Archive for 'Restless Legs Syndrome'
Restless Legs Syndrome or Growing Pains?
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Restless Legs Syndrome or Growing Pains?
- By Donald Saunders
(c) Donald Saunders All Rights Reserved
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Restless legs syndrome is a common sleep disorder affecting
about 1 in 10 adults. Characterized by an uncomfortable,
and sometimes painful, itching or prickling in the legs and
an uncontrollable desire to move the legs, restless legs
syndrome is one of the most common causes of insomnia.
It is normally seen as a problem once you reach the age of
about fifty and tends to get worse as you get older. It’s
also the ‘poor relation’ of sleeping disorders and unlike
insomnia, sleep apnea or narcolepsy, all of which are
studied in medical school and reasonably well understood by
doctors, restless legs syndrome is given relatively scant
attention. One study even goes so far as to suggest that in
as many as 3 out of 4 cases the condition goes undiagnosed,
even when the patient presents with all the symptoms of the
disorder.
This lack of focus on the problem, and general acceptance of
it being a problem of the middle aged and elderly, perhaps
hides the real extent of the problem and, in particular,
masks the fact that restless legs syndrome may well play a
major part in the lives of our children.
For many years now children have been complaining of
symptoms at night which we have brushed off as simply
growing pains. In addition, our children often appear
unable to sit still for more than a couple of minutes and we
simply put this down to normal childhood hyperactivity. The
truth, however, is that a substantial number of our children
are in fact suffering from restless legs syndrome.
The cause of restless legs syndrome remains something of a
mystery although a good picture of the disorder is now
beginning to appear and two elements of this picture should
act as a wake up call to the medical profession.
The first element in the picture is that of a genetic basis
for restless legs syndrome. It is now accepted that this
condition runs in families with one study showing that as
many of half of all cases show a family history. This is
re-enforced by recent chromosome studies identifying a
specific gene that is believed to play an important part in
susceptibility to restless legs syndrome. Perhaps most
significant of all however is a report published by the Mayo
Clinic at the end of last year which showed that in a study
of more than 500 children nearly three quarters of those
with restless legs syndrome had a family history of the
disorder.
The second element in the picture is that of an iron
deficiency in sufferers. A number of studies by respected
institutions, such as John Hopkins University, have shown
that low levels of iron are common in cases of restless legs
syndrome. It comes as no surprise therefore that more than
eighty percent of the children in the Mayo Clinic study with
restless legs syndrome also showed low iron levels.
So just what does all of this mean? Well, it’s simple. If
your child is having trouble sleeping and complaining of
discomfort at night, particularly in the legs, perhaps there
is a little more to it that just growing pains. Similarly,
if your child is constantly running around or jumping up and
down then perhaps discomfort in the legs rather than
hyperactivity is the cause.
Growing pains are normal in children, as are periods of
excessive activity, and the odd night here and there is
certainly nothing to worry about. But, if your child’s
growing pains appear night after night then there’s a good
possibility that these aren’t growing pains at all, but are
the symptoms of restless legs syndrome.
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Donald Saunders is the author of a number of health related
e-books including “Help Me To Sleep - A Guide To Natural
Sleep Remedies”
Need to cure your insomnia and get a good night’s sleep?
Visit => http://neozigpig.thewmc.hop.clickbank.net
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Tags: []Restless Legs Syndrome - The Management of a Serious Sleep Disorder
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Restless Legs Syndrome
The Management of a Serious Sleep Disorder
- By Donald Saunders
(c) Donald Saunders All Rights Reserved
======================================================
Restless legs syndrome, or RLS, is seen as both a
neuromuscular disorder and a sleep disorder. Less
frequently diagnosed than sleep disorders like narcolepsy,
sleep apnea and insomnia, restless legs syndrome is
nonetheless a significant and serious sleep problem.
Characterized by a tingling, crawling or prickling sensation
in the legs and feet, restless legs syndrome sufferers
experience an overwhelming desire to move their legs in
order to find relief. Many sufferers also find that the
symptoms seem to worsen in the late afternoon and evening,
especially when sitting or lying down.
Restless legs syndrome can also include instances of
periodic limb movement (PLM), a condition characterized by
the sudden, involuntary movement or twitching of the legs
and feet – often to the extent that it disrupts sleep. It
is the overwhelming desire to move the legs and the frequent
presences of periodic limb movement that, in large part,
earn restless legs syndrome its classification as a sleep
disorder.
Chronic instances of restless legs syndrome make it
virtually impossible for the sufferer to get to sleep, let
alone stay asleep, thereby generating a related case of
severe insomnia. If left untreated, the condition, and the
resulting insomnia, can lead to severe physical and
psychological health problems. In fact, restless legs
syndrome is often associated with depression and
irritability, as well as occupational, social and marital
problems.
As with most common sleep disorders, diagnosing restless
legs syndrome can take time and a proper diagnosis requires
the attention of an experienced medical professional.
Because some of the symptoms can be associated with other
neuromuscular and sleep disorders, it is also important to
undergo specialized sleep tests before a diagnosis is
confirmed. These tests can include neurological
evaluations, reflex tests and magnetic resonance imaging
(MRI) as well as somnography (sleep pattern analysis).
Once the diagnosis has been established, the treatment and
management of restless legs syndrome can include simple
lifestyle changes, dietary adjustments and activities to
promote a better night’s sleep. Because the symptoms
typically become more severe with fatigue or inactivity,
maintaining a regular sleep schedule with a consistent bed
time and waking time is extremely important. Likewise,
regular exercise and limited caffeine and nicotine intake
can also help limit the neurological stimulation that
triggers restless legs symptoms.
Additional options for managing this condition, and other
sleep disorders, include massage, yoga and guided meditation
for relaxation (a good complement to regular exercise and
planned activities for reducing the symptoms of restless
legs syndrome) and the use of natural herbal remedies that
can help train the body to adhere to a routine sleep cycle
and induce a restful and restorative night’s sleep.
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Donald Saunders is the author of a number of health related
e-books including “Help Me To Sleep - A Guide To Natural
Sleep Remedies”
Need to cure your insomnia and get a good night’s sleep?
Visit => http://neozigpig.thewmc.hop.clickbank.net
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