Perhaps you just do not have enough iron.
You can listen to the article. If you are more convenient for you, turn on the podcast.
Listen to what is restless legs syndrome? On Yandex.Music
There is evidence that every tenth person suffers from this disorder. Suffers, but silent.
The reason is simple: people simply do not know that the unpleasant sensations in the legs, which make them pull them, is a common neurological failure, which is completely treated.
What is restless legs syndrome
Restless legs syndrome (SBN, he is also the disease of Willis – Ekbom) is a condition in which itching, tingling, pulsation, burning or other obsessive sensations occur in the muscles of the lower extremities. Discomfort decreases if you move your feet. Therefore, a person who suffers from SBN begins to unconsciously sort out the lower limbs, pull them.
Most often, unpleasant sensations arise in the moments of relaxation. This usually happens in evening or night hours. You go to bed – and your legs begin to move.
Women suffer from restless legs syndrome twice as often as men.
Where the SBN comes from, the scientists have not yet found out. It is only assumed that discomfort in the legs is associated with the imbalance of dopamine – one of the most important neurotransmitters in the brain participating in the control of muscle movements.
By the way, Parkinson’s disease is associated with disorders in the production of dopamine, which is the most popular symptom of which are twitching limbs. So in a sense, this type of dementia and SBN – “relatives”.
What is the danger of SBN
Restless legs syndrome is rarely associated with a serious medical problem. Most often he simply does not allow you to get enough sleep. You go over your feet, turn around, you cannot fully rest. As a result, you feel drowsiness and fatigue during the day.
Constant lack of sleep caused by restless legs syndrome can lead to the development of chronic fatigue or depression syndrome.
Chronic drowsiness itself is still a gift. Because of this you lose productivity, you do not have enough strength to career or relationship. But the syndrome of restless legs can be a sign and much greater troubles. Sometimes it accompanies states such as:
- Peripheral neuropathy. So call damage to nerves in the hands and legs. The root cause of this can be diabetes or alcoholism.
- Iron deficiency in the body.
- Renal failure.
- Rheumatoid arthritis.
- some lesions of the spinal cord.
Therefore, the syndrome of restless legs cannot be ignored.
How to recognize restless legs syndrome
There are four main symptoms. If you have all of them, it means that with a high probability it is about SBN.
- Unpleasant sensations in the muscles of the legs arise when you retain the immobility for a long time. For example, lie in bed or sit in a car, a plane or a cinema.
- You can get rid of discomfort in the only way – moving your feet or stretching your muscles.
- The sensations become sharper in the evening and night. In the morning and during the day you may not notice them.
- During falling asleep and sleep, your legs are twitched.
As a rule, the symptoms affect both lower limbs. But sometimes only one of them is involved or discomfort is added in the hands.
What to do if you suspect your SBN
Be sure to talk about this with therapist. We repeat once again: SBN cannot be ignored, since it can be a sign of serious diseases.
How to treat restless legs syndrome
We will say right away: to adjust this disorder must. If this is not done, restless legs syndrome can accompany you all your life. And definitely spoil it.
The therapist will ask you about the symptoms, conduct an examination and offer to take a blood test to identify a possible iron deficiency. Further therapy will be prescribed depending on the results of the examination.
If the lack of this mineral in the blood is discovered, the doctor will prescribe iron preparations to you – in the form of tablets or injections. If the therapist suggests the presence of a concomitant disease, then for starters it will be necessary to cure it – after that, restless legs syndrome will disappear by itself.
In the case when there is SBN, but the doctor does not understand the reasons (by the way, this happens most often), you will be recommended to make some changes to the lifestyle:
- Every evening make a warm foot bath and light massage. This will improve muscle condition and help them learn to relax without restless “special effects”.
- Carefully follow the rules of sleep hygiene. The more you get tired, the brighter the symptoms of SBN appear. Therefore, do everything to, despite the syndrome, get enough sleep. Walk in the fresh air before bedtime. Equip the bedroom – it should be quiet, darkened and cool. Try to go to bed and get up at the same time.
- Lead an active lifestyle. Walk more, roll on a bicycle, swim – in general, connect your legs. But make sure that the loads are moderate. Overstrain can aggravate SBN symptoms.
- Take yoga or breathing exercises.
- Reduce the amount of caffeine. Sometimes the rejection of coffee, strong tea, energy drinks, chocolate can reduce the syndrome. Do not use the listed products for several weeks and follow your condition – suddenly this is your option of salvation.
- Include in the diet food with a high iron content (pork, red meat, dried fruits, seafood, dark green leafy vegetables). We also need vitamin C (citrus fruits, currants, strawberries, leaf greens) – it helps the iron absorb.
- If the symptoms occur, apply a heating pad or an ice bag wrapped in a thin fabric.
If the changes in lifestyle have not helped, the doctor can prescribe medications. Most often, with restless legs syndrome, prescription means are used:
- drugs that increase the production of dopamine in the brain;
- opiates;
- anticonvulsants;
- muscle relaxants and sleeping pills.
Which of the means is suitable for you, it is impossible to say in advance. There is an option that the doctor will make several attempts before he selects a really effective medicine. But then you will finally begin to spill out.
