| What the heck is making me feel like I need | | | | Health, have conducted serious research to |
| to move my legs back and forth everytime I | | | | try and determine the causes. Nonetheless, |
| lay down? Have you ever felt like you were | | | | scientists continue to admit that no one |
| more comfortable in bed when you were | | | | really knows for sure what the exact cause of |
| paddling your feet as if to be swimming | | | | RLS is. They do, however, point toward the |
| across the English Channel? Maybe you were | | | | dopaminergic system in the body and the |
| an Olympic swimmer in a past life and you | | | | presence of iron deficiencies in the blood as |
| don't remember it! Actually, that's not the | | | | an essential cofactor in the development of |
| problem you are having. You may not be | | | | RLS. Still, they can't determine the exact |
| familiar with the symptoms and causes of what | | | | cause. It was also found that over 20% of all |
| is known as Restless Leg Syndrome or RLS? | | | | cases of RLS are associated with the iron |
| RLS is a condition which is quite interesting | | | | deficiency in the blood. Other associations |
| and which has also been referred to as "Jimmy | | | | included folate deficiency, diabetes, thyroid |
| Legs", "Jumpy Legs" or "Heebeejeebees". The | | | | problems, uremia, Parkinson's disease, |
| scientific name for this syndrome is Ekbom | | | | peripheral neuropathy, and certain |
| syndrome. | | | | auto-immune disorders. Once again, treatment |
| | | | of the condition now exists and often |
| The movements associated with restless leg | | | | eliminates the RLS so the exact causes tend |
| syndrome are described by sufferers as an | | | | to remain somewhat unimportant to suffering |
| uncontrollable urge to move their limbs in | | | | patients. They just want to get better! If |
| order to stop the feeling of "uncomfortable | | | | you are among these people suffering from |
| nervousness" or "unusual buzzing" in their | | | | RLS, you can now visit your local sleep |
| legs. Although it does tend to be focussed in | | | | clinic and ask about the treatments |
| the legs most of the time, it can still | | | | available. |
| happen in the arms as well. Moving the | | | | |
| affected body part relieves the person's | | | | For the sake of those interested in the |
| suffering but only temporarily. The | | | | scientific progress, it has recently become a |
| irritable sensations which cause the patient | | | | hypothesis that RLS may possibly be caused by |
| to move in the first place may return almost | | | | genetic factors. Researchers are now looking |
| immediately when they stop. The overall RLS | | | | for the gene or genes that cause RLS because |
| condition often starts in early childhood and | | | | they have discovered that RLS runs in |
| is a progressive disorder that often gets | | | | families. Pregnancy also seems to have a |
| worse when it is not given medical attention. | | | | significant effect on people who tend to |
| There is good news, however, for the many | | | | suffer from this condition more readily. It |
| sufferers of this condition! Updates on the | | | | was found that close to 25% of women who |
| treatment for restless leg syndrome have | | | | develop RLS are pregnant or suffer from iron |
| recently provided positive results and | | | | deficiency but the symptoms consequently |
| symptoms have been shown to disappear | | | | disappear after giving birth. Patients who |
| permanently once the treatment begins. Thank | | | | are undergoing dialysis for end-stage renal |
| goodness you can finally stop that incessant | | | | disease are also prone to developing RLS. It |
| kicking! You probably thought you were going | | | | would seem that, apart from the genetic |
| to be paddling across an imaginary ocean for | | | | explanation, that there are still many other |
| the rest of your life! | | | | factors that scientists are considering for |
| | | | further research. Whatever direction their |
| Although certain treatments have proven | | | | research may go in, it is great news to learn |
| successful, the causes of RLS are still a | | | | that RLS can now be treated and that the |
| mystery. Patients do not tend to be to | | | | treatment is only a phone call away. Whether |
| distraught about the fact that the causes are | | | | you know the causes of RLS or not, you can |
| unknown. They are just glad to be rid of the | | | | get yourself on the road to a solution in no |
| problem and to get on with their lives. | | | | time. You can alleviate yourself of this |
| Different health institutes, however, such as | | | | condition and begin to enjoy a more happy and |
| the National Institute of Neurological | | | | healthy lifestyle in no time at all. |
| Disorders and the National Institutes of | | | | |