Restless leg syndrome (RLS) wakes many people from their night’s sleep, and often doesn’t. What are the reasons and symptoms?
The problem, which occurs in 5 percent of young and middle age, can increase to 20 percent over the age of 60. Since most patients do not know that they have such a disease, they have to live with this problem without treatment.
Complaints triggered by caffeine, pregnancy and insomnia can be reduced by lifestyle changes.
Experts gave information about restless leg syndrome:
What are the symptoms of restless leg syndrome?
It is a neurological disorder that occurs especially at rest at night, manifested by numbness, tingling, lethargy, burning, sarcasm, pain in the calf and feet, sometimes even the arms, together with the need to move the affected leg.
The disease, which usually affects both legs, can rarely spread to the arms, hands and elsewhere in the body. Restless leg syndrome that starts early can be genetically transmitted.
Complaints increase at night
Many patients with restless leg syndrome have periodic and involuntary leg movements that occur periodically in the legs during sleep. That makes it hard to fall asleep.
In many patients, lethargy and restlessness become more disturbing in the evening and later in the night. With inactivity, complaints increase, and with movement it decreases over time.
When restlessness, numbness, burning, pain are felt in the legs, it can be useful to get out of bed and take walks in the house. However, in polyneuropathy, which is common in diabetics, lethargy and burning complaints do not change with movement.
The severity of the disease varies from patient to patient, increasing and decreasing over time.
Beware of the risk factors that lead to complaints!
The cause of restless leg syndrome is not fully known. Investigations have shown that the substance “dopamine” decreases in some parts of the brain. Besides;
Possible reasons:
- Diabetes
- Pregnancy
- Underwork or not of the thyroid gland
- Exposure to heavy metal toxins
- Nerve inflammation
- Some hormonal diseases
- Anemia and iron deficiency
- Smoking
- Consuming too much caffeine
- Alcohol
- Renal failure, which can be associated with vitamin and mineral deficiency
- Circulatory disorder in the legs and varicose vein
- Some drugs, such as antidepressants and stomach protectors, can lead to the appearance of symptoms of the disease.