What Happens To A Person During Rest Less Leg Syndrome?

Restless leg syndrome (RLS) is a lifelong neurological condition that affects up to 7% to 10% of people in the United States. This condition occurs in a comparable ratio in both males and females, but females have a higher chance of developing it. Generally, restless leg syndrome affects middle-aged or older individuals, with the symptoms aggravating with age. RLS may develop at any stage in one’s life and does not have a cure. However, treatments to combat the symptoms are available.

Let us delve deeper into this lifelong condition and uncover what happens to a person during restless leg syndrome.

What is Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS)?

Also known as idiopathic RLS, primary RLS, and Willis-Ekbom Disease, restless leg syndrome (RLS) is a neurological disorder that causes an overpowering desire to move because of uncomfortable or unpleasant sensations in the legs. Symptoms of restless leg syndrome most commonly appear in the late afternoon or evening hours, getting more intense at night or while resting. RLS causes considerable sleep disruptions and makes it difficult to return to sleep after waking up or falling asleep. Walking or continuously moving the legs generally relieves discomfort, but the restless sensations appear immediately after movement ceases.

Restless leg syndrome is considered both a movement disorder – because it prompts people to move their legs to combat the symptoms – and a sleep disorder – because resting or attempting to sleep triggers the symptoms.

Symptoms of Restless Leg Syndrome

People with RLS experience an irresistible urge to move their legs, prompted by uncomfortable sensations in the lower limbs. These sensations are quite different from those experienced by people without the disorder and may feel like itching, aching, creeping, throbbing, crawling, pulling, or an amalgamation of all these. They are most common in the legs, less common in the arms, and rare in the head or chest. Depending upon the individual, they may occur on one or both sides of the body.

Some common characteristics of RLS include the following:

• Sensations triggered by rest or attempt to sleep – Such sensations typically occur when a person is inactive or sits for longer periods (such as while watching a movie or traveling via an airplane)
• Need for constant movement to combat discomfort – people with RLS may have to keep the affected parts of their body (typically legs) in a continuous motion to combat the feelings of restlessness. This may include pacing or constantly moving your legs while sitting.
• Symptom-free in the morning but an aggravation of symptoms at night or during periods of rest – You may face difficulty staying or falling asleep due to restlessness. The symptoms may worsen if your sleep is even more affected by external activity or events.

The symptoms of RLS vary from person to person, both in frequency and severity. They may appear only once or twice a week in moderately severe RLS but may significantly hamper sleep onset and duration. In cases of severe RLS, the symptoms may appear more than two times a week.

This may result in additional symptoms, such as the following:

• Difficulty in concentration
• Anxiety and depression
• Mood changes
• Reduced productivity
• Daytime sleepiness and exhaustion
• Impaired memory

Some people may experience remissions, periods where their symptoms may disappear or decrease for weeks or even months. This typically takes place during the early RLS stages. Generally, the symptoms reappear with more severity over time.

Causes of Restless Leg Syndrome

Restless leg syndrome has been found to be genetic, meaning that it runs in the family. Parents with RLS can pass it down to their children: research shows that more than 92% of patients with RLS have a first-degree relative with the disorder. Patients with a family history of RLS may develop symptoms of the disorder early in their life, typically before the age of 45, considerably earlier than those who develop it without the genetic link.

Apart from the prominent genetic link, certain other medical conditions are also associated with the onset and development of RLS, including the following:

• Dialysis
• Low iron levels or iron deficiency
• Diabetes
• Uremia (a condition linked with worsening kidney malfunction)
• Kidney disorders
• Hypothyroidism
• Parkinson’s disease
• Depression
• Fibromyalgia
• Pregnancy
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Peripheral neuropathy

Certain medications can also play a pivotal role in developing this condition, with anti nausea medications, allergy drugs, and antidepressants topping the charts. Nicotine, caffeine, and alcohol can also worsen symptoms.

Risk Factors for Restless Leg Syndrome

Certain factors can put you at a higher risk of developing RLS. However, more research is necessary to uncover their definite role in the development of RLS. These factors are as follows:

Gender

Women are twice more likely to develop RLS as compared to men.

Age

Although it is possible to develop this condition at any age, RLS tends to be more severe after 40 years of age.

Medications

Certain medications – including antihistamines, antipsychotics, antinausea, and antidepressant medications – can worsen or trigger symptoms of RLS.

Pregnancy

It is common for women to develop RLS, especially during their last trimester. However, this condition is temporary and resolves a few weeks after delivery.

Family History

The primary cause of RLS is genetic; thus, your chances of developing this condition are higher if you have a family history.

Ethnicity

Although anyone can develop RLS, this condition is more common in people from Northern Europe.

Chronic Diseases

Chronic healthcare conditions such as kidney failure, peripheral neuropathy, kidney failure, and diabetes may lead to RLS. Treatment of these underlying conditions can relieve the symptoms of RLS.

RLS is a serious condition that can impede your overall quality of life and health, increasing your risk of:

• Early death
• Cardiovascular disorder
• Depression
• Stroke
• Kidney disease
• Diabetes

Restless Leg Syndrome in Children

Children can also develop restless leg syndrome and experience uncomfortable tingling sensations in their legs. However, they may face difficulty describing it. Like adults, symptoms of RLS in children prompt them to move their legs continuously and experience symptoms even during the day.

This can hamper almost all aspects of their lives and make them irritable, inattentive, or fidgety. Early diagnosis and treatment can help them transcend the label of hyperactive or disruptive children and improve their academic performance.

All kinds of sleep-related complications can affect the quality of your health and life, and American-board certified and fellowship-trained sleep specialists at SleepRx can help you diagnose and treat your condition effectively.

You can also consult a sleep apnea specialist and carry out a sleep apnea test or sleep study, or make an appointment with a professional of your choice for an online sleep apnea test or an at-home sleep study to remain in your comfort zone.