| If you have restless legs syndrome (RLS), you know | | | | Well, we have looked at several conditions or factors |
| how emotionally and physically aggravating it can be. | | | | that can cause anemia and thereby cause hypoxia. Is |
| Annoyingly, this terrible affliction can rob you of your | | | | there any scientific literature to more directly to |
| sleep and keep you awake long after you should | | | | support the issue of restless legs syndrome (RLS) |
| have fallen into a peaceful night slumber. Those | | | | and hypoxia. |
| creepy crawly compulsive leg movements affect not | | | | An article entitled “Outcome of restless legs |
| only your nights but extends throughout your entire | | | | severity after continuous positive air pressure (CPAP) |
| life. Loss of your precious sleep decreases your | | | | treatment in patients affected by the association of |
| enjoyment of life and affects not only your nights | | | | RLS and obstructive sleep apneas” from Sleep |
| but your waking hours also because you are tired, | | | | Medicine April 2006 concludes: Our findings suggest |
| cranky and struggle to stay conscious. You can’t | | | | that not only fatigue and sleepiness but also the |
| even focus throughout the day exhausted from lack | | | | severity of RLS show a favorable response to CPAP |
| of sleep. The tormenting twitching and need to kick | | | | in the group of patients with OSAS and RLS. |
| your legs affects not only you but your spouse also. | | | | CPAP stands for continuous passive air pressure |
| Either your spouse has moved to the couch or you | | | | and OSAS stands for obstructive sleep apnea |
| have. | | | | syndrome. Although a CPAP machine does not |
| Likely, your doctor has prescribed you Mirapex or | | | | produce oxygen enriched air, it does produce more |
| Requip for your restless leg syndrome (RLS.) These | | | | oxygen than not getting enough air of any kind at all |
| medications don’t work for everyone and may | | | | as in the case of sleep apnea. |
| have unpleasant side effects. The most common | | | | Here RLS is seen more frequently with Chronic |
| Mirapex side effects are nausea sleeplessness, | | | | Obstructive Pulmonary Disease COPD (HYPOXIA?) |
| constipation, involuntary movement, dizziness upon | | | | A Sleep Medicine November 2008 article entitled |
| standing and hallucinations. | | | | “Increased frequency of restless legs syndrome |
| You've may have tried liniments, herbal remedies, | | | | in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients” |
| acupuncture, and special teas to no avail. So what | | | | concludes: RLS is a frequent cause of disabling sleep |
| causes restless leg syndrome (RLS). The cause of | | | | disturbance in patients with COPD and should be |
| restless leg syndrome is unknown but let’s see if | | | | specifically investigated in these patients. This time |
| by looking at conditions associated with restless legs | | | | from the Canadian journal of neurological science July |
| syndrome we can find a common factor and clue as | | | | 2008. Conclusion: we conclude that RLS is frequent in |
| to its cause. | | | | COPD, particularly in patients with severe hypoxemia |
| The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and | | | | hypercapnia and in late stages of the disease. |
| Stroke states some conditions associated with | | | | Hypoxemia is low oxygen in the blood. |
| restless legs syndrome (RLS) are pregnancy, obesity, | | | | One more time! Sleep Medicine November 2008. |
| smoking, iron deficiency anemia, hypothyroidism, and | | | | Conclusions: RLS is a frequent cause of disabling sleep |
| kidney disease. Caffeine and alcohol have also been | | | | disturbance in patients with COPD and should be |
| associated with restless legs syndrome (RLS.) | | | | specifically investigated in these patients. |
| Hypoxia is where the body or part of the body is | | | | How about lung transplant patients do you suppose |
| deprived of adequate oxygen. Iron deficiency anemia | | | | they might be oxygen deficient? Journal of Heart |
| is where there is a lack of iron. Iron is an important | | | | Lung Transplant January 2007. Conclusion: There was |
| part of hemoglobin that carries oxygen in the blood. | | | | a very high prevalence of RLS in our lung transplant |
| A lack of oxygen is again, hypoxia. | | | | population and most patients had moderate or |
| In pregnancy there is almost a 50% increase in blood | | | | severe symptoms. |
| for the baby. Many times there is not enough iron | | | | Although the exact cause of restless legs syndrome |
| available to keep up with this increased need and | | | | (RLS has not been found I think the above has made |
| therefore approximately 20% of women end up with | | | | the case for at best an association between hypoxia |
| anemia. Anemia equals hypoxia. | | | | and restless legs syndrome (RLS.) |
| There is also an association between obesity and | | | | In my office we attempt to address all neurologic |
| hypoxia although it is not well understood. Do I | | | | conditions with our Neuron Fuel Program, which |
| need to tell you that smoking can cause hypoxia? | | | | includes supporting the nervous system with |
| Iron deficiency anemia is also more common with | | | | oxygen. |
| hypothyroidism. Kidney disease and patients on | | | | 1. He has additional sub-specialty training in electro |
| dialysis are also carefully evaluated for, you guessed | | | | diagnosis, vestibular disorders and CNBD. He is one of |
| it anemia. | | | | the few chiropractors in the country board certified |
| Did you know that the use of coffee and tea | | | | in both chiropractic neurology and chiropractic |
| (caffeine) reduces the non heme iron absorption of a | | | | orthopedics. In 1989 he was one af 11 doctors out of |
| meal by approximately 50% and thereby once again | | | | 60,000 chosen by the American Chiropractic |
| causes anemia. | | | | Association to start the first Chiropractic Neurology |
| Alcohol in addition to being associated with anemia | | | | Board. |
| can cause clumping up of erythrocytes (red blood | | | | For information regarding the oxygen concentrator |
| cells.) As the blood vessel get smaller and smaller the | | | | that Dr. Mane recommends visit |
| red blood cells can clog up and thereby cause a | | | | To learn more about Dr. Mane, D.C., P.A. |
| diminished oxygen delivery to the cells (hypoxia.) | | | | |