware | | | | stronger prescription type of |
| that it is happening... except for | | | | medications but to date this type of |
| anyone who may be in the same bed. | | | | treatment has 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 | | | | encourages better sleep. |