Restless Leg Syndrome –Types, Symptoms, Causes, Risks and Treatment

Restless leg syndrome or Willis-Ekbom disease is a neurological disorder initiating uncomfortable sensations in the legs. It can develop in people of any age, including children, and is mainly experienced during the evening or nightfall. As a result, disrupting the sleep cycle and other day-to-day activities.

Keep reading this article to know more about the restless leg syndrome, its symptoms, causes, risk, and treatment. Further, how it is controllable by making little lifestyle changes and following a few self-care tips.

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What Is Restless Leg Syndrome?

RLS or restless leg syndrome is a medical condition in which you experience an uncontrollable urge to move your legs in reaction to an uncomfortable sensation. These sensations can be creeping, pulling, throbbing, burning, crawling, aching, or itching.

So, to relieve these uncomfortable sensations, you often like to shake your legs or walk around. For most, this urge is maximum when they are at a resting stage, like lying on the bed or when sitting for a long time. Thus, making it hard to sleep at night. The stages of this condition can vary from mild to severe and can be reduced with medications and lifestyle changes.

What Are the Types of Restless Leg Syndrome?

There are two main types of restless leg syndrome. It includes:

1. Idiopathic or Primary RLSIdiopathic or Primary RLS

This type is by far the most common RLS, and the cause is still unknown. Nevertheless people suffering from Idiopathic or Primary RLS suffer shows the following characteristics:

It develops in childhood
People below 40 mainly suffer through this type
It is a result of a genetic cause
It tends to last for a lifetime

2. Secondary RLS

Secondary RLS develops as a result of another disease and mainly affects those above the age of 45 years. It is not hereditary and has the following characteristics:

Its symptoms turn worse with time
Onset is sudden
It may show more severe symptoms

What Are the Symptoms of Restless Leg Syndrome?

The following are some of the symptoms of restless leg syndrome that you may notice:

Discomfort
Twitchiness
Restlessness
Urge to move
Need to stretch
Legs wanting to move on their own

However, since this disorder deprives people of sleep, they face other issues relating to sleep disorders like irritability, mood swings, depression, reduced concentration, and hampered productivity.

What Are the Causes of Restless Leg Syndrome?

These are no definite causes of restless leg syndrome. However, the researchers often suspect it may develop because of an impaired balance of the brain chemical dopamine. So, it starts sending signals to move a muscle. Other causes can be hereditary or pregnancy. Pregnancy or hormonal changes in the body often worsen the symptoms of restless leg syndrome. RLS can also run in the family, thus passing down generation after generation.

In addition, certain medical conditions have also been added to make the condition worse. These include:

Diabetes
Kidney diseases
Iron deficiency
Depression
Hypothyroidism
Parkinson's disease

What Are the Risk Factors of Restless Leg Syndrome?

Certain factors put you at a slightly higher risk of developing restless leg syndrome than others. These include:

Age: Though there is no definite age, RLS can develop anytime. However, it is more common and severe after one passes middle age.
Gender: Women are more likely to experience restless leg syndrome than men.
Family History: If the condition runs in your family, you are more likely to have RLS.
Alcohol or Caffeine Consumption: If you consume a lot of alcohol or caffeine daily, you may have a higher chance of triggering the symptoms of the disease.
Medications: Consumption of medications including antidepressants, antinausea, antipsychotics, and others have seen directly aggregating symptoms of RLS.
Ethnicity: Anyone can develop restless leg syndrome. However, it is more common in people belonging to the North Europe region.

How Is Restless Leg Syndrome Diagnosed?

To identify the best method regarding how to treat restless leg syndrome, the doctor may try to diagnose the situation by looking at your symptoms. This means that there are no definite tests to mark the disease.

However, the doctor may also carry a complete neurological and physical exam along with blood tests to rule out the possibility of having another disease. Moreover, to confirm the condition, doctors may:

Suggest you sleep overnight to evaluate other sleeping disorders, specifically obstructive sleep apnea
Look into sensations like whether you feel the urge to move your legs due to tugging, crawling, pulling, itching, burning, or other sensations.
Question you about whether the condition worsens during nightfall or if it cures by carrying certain activities like walking, stretching, etc.

What Is the Treatment of Restless Leg Syndrome?

The treatment for restless leg syndrome directly depends on how severe the condition is. Various treatment options include:

Non-Drug Treatment: The doctor suggests non-drug treatment when your condition is mild, and you can control it by adopting a few positive habits, taking better lifestyle decisions, and working on the triggers. For example, exercising daily, adopting good sleeping habits, limiting or avoiding caffeine and alcohol, reducing stress through meditation, etc.
Iron Supplementation: Iron deficiency is one of the causes of restless leg syndrome, so taking an iron supplement may control your condition. It is recommended by the doctor when they find you have an iron deficiency in your blood.
Prescribed Medications: The medication that a doctor may suggest will vary from one individual to another. However, it mainly includes painkillers, Alpha 2 agonists, Anticonvulsants, Dopaminergic agents, Benzodiazepines, Opiates, and others.

How to Prevent Restless Leg Syndrome Using Home Care and Lifestyle Changes?

By adopting certain simple tips, you can prevent the symptoms of restless leg syndrome. These include:

Applying Warm or Cool Packs: Usage of warm or cool packs in the areas of discomfort has shown a drastic effect in controlling the symptoms of RLS and even preventing it from getting worse.
Taking Baths and Massages: You can try taking a bath or massages. It relaxes the muscles of the legs and prevents them from experiencing RLS.
Limiting Caffeine: Though it is best to avoid caffeine intake, you can start by limiting its consumption. It helps restless legs to a high degree. This means cutting down the consumption of coffee, tea, chocolate, soft drinks, and others for a few weeks.
Maintaining Good Sleep: Fatigue has been seen to directly affect restless leg syndrome symptoms. So, if you try to maintain your sleep hygiene, it can help the condition. For this purpose, try maintaining a cool, quiet, and comfortable environment while sleeping. Also, go to bed at the same time every day. Wake up early in the morning and maintain a sleep of 7 hours.
Exercising: Moderate and gentle exercises every morning has shown to relieve the symptoms of RLS. However, ensure you do not overdo it as it may intensify the conditions.
Foot Wrapping or Using Vibrating Pad: A vibrating foot pad specifically designed for RLS helps relieve the disorder's symptoms by vibrating the back of the legs.

Restless leg syndrome is a neurological disorder experienced by many people. Unfortunately, it is not curable, but you can take steps to control or prevent it. Another fact about this disorder is it does not lead to anything serious. However, preventive measures and some home remedies can help to curb its symptoms significantly. Thus pushing you towards a healthier life.

Frequently Asked Questions

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When should one consult a doctor when suffering from restless leg syndrome?

Though the symptoms of this condition are mild, it is recommended to consult a doctor when it starts to interfere with your sleep cycle, or you experience daytime drowsiness. Thus, affecting the quality of your living and day-to-day productivity.

What are the common triggers that may initiate the symptoms of restless leg syndrome?

Sitting or resting has been shown to trigger restless leg syndrome most commonly. However, consuming things like nicotine, caffeine, alcohol, or medications for treating allergies, colds, nausea, and others can also worsen the condition.