What is restless leg syndrome, what causes it and is there a treatment?
In severe cases it can be extremely disruptive to everyday life, but why does it occur and is there a treatment?
What is restless leg syndrome?
Restless leg syndrome (RLS) is also known as Willis-Ekbom disease and affects as many as one in 10 people at some point during their life.
Women are twice as likely to get the condition as men, and it is more common in middle age, although can occur at any age, including childhood.
Sufferers have an extreme urge to move their legs, and they can also experience an uncomfortable sensation in their limbs.
Some people experience this throughout the day, and others just have them occasionally.
It can be made worse by long periods of sitting down, e.g. when travelling by plane or train.
What are the symptoms of restless leg syndrome?
People who have restless leg syndrome experience an unusual sensation in their legs, but it can also affect their arms, face and chest.
The feeling is described as:
- painful cramping in the legs, particularly in the calves
- a “creep-crawly” sensation
- itching, burning, tingling and throbbing
The feeling can range from manageable to unbearable, and is typically worse at night.
If you experience these symptoms you should go to your GP.
What causes restless leg syndrome?
It is often unknown what causes restless leg syndrome but some scientists believe it can be down to how the body processes the chemical dopamine.
Dopamine helps control muscle movement, so many healthcare professionals think it may be responsible for involuntary limb movement.
Some cases are causes by a health condition such as kidney failure or anaemia.
Around one in 5 women who are pregnant will experience the condition in the final three months of pregnancy, but it is not clear why.
In these cases, the symptoms usually disappear after birth.
Research has showed that some genes that are related to restless leg syndrome can run in families.
Is there a treatment for restless leg syndrome?
According to the NHS, many of the less severe cases of the conditions are not linked to a health problem, so can’t be treated.
But there are a few lifestyle changes that can help make sufferers’ lives easier.
These include:
- exercising regularly
- establishing regular sleeping patterns
- avoiding alcohol or caffeine at night
- giving up cigarettes
If the case is more severe, you may need medication which can help to regulate the amount of iron or dopamine in the body.
If the syndrome is caused by iron deficiency anaemia you may only need iron supplements to treat symptoms.
If the cause is unknown, symptoms can get more severe with time.
Researchers from Lake Erie Research Institute, Pennsylvania, believe a simple foot wrap could be more effective than current treatments and can cut sleep loss by over 80 per cent.
What are the risks with restless leg syndrome?
Thankfully the condition isn’t life threatening but can cause distress or disruption to your life.
It can cause insomnia and also trigger depression or anxiety.
Charities such as Restless Leg Syndrome UK can help provide support for sufferers.
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