| What the heck is making me feel like I need to | | | | Institutes of Health, have conducted serious research |
| move my legs back and forth everytime I lay down? | | | | to try and determine the causes. Nonetheless, |
| Have you ever felt like you were more comfortable | | | | scientists continue to admit that no one really knows |
| in bed when you were paddling your feet as if to be | | | | for sure what the exact cause of RLS is. They do, |
| swimming across the English Channel? Maybe you | | | | however, point toward the dopaminergic system in |
| were an Olympic swimmer in a past life and you | | | | the body and the presence of iron deficiencies in the |
| don't remember it! Actually, that's not the problem | | | | blood as an essential cofactor in the development of |
| you are having. You may not be familiar with the | | | | RLS. Still, they can't determine the exact cause. It |
| symptoms and causes of what is known as Restless | | | | was also found that over 20% of all cases of RLS |
| Leg Syndrome or RLS? RLS is a condition which is | | | | are associated with the iron deficiency in the blood. |
| quite interesting and which has also been referred to | | | | Other associations included folate deficiency, |
| as "Jimmy Legs", "Jumpy Legs" or "Heebeejeebees". | | | | diabetes, thyroid problems, uremia, Parkinson's |
| The scientific name for this syndrome is Ekbom | | | | disease, peripheral neuropathy, and certain |
| syndrome. | | | | auto-immune disorders. Once again, treatment of the |
| The movements associated with restless leg | | | | condition now exists and often eliminates the RLS so |
| syndrome are described by sufferers as an | | | | the exact causes tend to remain somewhat |
| uncontrollable urge to move their limbs in order to | | | | unimportant to suffering patients. They just want to |
| stop the feeling of "uncomfortable nervousness" or | | | | get better! If you are among these people suffering |
| "unusual buzzing" in their legs. Although it does tend | | | | from RLS, you can now visit your local sleep clinic |
| to be focussed in the legs most of the time, it can | | | | and ask about the treatments available. |
| still happen in the arms as well. Moving the affected | | | | For the sake of those interested in the scientific |
| body part relieves the person's suffering but only | | | | progress, it has recently become a hypothesis that |
| temporarily. The irritable sensations which cause the | | | | RLS may possibly be caused by genetic factors. |
| patient to move in the first place may return almost | | | | Researchers are now looking for the gene or genes |
| immediately when they stop. The overall RLS | | | | that cause RLS because they have discovered that |
| condition often starts in early childhood and is a | | | | RLS runs in families. Pregnancy also seems to have a |
| progressive disorder that often gets worse when it is | | | | significant effect on people who tend to suffer from |
| not given medical attention. There is good news, | | | | this condition more readily. It was found that close to |
| however, for the many sufferers of this condition! | | | | 25% of women who develop RLS are pregnant or |
| Updates on the treatment for restless leg syndrome | | | | suffer from iron deficiency but the symptoms |
| have recently provided positive results and | | | | consequently disappear after giving birth. Patients |
| symptoms have been shown to disappear | | | | who are undergoing dialysis for end-stage renal |
| permanently once the treatment begins. Thank | | | | disease are also prone to developing RLS. It would |
| goodness you can finally stop that incessant kicking! | | | | seem that, apart from the genetic explanation, that |
| You probably thought you were going to be paddling | | | | there are still many other factors that scientists are |
| across an imaginary ocean for the rest of your life! | | | | considering for further research. Whatever direction |
| Although certain treatments have proven successful, | | | | their research may go in, it is great news to learn |
| the causes of RLS are still a mystery. Patients do not | | | | that RLS can now be treated and that the treatment |
| tend to be to distraught about the fact that the | | | | is only a phone call away. Whether you know the |
| causes are unknown. They are just glad to be rid of | | | | causes of RLS or not, you can get yourself on the |
| the problem and to get on with their lives. Different | | | | road to a solution in no time. You can alleviate |
| health institutes, however, such as the National | | | | yourself of this condition and begin to enjoy a more |
| Institute of Neurological Disorders and the National | | | | happy and healthy lifestyle in no time at all. |