You can listen to the article. If you are more convenient for you, turn on the podcast.
Listen to what is restless legs syndrome? On Yandex.Music
There is evidence that every tenth person suffers from this disorder. Suffers, but silent.
The reason is simple: people simply do not know that the unpleasant sensations in the legs, which make them pull them, is a common neurological failure, which is completely treated.
What is restless legs syndrome
Restless legs syndrome (SBN, he is also the disease of Willis – Ekbom) is a condition in which itching, tingling, pulsation, burning or other obsessive sensations occur in the muscles of the lower extremities. Discomfort decreases if you move your feet. Therefore, a person who suffers from SBN begins to unconsciously sort out the lower limbs, pull them.
Most often, unpleasant sensations arise in the moments of relaxation. This usually happens in evening or night hours. You go to bed – and your legs begin to move.
Women suffer from restless legs syndrome twice as often as men.
Where the SBN comes from, the scientists have not yet found out. It is only assumed that discomfort in the legs is associated with the imbalance of dopamine – one of the most important neurotransmitters in the brain participating in the control of muscle movements.
By the way, Parkinson’s disease is associated with disorders in the production of dopamine, which is the most popular symptom of which are twitching limbs. So in a sense, this type of dementia and SBN – “relatives”.
What is the danger of SBN
Restless legs syndrome is rarely associated with a serious medical problem. Most often he simply does not allow you to get enough sleep. You go over your feet, turn around, you cannot fully rest. As a result, you feel drowsiness and fatigue during the day.
Constant lack of sleep caused by restless legs syndrome can lead to the development of chronic fatigue or depression syndrome.
Chronic drowsiness itself is still a gift. Because of this you lose productivity, you do not have enough strength to career or relationship. But the syndrome of restless legs can be a sign and much greater troubles. Sometimes it accompanies states such as:
- Peripheral neuropathy. So call damage to nerves in the hands and legs. The root cause of this can be diabetes or alcoholism.
- Iron deficiency in the body.
- Renal failure.
- Rheumatoid arthritis.
- some lesions of the spinal cord.
Therefore, the syndrome of restless legs cannot be ignored.
How to recognize restless legs syndrome
There are four main symptoms. If you have all of them, it means that with a high probability it is about SBN.
- Unpleasant sensations in the muscles of the legs arise when you retain the immobility for a long time. For example, lie in bed or sit in a car, a plane or a cinema.
- You can get rid of discomfort in the only way – moving your feet or stretching your muscles.
- The sensations become sharper in the evening and night. In the morning and during the day you may not notice them.
- During falling asleep and sleep, your legs are twitched.
As a rule, the symptoms affect both lower limbs. But sometimes only one of them is involved or discomfort is added in the hands.
What to do if you suspect your SBN
Be sure to talk about this with therapist. We repeat once again: SBN cannot be ignored, since it can be a sign of serious diseases.
How to treat restless legs syndrome
We will say right away: to adjust this disorder must. If this is not done, restless legs syndrome can accompany you all your life. And definitely spoil it.
The therapist will ask you about the symptoms, conduct an examination and offer to take a blood test to identify a possible iron deficiency. Further therapy will be prescribed depending on the results of the examination.
If the lack of this mineral in the blood is discovered, the doctor will prescribe iron preparations to you – in the form of tablets or injections. If the therapist suggests the presence of a concomitant disease, then for starters it will be necessary to cure it – after that, restless legs syndrome will disappear by itself.
In the case when there is SBN, but the doctor does not understand the reasons (by the way, this happens most often), you will be recommended to make some changes to the lifestyle:
- Every evening make a warm foot bath and light massage. This will improve muscle condition and help them learn to relax without restless “special effects”.
- Carefully follow the rules of sleep hygiene. The more you get tired, the brighter the symptoms of SBN appear. Therefore, do everything to, despite the syndrome, get enough sleep. Walk in the fresh air before bedtime. Equip the bedroom – it should be quiet, darkened and cool. Try to go to bed and get up at the same time.
- Lead an active lifestyle. Walk more, roll on a bicycle, swim – in general, connect your legs. But make sure that the loads are moderate. Overstrain can aggravate SBN symptoms.
- Take yoga or breathing exercises.
- Reduce the amount of caffeine. Sometimes the rejection of coffee, strong tea, energy drinks, chocolate can reduce the syndrome. Do not use the listed products for several weeks and follow your condition – suddenly this is your option of salvation.
- Include in the diet food with a high iron content (pork, red meat, dried fruits, seafood, dark green leafy vegetables). We also need vitamin C (citrus fruits, currants, strawberries, leaf greens) – it helps the iron absorb.
- If the symptoms occur, apply a heating pad or an ice bag wrapped in a thin fabric.
If the changes in lifestyle have not helped, the doctor can prescribe medications. Most often, with restless legs syndrome, prescription means are used:
- drugs that increase the production of dopamine in the brain;
- opiates;
- anticonvulsants;
- muscle relaxants and sleeping pills.
Which of the means is suitable for you, it is impossible to say in advance. There is an option that the doctor will make several attempts before he selects a really effective medicine. But then you will finally begin to spill out.