8 Restless Legs Syndrome Triggers

RLS is also more common in people from northern and western Europe, adding support for the theory that some cases have a genetic basis. People with late-onset RLS usually do not have a family history of RLS. The condition is more likely to result from a problem with the nervous system.

When that happens, Asher says, your restless legs may bother you even more. Walters AS, Wagner ML, Hening WA, Grasing K, Mills R, Chokroverty S, Kavey N. Successful treatment of the idiopathic restless legs syndrome in eco sober house review a randomized double-blind trial of oxycodone versus placebo. If you’ve experienced an iron deficiency, your doctor may want you to take iron supplements. RLS causes uncomfortable and painful sensations in the legs.

The literature suggests RLS patients have good response to therapy in 90% of patients when correctly diagnosed . Evidence-based guidelines for RLS treatment now exist , although one clinic-based German study found no clinical improvement with evidence-based guideline adherence . In the REST study, 81% of RLS patients with distressing symptoms discussed their symptoms with their physicians, but only 24% of these were given any diagnosis . The majority of patients with RLS were diagnosed with circulation problems, arthritis, back or spine problems, varicose veins, depression, anxiety, or trapped nerves, but only 6% were correctly diagnosed with RLS .

It is not a sign that you have cancer, diabetes, or any other more serious medical condition. Sleep disruption can lead to daytime drowsiness, increasing the risk of accidents while driving or working the following day and possibly causing anxiety, depression, confusion, or slowed thought processes. In addition to sleep disruption, RLS https://sober-home.org/ can make it uncomfortable to sit still while traveling in a plane, boat, or car. Sitting through classes or business meetings can be a challenge too. There are three defined levels of severity with RLS.1The mildest form causes some disruption in onset of sleep, but its interference with daytime activities is only of a minor nature.

Movements of PLMD do not wake the person who actually has it, but they are often noticed by their bed partner. This condition is distinct from the brief and sudden movements that occur just as people are falling asleep, which can interrupt sleep. Sometimes dopamine medications that have worked for a while to relieve your RLS become ineffective, or you notice your symptoms returning earlier in the day or involving your arms. Your provider may substitute another medication to combat the problem. In addition, your provider may refer you to a sleep specialist. This may involve an overnight stay and a study at a sleep clinic if another sleep disorder such as sleep apnea is suspected.

How is RLS treated?

Janis Lopes, 73, learned she had RLS more than 25 years ago. Lopes, who runs an RLS support group in southern California, says she finds relief from restless legs by getting up and moving. The Brief Addiction Monitor is a self-report measure of substance use and functional consequences including ratings of physical and psychological well-being (Cacciola et al., 2013). This measure was administered and used to determine the number of days of substance use in the previous month.

• If you attempt to suppress the urge to move, you may find that your symptoms worsen.
• Patients with RLS who responded reported driving while drowsy more than patients without RLS.
• If there is a protective association between exercise and RLS, this finding is especially interesting in the public health setting.

Sometimes we use blood work or other testing to rule out other medical conditions, low levels of red blood cells or ferritin . There are no nonprescription products or supplements that can help with RLS, but prescription medications may provide relief. Your physician has several choices of effective drugs, including oral tablets/capsules and a transdermal patch. You should closely follow all directions given by your physician and pharmacist.

Diagnosing restless legs syndrome

In the U.S., the device is offered only with a prescription and can be either rented or purchased. Pressure can help relieve the discomfort of restless legs syndrome. Try wearing compression socks or stockings or wrap your legs in bandages (but not so tight you’ll cut off circulation).

Exclusion criteria included any current psychiatric or medical condition (e.g., active psychosis) that would preclude the ability to provide informed consent or complete a brief survey. Distinguishing nonspecific restlessness from true RLS may be important not only to the clinical management of opioid detoxification, but also for managing the risk for relapse following detoxification. Thus, identifying and treating RLS may also be important for mitigating the risk for relapse immediately following detoxification. A large majority of those who experience RLS also have other health conditions such as periodic limb movement disorder . PLMD causes a person’s legs to twitch or jerk uncontrollably.

Taking too much iron during pregnancy can be toxic to both you and your baby and interfere with your child’s development, she says. Eat them with foods high in vitamin C which increases iron absorption, Dr. Durmer says. Hit the sack only when you’re sleepy enough to fall asleep quickly. A survey to see if anyone else in your family has similar symptoms.

A minority (around 2.7% of the population) experience daily or severe symptoms. RLS is twice as common in women as in men, and Caucasians are more prone to RLS than people of African descent. RLS is even more common in individuals with iron deficiency, pregnancy, or end-stage kidney disease. The National Sleep Foundation’s 1998 Sleep in America poll showed that up to 25 percent of pregnant women developed RLS during the third trimester. Our estimates of prevalence are limited by reliance on self-reported frequency of restless legs.

Menstrual blood loss is a common cause of iron deficiency in women of reproductive age. Tests to check for an underlying cause of iron deficiency, such as gastrointestinal bleeding, are particularly important in men, postmenopausal women, and children. Some studies have shown patients with RLS have an increased risk of suicide or harming themselves. Insomnia itself can increase the activity of hormones and pathways in the brain that produce emotional problems.

