Can restless leg syndrome be dangerous?
Can restless leg syndrome be dangerous?
Although RLS doesn’t lead to other serious conditions, symptoms can range from barely bothersome to incapacitating. Many people with RLS find it difficult to fall or stay asleep. Severe RLS can cause marked impairment in life quality and can result in depression.
How do you survive restless leg syndrome?
Making simple lifestyle changes can help alleviate symptoms of RLS :
- Try baths and massages. Soaking in a warm bath and massaging your legs can relax your muscles.
- Apply warm or cool packs.
- Establish good sleep hygiene.
- Exercise.
- Avoid caffeine.
- Consider using a foot wrap.
Can restless leg syndrome affect your heart?
Up to 80% of people with RLS experience periodic limb movements of sleep, in which they move their legs 300 to 500 times a night. This activates the sympathetic nervous system, elevating heart rate and blood pressure. It also interrupts sleep, which is associated with increased heart risk.
Why does restless leg syndrome happen?
If nerve cells become damaged, the amount of dopamine in the brain is reduced, which causes muscle spasms and involuntary movements. Dopamine levels naturally fall towards the end of the day, which may explain why the symptoms of restless legs syndrome are often worse in the evening and during the night.
What happens to a person with restless legs syndrome?
Many people with RLS find it difficult to fall or stay asleep. Severe RLS can cause marked impairment in life quality and can result in depression. Insomnia may lead to excessive daytime drowsiness, but RLS may interfere with napping.
Is there a cure for restless legs syndrome?
Pregnancy also seems to trigger RLS, particularly in the last trimester. While there are drugs on the market that are supposed to treat RLS, there is no one medication that has been found to manage the symptoms of the disorder for all patients.
Can a woman get restless legs syndrome during pregnancy?
Sometimes RLS runs in families, especially if the condition starts before age 40. Researchers have identified sites on the chromosomes where genes for RLS may be present. Pregnancy or hormonal changes may temporarily worsen RLS signs and symptoms. Some women get RLS for the first time during pregnancy, especially during their last trimester.
How old do you have to be to have restless legs syndrome?
Restless legs syndrome, now known as restless legs syndrome/Willis-Ekbom disease (RLS/WED), can begin at any age and generally worsens as you age. It can disrupt sleep, which interferes with daily activities.
Many people with RLS find it difficult to fall or stay asleep. Severe RLS can cause marked impairment in life quality and can result in depression. Insomnia may lead to excessive daytime drowsiness, but RLS may interfere with napping.
Sometimes RLS runs in families, especially if the condition starts before age 40. Researchers have identified sites on the chromosomes where genes for RLS may be present. Pregnancy or hormonal changes may temporarily worsen RLS signs and symptoms. Some women get RLS for the first time during pregnancy, especially during their last trimester.
Can a spinal block cause restless legs syndrome?
Having had anesthesia to the spinal cord, such as a spinal block, also increases the risk of developing RLS. Although RLS doesn’t lead to other serious conditions, symptoms can range from barely bothersome to incapacitating.
What can you do at home for restless legs syndrome?
Massaging your leg muscles could help ease your RLS symptoms. Many health organizations, such as the National Institutes of Health and the National Sleep Foundation, suggest it as an at-home treatment (3, 18, 19).