It’s been a long day, you’re tired, and you want to go to bed. And you try, but, once again, your legs start dancing a jig the moment you lie down. Restless legs syndrome (RLS) has struck again.
At Northwest Houston Heart Center, cardiologists Dr. A. Adnan Aslam and Dr. Roy Norman diagnose and treat restless legs syndrome at their four offices in the Houston, Texas area. Here, the team explains what the condition entails and what we can do to help.
Researchers are uncertain about the exact cause of RLS but believe there may be both a genetic predisposition and an environmental trigger.
More than 40% of people with RLS have some family history of the condition, and five gene variants have been associated with it. When there’s a hereditary factor, symptoms usually start before you turn 40.
Another theory as to cause is that there may be a connection between RLS and low levels of iron in the brain; this connection holds even when blood tests show normal levels of iron.
Or it could be that RLS is linked to dopamine pathway interruptions in the brain. Parkinson’s disease is also related to levels of dopamine, which could explain why many Parkinson’s patients also have RLS. Interestingly, some of the same medications are used to treat both conditions. Research on all of these, as well as other theories, is ongoing.
Primary RLS isn’t related to any underlying condition. But RLS may be an offshoot of another health problem, such as neuropathy (nerve damage), diabetes, or kidney failure. When any of these are the case, treating the main problem may resolve RLS issues.
And, it’s possible that substances like caffeine or alcohol may trigger or intensify symptoms of RLS. Other possible triggers include medications to treat allergies, nausea, depression, and psychosis.
The most dominant symptom of RLS is an overwhelming urge to move your legs, especially when you’re trying to sit still or go to bed. You might also feel unusual sensations in your legs, like tingling or pulling, or like something is crawling around on them. Moving your legs helps to relieve the sensations.
Patients with mild RLS may not experience symptoms every night, so they’re prone to attribute their urge to move to simple restlessness, nervousness, or stress.
A more severe case can be difficult to ignore. It complicates the simplest activities, like going to the movies and sitting still for a couple of hours. A long plane ride can also be a problem.
People with RLS often have trouble falling or staying asleep, because symptoms are inevitably worse at night. As a result, they may experience daytime sleepiness, fatigue, and sleep deprivation, all of which can harm both physical and mental health.
Symptoms usually occur on both sides of the body, but some people get them on only one side. RLS can also affect parts of the body other than the legs, including the arms and head. For most people, RLS symptoms worsen with age.
You can achieve symptom relief from RLS either with home remedies or with prescription medication.
Home remedies aren’t likely to eliminate your symptoms, but they may help reduce them. Try one or more of these:
And if you have activities that require prolonged sitting, try to schedule them for earlier in the day rather than later.
Drugs that increase dopamine (dopaminergic agents) help decrease motion in your legs. However, these can have side effects like sleepiness and impulse control disorders that may limit what you can take.
Sleep aids and muscle relaxants (benzodiazepines) don’t completely eliminate symptoms, but they can help relax you and let you get better sleep. Their primary side effect is daytime sleepiness.
Anticonvulsants help lessen sensory disturbances, such as the itching and crawling sensations on your legs, but they may cause dizziness and fatigue.
You may find it takes several attempts before you find the right medication for your physiology. The doctor adjusts the medication or combination of medications, as well as their dosages, as your symptoms change.
If your legs are so restless that you can’t get any sleep, it’s time to come into Northwest Houston Heart Center for an evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment. Give us a call at any of our locations (Tomball, Cypress, Magnolia, and The Woodlands, Texas), or book online today. You can also text us at 832-402-9518.
