If you suffer from restless legs syndrome, you are familiar with the anguish of insomnia. It may be tough to get your recommended amount of shuteye because you frequently wake up and your partner may complain that you kick them when they are sleeping.
However, a lot of people don’t have a good understanding of this illness. Even people who don’t can learn unexpected new facts. Here are eight facts concerning restless legs syndrome that you might not be aware of.
1. A connection with varicose veins exists. 7–10% of Americans get restless legs syndrome. Women are somewhat more likely than males to have The disorder occurs in both genders .
The correlation between this illness and varicose veins, another disorder that commonly affects women, may be one cause of the gender gap. After having their varicose veins removed, many patients reported having their RLS symptoms stopped .
Many of the symptoms between the two are similar, but further research is needed to determine the exact nature of the connection.
It is available in two flavors. There are two types of RLS: main and secondary. Despite some people’s experience symptoms in childhood that progressively get worse over time, primary RLS is a neurological illness that frequently starts in middle age. Although some claim that the condition runs in families, its source is unknown.
RLS secondary to primary has a known cause. It may be caused by kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis, Parkinson’s disease, nutritional deficiencies, or nerve injury.
3. SOME MEDICATIONS MAY BE THE CAUSE. It’s time to consult your doctor if your RLS started occurring after you started a new pharmaceutical regimen. Discussing alternatives may provide relief because some prescription and over-the-counter drugs might cause or exacerbate symptoms. Specifically, watch out for the following drug classes:
Prochlorperazine and metoclopramide are anti-nausea drugs. Haloperidol or phenothiazine derivatives are examples of antipsychotic medicines. Watch alert for antidepressants like fluoxetine or sertraline that alter serotonin. antihistamines that are older, in particular diphenhydramine.
4. A pregnancy can worsen or exacerbate symptoms. Did you notice you had a baby on board before your symptoms started? If so, you might have RLS brought on by pregnancy. Among women, it ranks among the most common causes of insomnia .
Folic acid and iron are two essential nutrients linked to RLS. Both are depleted during pregnancy, and mothers-to-be require more folic acid to prevent neural tube abnormalities in their unborn children. According to some researches, theorize that rising estrogen levels during pregnancy may play a role in the emergence of the illness.
5. There is a link between Parkinson’s disease and rheumatoid arthritis Dopamine is thought to be crucial in RLS by medical professionals. This is due to the fact that RLS sufferers receive the same medications as Parkinson’s disease patients. Although some dopaminergic medications may enhance symptoms, making them occur earlier in the day or in the upper limbs, doctors must take caution when administering them.
The precise relationship between RLS and rheumatoid arthritis is yet unknown to researchers. approximately 30% of RA patients also has concomitant RLS, though. According to researchers, the immune system’s response during sleep, when cytokines are released, may be the cause of the association.
6. SPINAL CORD LESIONS COULD BE A FACTOR RLS can be brought on by nerve injury, particularly spinal cord damage. These lesions include infections, autoimmune disorders, inflammatory conditions, malignancies, spinal degeneration, and congenital anomalies.
Your brain and your legs receive different signals when your nerves are damaged. There’s a chance that the wires will cross, leading to malfunctions when you least expect them and waking you up when you ought to be sleeping.
7. IT COULD indicate kidney problems. People with chronic renal illness have a higher incidence of RLS. It happens a lot more often in those who are receiving hemodialysis.
Kidney disease sufferers’ symptoms can get worse due to a variety of circumstances. They are more likely to develop anemia or high blood calcium levels , both of which worsen the condition.
8. YOU MIGHT NEED TO UP YOUR IRON INTAKING Iron-deficiency anemia is the most frequently observed environmental cause causing RLS. This problem can be exacerbated by poor diet, autoimmune disorders, blood diseases, and alcoholism. The improvement of iron-deficient disorder occurs in both genders 0 solidifies the connection in researchers’ thoughts.
If you encounter symptoms and find it difficult to contact a doctor, you might consider using an iron supplement as a form of self-medication. But be careful, especially if you take them on an empty stomach. Some people may have nausea and vomiting as a result. Despite the fact that disorder occurs in both genders 1, which hinders absorption, it is preferable to take your tablet with a little amount of food.
Things about RLS You May Not Know The causes of restless legs syndrome are not fully known. However, many people suffer a great deal as a result of it. You can take action to cure or prevent RLS now that you are aware of a number of facts you may not have known in the past about it. Consult your doctor before taking an iron supplement.