Even though alcohol doesn’t cause RLS, there are other ways it negatively affects someone who has symptoms of or has been diagnosed with RLS. For instance, those with RLS who drink alcohol have an increased risk of developing other health issues. With RLS, you want to get as much quality, restful sleep as possible, and alcohol cannot do that for you. Look up restless legs syndrome in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. Treatment of RLS should not be considered until possible medical causes are ruled out. Secondary RLS may be cured if precipitating medical conditions are managed effectively.

ASignificant difference between alcohol use disorder and opioid use disorder groups as assessed by t-test or chi-square test . Alyssa is Banyan’s Director of Digital Marketing & Technology. After overcoming her own struggles with addiction, she began working in the treatment field in 2012. She graduated from eco sober house boston Palm Beach State College in 2016 with additional education in Salesforce University programs. A part of the Banyan team since 2016, Alyssa brings over 5 years of experience in the addiction treatment field. Other risk factors of RLS include rheumatoid arthritis, peripheral neuropathy, and fibromyalgia.

The dopamine precursor levodopa (L-dopa) was once a popular drug for severe RLS, although today it is usually recommended only for patients with occasional symptoms who may take it nightly as needed. It may also be helpful for long car rides or plane trips. The standard preparations combine levodopa with carbidopa, which improves the action and duration of levodopa and reduces some of its side effects, particularly nausea. Each of these treatments must be tailored to a person’s specific situation such as concurrent psychiatric symptoms and concern for augmentation.

The Effects of RLS

This trigger causes aches and confusion in the nervous system. Usually, doctors will prescribe dopamine stimulating drugs for people struggling with restless legs. The Health and Retirement Study is a nationally representative cohort of economic and physical health of elders . Since 1992, HRS has provided comprehensive and detailed information on many domains, including health status, employment, disability, and net worth of U.S. elders. Some experience RLS only at bedtime, while others experience it throughout the day and night. Most people experience the worst symptoms in the evening and the least in the morning.”restless legs feel similar to the urge to yawn, situated in the legs or arms.”

Benign nocturnal leg cramps are muscle spasms in the calf. Nocturnal leg cramps can be very painful and may cause the person to jump out of bed in the middle of the night. They typically affect a specific area of the calf or the sole of the foot.

• Also note whether there’s a history of RLS in your family.
• Despite the lack of scientific evidence, many people with RLS report that drinking alcohol, especially in the evening, boosts their RLS symptoms.
• Medications used may include dopamine agonists or gabapentin in those with daily restless legs syndrome, and opioids for treatment of resistant cases.
• Researchers had thought that such abnormalities began in nerve pathways in the lower spine.

Reduced amounts of iron in central brain neurons are believed to disrupt the brain’s dopamine system, says Rebecca Gray, an OB-GYN with Baylor Medical Center, in Irving, Texas. “Activities that increase alertness often improve RLS symptoms by changing the mental state and activating the body’s motor system ,” Dr. Buchfurher says. “The most common RLS triggers are prescription and over-the-counter medications,” Dr. Buchfuhrer says.

Parkinson’s Disease and Sleep: Problems and Solutions

The sensations are unusual and unlike other common sensations. Those with RLS have a hard time describing them, using words or phrases such as uncomfortable, painful, ‘antsy’, electrical, creeping, itching, pins and needles, pulling, crawling, buzzing, and numbness. It is sometimes described similar to a limb ‘falling asleep’ or an exaggerated sense of positional awareness of the affected area.

However, if you need to take these medications, talk to your provider about adding drugs to help manage your RLS. Short-term side effects of these medications are usually mild and include nausea, lightheadedness and fatigue. However, they can also cause impulse control disorders, such as compulsive gambling, and daytime sleepiness.

• Medical researchers have yet to find an exact cause for RLS.
• Control the symptoms of RLS with a healthy diet, exercise and good sleep.
• People who develop the condition at a later age are less likely to have a family history of RLS.
• We did not differentiate between primary and secondary RLS.
• Using the lowest dose possible can minimize these effects.

A reasonable approach for people with RLS who are iron deficient is to take 65 mg of iron along with 100 mg of vitamin C on an empty stomach, 3 times a day. To replace iron, the preferred forms of iron tablets are ferrous salts, usually ferrous sulfate (Feosol, Fer-In-Sol, Mol-Iron). Some people have tried alternative treatments for RLS, such as acupuncture and massage.

This population-based sample of U.S. elders confirms that restless legs syndrome is common, with 10.6% of our sample meeting the operational definition of weekly RLS symptoms, and potentially disabling. The prevalence estimates are consistent with other reports, although we were unable to classify patients with primary versus secondary RLS. The multinational RLS Epidemiology, Symptoms, and Treatment study found annual period prevalence of 7.2%, although 5% had weekly symptoms . The 2005 National Sleep Foundation Poll’s estimate was 9.7% for symptoms several nights per week . The MEMO study, another population-based survey, reported 9.8% prevalence in elders in Germany .

Although the syndrome may begin at any age, even as early as infancy, most patients who are severely affected are middle aged or older. In addition, the severity of the disorder appears to increase with age. Older patients experience symptoms more frequently and for longer periods of time. Winkelman JW, Redline S, Baldwin CM, Resnick HE, Newman AB, Gottlieb DJ. Polysomnographic and health-related quality of life correlates of restless legs syndrome in the Sleep Heart Health Study. Potential participants were approached by a member of the study staff and offered the opportunity to participate.