What is Restless Legs Syndrome

Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS for short) is a common nerve disease. “Restless legs” means “restless legs” and that describes the disease pretty precisely: those affected have an agonizing urge to move. When they come to rest, for example when sitting or lying down, they feel uncomfortable pulling, tingling, stinging, heat or pain in their legs . Only when those affected stand up and take a few steps do the symptoms subside. As soons as they sit down or lie down again, the unpleasant symptoms reappear.

Restless legs syndrome (it is also known as Wittmaack-Ekbom syndrome or Willis Ekbom disease) can also occur in the feet, arms, hands and in rare cases in the trunk (chest wall) in some cases. Since the symptoms are usually stronger in the evening and at night, those affected hardly find sleep or wake up several times during the night; they get up repeatedly, knead their legs, and stroll around so that the symptoms subside. A restful, deep sleep is hardly possible . During the day they are tired, have attention and concentration problems, feel worn out and exhausted.

Some sufferers experience the excruciating symptoms only every few days or weeks, others are plagued by it every day. The feeling of constantly having to move in order to avoid painful symptoms is very stressful and can reduce the quality of life. Because this means that rest, relaxation and adequate sleep are hardly possible. If this is the case for a long time, the person affected can develop an anxiety disorder or depression .

Restless legs syndrome occurs in five to ten percent of the population in Germany. It is the second most common neurological disease after migraines. Women are affected twice as often as men. The nerve disease usually occurs in middle age, but can also develop in younger people and children.

Restless Legs Syndrome: Children

Children who suffer from Restless Legs Syndrome also have an uncomfortable urge to move around and often a noticeable restlessness before going to bed. You have trouble sleeping and at night you try to relieve the discomfort in your legs through activity. You walk around, rock, or constantly change your sleeping position. During the day, the children are tired, have attention and concentration problems, and some become aggressive or hyperactive. It is not uncommon for symptoms to be misdiagnosed as growing pains or ADHD . The examination by a neurologist experienced in RLS is therefore important. 

Restless legs syndrome: causes

So far, the cause of Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) has not been scientifically clarified. Researchers are currently assuming that a disturbed metabolism of the neurotransmitter dopamine is responsible for the "restless legs". Either dopamine is not made sufficiently in the brain or it is not used properly by the nerves. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that transmits excitation from one nerve cell to other cells and thus forwards the commands of the nervous system to the muscles. The messenger substance regulates the tension and relaxation of the muscles and thus the movements. If the dopamine metabolism is impaired, movement impulses can no longer be adequately inhibited at rest or during sleep and reach the muscles unfiltered.

There is a genetic make-up for Restless Legs Syndrome. In more than half of all RLS patients, the nerve condition affects several family members. In studies, scientists have discovered some risk genes for the development of RLS. If the nerve disease was caused by these factors, doctors speak of a primary restless legs syndrome .

The "restless legs" can also arise as a result of another illness or a lack of nutrients, doctors refer to this as secondary restless legs syndrome . This includes the following causes:

• Kidney failure (a disease in which one or both kidneys do not work properly)
• Iron deficiency (the mineral supports the formation of dopamine.)
• A deficiency in vitamin B12 (vitamin B12 is involved in the development and regeneration of the nerve sheaths.)
• Folic acid deficiency ( folic acid , also called vitamin B9, is important for the growth and reproduction of cells.)
• Certain drugs (such as antidepressants, dopamine antagonists)
• Polyneuropathy (a diseases of the peripheral nervous system)
• Diabetes mellitus
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Parkinson's
• Hyperthyroidism or hypothyroidism
• Celiac disease (gluten intolerance)
• Rare conditions such as spinocerebellar atrophy (a neurodegenerative disease of the central nervous system) or Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (a disease of the peripheral nervous system)

Often several factors come together to create restless legs syndrome. For example, even if a person has a genetic predisposition to the nervous disorder, the disease may not break out until another disease such as diabetes occurs. In some people affected, the genetic disposition is so weak that the RLS does not break out at all. It can also be the case that the predisposition is so severe that the restless legs syndrome occurs without another factor having to be added.

