What is restless legs syndrome (RLS)?
Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a sleep disorder that
causes an intense, often irresistible urge to move your legs, often accompanied
by other sensations in the legs such as tingling, pulling, creeping, or pain.
This sensation is brought on by lying down in bed or by sitting for prolonged
periods of time, such as while driving or at a theater. RLS typically occurs in
the evening, making it difficult to fall asleep. Often, people with RLS want to
walk around and shake their legs to help relieve the uncomfortable sensation.
Who gets RLS?
People of any age, including children, can have RLS.
However, the syndrome typically strikes older adults and affects women more
often than men. Young people who have RLS or who show the symptoms of RLS are
usually dismissed as having "growing pains" or are considered to be overexerting
themselves during physical activity. Because the symptoms of RLS are often
difficult to describe, and at least initially may only occur once or twice per
month, many people forget to bring up the subject to a doctor. About 5% to 10%
of the U.S. population has RLS.
What causes RLS?
RLS has been found to be a genetic syndrome in some
cases, as parents with RLS can pass it down to their children. In addition, a
variety of medical problems (described below) as well as medications can
contribute to the development of RLS.
How do I know if I have RLS?
Because there is no test that the doctor can conduct
to diagnose RLS, a physician often has to diagnose the disorder by listening to
patients’ descriptions of their symptoms. To confirm a diagnosis of RLS,
patients must have the following symptoms:
- An urge or desire to move their legs, usually accompanied by unpleasant
or disagreeable sensations such as numbness, tingling, crawling, itching,
aching, burning, cramping, or pain.
- The urge to move or uncomfortable sensations begin or worsen during
periods of rest or inactivity, such as when sitting watching television or
traveling in a car or by airplane.
- The urge to move or uncomfortable sensations are partially or totally
relieved by activities such as stretching, walking, or exercising the
affected muscles.
- The urge to move or uncomfortable sensations are worse or occur solely
in the evening or at night.
Your doctor may ask you to discuss your family health
history, including family members who may have RLS. In 50% of patients, the
disorder is presumed to be genetic. The chance of developing RLS increases three
to six times when an immediate relative has the disorder. Also, these patients
tend to develop symptoms earlier in life (before age 45) than those with RLS
without the genetic link.