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What is restless legs syndrome?

The restless legs syndrome (RLS or, for short) is a neurological disorder characterized by unpleasant sensations in the legs and an uncontrollable urge to move when at rest, in an effort to relieve these feelings. People often describe RLS sensations as burning, as if something will pull them or slippage, or like insects crawling up inside of her legs. These feelings often called paresthesias (abnormal sensations) or dysesthesias (unpleasant abnormal sensations), vary in severity from uncomfortable to irritating to painful.

The most distinctive or unusual features of the disorder is that symptoms are triggered by the fact lie and try to relax. As a result, most people with RLS have difficulty falling and staying asleep. If untreated, the condition causes exhaustion and daytime fatigue. Many people with RLS report that their work, personal relationships and daily activities are affected as a result of fatigue. Often they can not concentrate, have impaired memory, or fail to fulfill their daily tasks.

Some researchers estimate that RLS affects up to 12 million Americans. However, others believe that the occurrence is higher because it is believed that RLS is not underdiagnosed and, in some cases, misdiagnosed. Some people with RLS do not seek medical attention, thinking that they are not going to take seriously, that their symptoms are very mild, or that your problem can not be treated. Some physicians wrongly attribute the symptoms to nervousness, insomnia, stress, arthritis, muscle cramps or aging.

RLS occurs in both sexes, but the incidence may be slightly higher in women. Although the syndrome may begin at any age, even as early as infancy, most severely affected patients are middle aged or older. Furthermore, the severity of the disorder appears to increase with age. Older patients experience symptoms more frequently and for longer periods of time.

Over 80 percent of people with RLS also experience a more common condition known as periodic movement disorder of extremity (PLMD, for its acronym in English). PLMD is characterized by sudden involuntary movements of the legs, or pulling as milestones that occur during sleep, typically every 10 to 60 seconds, sometimes throughout the night. The symptoms cause the patient to wake up repeatedly and severely disrupted sleep. Unlike RLS, the movements caused by PLMD are involuntary-people do not control. Although many patients with RLS also develop PLMD, most people with PLMD do not experience RLS. Like RLS, no known cause of PLMD.

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