Restless leg syndrome, known as RLS, is a sleep disorder that afflicts more than 15 percent of adults. It affects more women than men and the incidence of restless leg syndrome increases with age. Certain medical conditions, such as diabetes, arthritis, and varicose veins, also increase the risk of developing restless leg syndrome.
This sleep disorder is characterized by an uncontrollable urge to move the lower legs, knees, and occasionally the arms. Sometimes painful sensations accompany the urge to move.
People that suffer from this sleep disorder describe their feelings and sensations in different ways. Many describe a tingling, itching, or pulling sensation. Still, others say it feels prickly or burns. Some feel as if they have worms crawling under their skin.
Restless leg syndrome cannot be diagnosed by one single test. Often standard neurological examinations show no signs of an abnormality.
In many cases, a doctor makes the diagnosis of restless leg syndrome based on the description of the symptoms. They also take into account family history, and the results of a routine medical examination and blood tests.
Testing of families and tracking diseases through the generations to be able to have some kind of record of the disease passing down through generations or skipping generations which is what some diseases have done in some families for those who have a disposition for certain things.
This sleep disorder in children is usually outgrown and treatment is not generally necessary. In most cases, a parent gently guiding the child back to bed is all that is needed.
There is not any need to wake the child. However, there is about 1% of the population that sleepwalk as adults. Adults that have this sleep disorder did not necessarily have it as a child.
In adults, a sleepwalking episode can be triggered by stress, anxiety, sleep fragmentation, sleep deprivation, or certain medical conditions such as epilepsy.
The combination of always feeling tired and the symptoms themselves can cause a person with restless leg syndrome to alter their lifestyle. Long trips, movies, concerts, and eating in
restaurants are some of the activities they usually avoid. Attending a long meeting at work can become very painful and uncomfortable. People that have this sleep disorder often suffer from depression.
Another sleep disorder similar to restless leg syndrome is periodic limb movement disorder known as PLMD. There are two main differences between restless leg syndrome and periodic limb movement disorder.
Restless leg syndrome occurs when the sufferer is awake or asleep; periodic limb movement disorder only
occurs when the sufferer is asleep. Restless leg syndrome movements are voluntary responses to very unpleasant sensations; the movements of periodic limb movement disorder are involuntary and are not consciously controlled. Both of these
Sleep disorders can be effectively controlled with medical treatment.
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