Sometimes Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) also occurs during pregnancy . A cause for this is not yet known. It could be that the hormonal change or a pregnancy-related iron deficiency is related. The symptoms usually go away on their own after delivery.

Restless legs syndrome: symptoms

The following typical symptoms occur in Restlegs Legs Syndrome (RLS):

• An uncomfortable urge to move becomes noticeable as soon as the person concerned rests, especially when he is sitting or lying down.
• In addition, an uncomfortable tingling sensation ("pins and needles"), pulling , stabbing ( needle prick sensation ), involuntary twitching , feeling of pressure , burning , sensation of heat , pain or cramps in the legs (especially in the lower legs) occur in the resting state . Sometimes these unpleasant sensations also occur in the feet, arms, hands or in the trunk (chest wall). The symptoms often occur in both legs, but they can only affect one side or occur alternately.
• The symptoms improve when the person concerned moves, for example when he or she walks, runs, stretches or stretches.
• Symptoms are more severe in the evening and at night than during the day. Sometimes they only occur towards the end of the day.
• Since the symptoms often appear five to 30 minutes after going to bed, people have trouble falling asleep or wake up several times during the night because their legs are twitching. Some are unaware of the disturbances in sleep, others run around at night, kneading or massaging their legs so that the agonizing symptoms subside.
• If the disease lasts longer, those affected can also plague severe symptoms during the day. He then has problems sitting at his desk, in a conference, in a restaurant or in the cinema for several hours. Longer cars or train journeys, as well as air travel, are also impossible for him. He is very impaired in his job and in his private life.

Restless legs syndrome: what helps?

So far there is no therapy that addresses the causes of primary Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS), as these have not yet been adequately researched. Treatment, therefore, cannot cure the disease, it can only alleviate the symptoms .

It looks different if the "restless legs" are triggered by another illness. Then the doctor will prescribe medication to treat this underlying condition . This often improves the symptoms of Restless Legs Syndrome. If the nervous disease is the side effect of a drug (for example an antidepressant), changing the drug can be the solution here. If iron deficiency is to blame for the RLS, iron supplements are used. In these cases the Restless Legs Syndrome is curable, so to speak.

Restless Legs Syndrome: Medication

The following drugs can be use to treat Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS):

• Dopamine erge drugs : They are the first choice therapy for "restless legs" (so-called first line treatment). The preparations work directly in the areas of the brain in which the neurotransmitter dopamine is produced. They have different mechanisms of action: The active ingredient L-Dopa is a precursor to dopamine and is converted to dopamine in the brain. It usually causes the symptoms to subside after the first dose and is used as an emergency medication. This means that the patient takes the drug when he expects increased symptoms in a certain situation, for example before a car trip or a long visit to the theater where he has to sit for hours. Dopamine agonistson the other hand, imitate the effects of dopamine in the brain and thus compensate for a dopamine deficiency. They are available as tablets or plasters. Doctors primarily prescribe them for moderate and severe symptoms.
• If dopaminergic drugs do not improve, opioids can be used. These strong pain relievers are the second line treatment for restless legs syndrome. The preparations act on the opioid receptors in the brain and thus prevent the transmission of pain signals. There are short-acting opiates for mild to moderate symptoms and long-acting opiates for severe symptoms. However, because they carry an increased risk of developing addiction, they should not be prescribed in particular to patients who have been or are previously affected by an addiction. 
• The third option for treating restless legs syndrome are anticonvulsants , i.e. preparations that are traditionally used against seizures in epileptics. They come into question in RLS if the patient has not tolerated both dopaminergic drugs and opiates and are therefore the third choice for treatment. In severe cases, a combination of the various therapies may be necessary.
• Occasionally, the administration of magnesium can help "restless legs" and alleviate the symptoms.

 inbusinessworld   digitalmarketingtrick  thewebscience  itgraviti  beloveliness  allmarketingtips