Restless leg syndrome (RLS) is a nervous system illness characterized by an overwhelming need to move one’s legs. Willis-Ekbom illness is another name for it. Doctors classify it as a sleep disorder because it frequently occurs or worsens while you’re sleeping. You may have difficulty sleeping or sitting for lengthy periods of time, such as in a theater or a car. If you do not get treatment, your condition may worsen. A lack of sleep can lead to troubles at work or at home over time. Up to 10% of persons in the United States suffer with restless leg syndrome. Anyone can acquire it, although women are more likely to get it, and those in their forties and fifties are more likely to have severe symptoms. Doctors don’t always detect RLS, especially if the symptoms are minor or don’t occur frequently. However, once diagnosed, treatment can frequently stop it. People with restless legs syndrome experience odd sensations in their legs (such as itching, crawling, pulling, aching, throbbing, or pins and needles) as well as a strong need to move their legs to relieve the sensations. The illness can also occur in other parts of the body, such as the arms, chest, or head. The sensations are frequently felt on both sides of the body. They can also occur solely on one side, or they can begin on one side and then spread to the other. RLS symptoms can range from moderate to excruciating. They may appear and disappear, and their severity may vary between episodes. Because symptoms almost usually disappear in the early morning, people with RLS can typically sleep soundly then. RLS symptoms range in severity from minor to terrible. Symptoms might appear and disappear, and their severity can also vary. The symptoms tend to be worse in the evenings and at night. Some patients may experience severe nightly sleep disruption as a result of their symptoms, which can considerably impact their quality of life. There are no particular causes of restless legs syndrome (RLS). RLS was formerly considered to be caused by disease in the blood vessels of the legs or in the nerves that control leg movement and sensation, but both of these theories have been rejected. RLS could be caused by changes in brain chemicals (neurotransmitters) that assist regulate muscle movements, or by changes in the area of the central nervous system that governs involuntary movements. These areas are still being researched. RLS can sometimes be triggered by an underlying medical disease (secondary RLS), however the cause is not always evident.
Read on to see what triggers this strange sleep disorder.
1. Iron deficiency
Iron deficiency anemia is a frequent kind of anemia, defined as a shortage of healthy red blood cells in the blood. Red blood cells transport oxygen to the tissues of the body. Iron deficiency anemia is caused by a lack of iron, as the name implies. Your body cannot make enough of a component in red blood cells that allows them to carry oxygen if you do not have enough iron (hemoglobin). As a result, iron deficiency anemia can cause fatigue and shortness of breath. Iron supplementation can generally cure iron deficiency anemia. Additional testing or treatments for iron deficiency anemia may be required at times, particularly if your doctor fears that you are bleeding internally. Restless legs syndrome can occur as a result of another health condition or as a result of another health-related issue. Secondary restless legs syndrome is the medical term for this. Secondary restless legs syndrome can occur if you have iron deficiency anemia because low amounts of iron in the blood can induce a drop in dopamine, resulting in restless leg syndrome.
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