Restless legs syndrome – what is it, how to treat it

Restless legs syndrome is also known as Wittmaak-Ekbom syndrome or Ekbom's disease. The first descriptions of this condition were made by Wittmaak and Willis in 1672. In practice, the disease was described only in 1945 by Eckbom. In English, this disease is also abbreviated as "RLS" from the words Restless Legs Syndrome.

What is Restless legs syndrome?

This condition includes the occurrence of various types of paresthesias, or so-called "abnormal sensations."&"which are characterized by strange, unpleasant sensations characterized by temperature changes, tingling or numbness, "goosebumps" or "electricity." The patient experiences similar sensations in the lower extremities, which leads to fatigue and restlessness in the legs.

The symptomatic syndrome is relieved by movement, so the patient involuntarily makes a large number of leg movements, even when lying or sleeping. Since the symptoms occur at rest, it is restless legs syndrome that is most often associated with sleep problems leading to insomnia.

Movements during sleep occur in the form of straightening and bending the fingers, as well as bending the legs, the patient moves them in a dream. Periodic movement of limbs during sleep is what the above symptoms are called in medicine, in the literature it is called PLMS or "periodic movement of limbs during sleep".

Prevalence in society

According to forecasts, restless legs syndrome occurs in about 10% of all people over the age of 65, and in general – in about 5% of the population.

Cases of hereditary restless legs syndrome have been described, but this is not a typical genetic disorder, and it can occur a second time as a result of virtually unknown disease factors.

It is known that restless legs syndrome is more common in people with diabetes, venous insufficiency, rheumatoid arthritis, uremia, and endogenous depression (when symptoms characteristic of depression, such as sadness, depression, and lack of desire to live, are masked by other somatic symptoms, that is, those related to the body and physicality).

Unfortunately, it is also more common in women.

How to treat restless legs syndrome?

You should definitely eliminate nicotine, alcohol, and caffeine from your diet, which can cause some symptoms. It is also necessary to strengthen the replenishment of the body with iron and other vitamins, which will help vitamin complexes sold in pharmacies.

It may also be helpful to "stabilize" your daily diet, including the last meal a few hours before bedtime. It is also useful to start doing relaxation exercises daily.

When should I see a doctor?

It's always a good idea to see a doctor, especially if the symptoms become so severe that you can no longer control them on your own. Restless legs syndrome is very easily diagnosed by determining the concentration of certain substances in the blood.

The doctor may prescribe dopaminergic drugs, which should certainly help combat the problem, or other specialized drugs if the basic therapy does not have the desired effect. https://www.smartmoneymatch.com/en/How-Esports-Betting-Is-Reshaping-the-iGaming-Industry

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