What is Restless Leg Syndrome: Understanding its Causes, Symptoms and Treatment Options

Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) is a condition that causes a strong urge in an individual to move his/her legs. This can happen at any time, but is more common when the body is at rest. If resisted, it leads to uncomfortable sensations in the legs, such as throbbing, aching, tingling, etc. Although RLS can begin at any age, it is more commonly seen in middle-aged individuals.

What is Restless Leg Syndrome?

In medical terms, RLS, or Restless Leg Syndrome, can be defined as a neurological condition. This disrupts the normal functioning of the nervous system, which leads to extreme difficulty in staying still. As a result, the individual starts moving his leg(s) to control the sensations. Also known as Willis-Ekbom disease, this condition is often linked to certain imbalances in brain chemicals that are known to regulate movements in the body. While the exact causes of restless leg syndrome are not clear, it is known to develop as an aftereffect of iron deficiency and kidney disease. Other than this, it also has a genetic influence, which means an individual is more likely to have restless leg syndrome if someone else in the family has it.

As the name of this condition suggests, these sensations are usually limited to the legs. However, they can sometimes affect the arms or the entire body. The intensity of RLS can vary from one person to another. In some people, it can be mild, causing minimal discomfort, while others may experience severe symptoms. While this condition doesn’t affect an individual’s life expectancy, persistent symptoms can interfere with daily activities.

What are the Types of RLS?

There are mainly two different types of restless leg syndrome, depending on their causes. These are:

Primary RLS: Primary restless leg syndrome, also known as idiopathic RLS, often occurs on its own. This means it is not associated with any other medical condition. In this type of RLS, family history plays a key role. The symptoms usually appear around the age of 40 years and then get worse over a period of time.

Secondary RLS: This type of RLS is usually developed as a result of a certain medical condition or some other physiological change. While there are several things that can trigger restless leg syndrome, some of the most common ones include:

• Iron deficiency: Iron is one of the most essential nutrients for the human body. A person’s brain needs enough iron so that dopamine activity can take place. When one has low iron levels (also called iron deficiency), the chances of RLS, or restless legs syndrome, become even higher.
   
• Chronic kidney disease: Those dealing with chronic kidney disease or any other kidney-related issues are at a higher risk of RLS. This happens because of the altered iron metabolism and other chemical imbalances in the body.
   
• Diabetes: Diabetes is a condition that leads to significant nerve damage over a period of time. This is known to trigger RLS symptoms, or if the person is already dealing with this condition, his/her symptoms get worse.
   
• Neurological conditions: There are several neurological disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease, that are associated with restless leg syndrome. These conditions affect dopamine pathways, which makes them a major contributor to restless leg syndrome.
   
• Pregnancy: During pregnancy, a female’s body goes through a number of changes, leading to hormonal imbalance. Sometimes, women develop RLS in the last trimester of their pregnancy. Usually, these symptoms go away on their own after childbirth, but persistent symptoms can cause severe discomfort, disrupting sleep.

What are the Causes of RLS?

While there are no known causes of restless legs syndrome (RLS), several studies show that it is a result of an imbalance of brain chemicals like dopamine. This neurochemical is mainly responsible for sending messages to control muscle movement in the body. When a lesser amount of dopamine is released in the brain, it directly affects the body’s ability to control its movement. This can lead to restless leg syndrome, where one feels the urge to continuously move his/her legs.

Here are a few factors that are known to be associated with restless legs syndrome:

• Genetics: Genetics also has a key role to play in causing restless leg syndrome in an individual. In some cases, the fetus gets this condition at the time of conception when any of the biological parents pass a certain genetic trait.
   
• Iron deficiency: Low levels of iron in the body often lead to RLS, and without any treatment, these symptoms can exacerbate.
   
• Underlying medical condition: A few medical conditions, such as chronic kidney disease, diabetes, etc., can cause secondary RLS.

What are the Risk Factors of RLS?

Here are a few things that put an individual at a higher risk of developing RLS:

• Alcohol consumption
• Higher caffeine intake
• Nicotine
• Certain medications, such as antihistamines, antidepressants, etc.
• High levels of stress

What are the Symptoms of RLS?

Here are a few common symptoms of restless legs syndrome:

• Uncomfortable sensations in the legs that result in the urge to move them
• Sensations like throbbing, aching, tingling, crawling, etc.
• Temporary relief after moving legs
• Constant twitching or leg jerks while resting and during sleep
• Sleep disruptions
• Difficulty falling asleep 
• Constant fatigue 
• Lethargy
• Behaviour or mood changes
• Difficulty paying attention

What is the Diagnosis of RLS?

When an individual experiences any of these RLS symptoms, it is important to consult a doctor. The doctor will start the diagnosis by taking one’s medical history. After that, he/she will review the symptoms and perform a physical exam. Sometimes, doctors suggest a neurological exam and certain blood tests to rule out other conditions. This also helps them determine the exact cause of symptoms one is experiencing.

What is the Treatment of RLS?

Usually, the treatment for RLS includes taking medications for a certain period and making small changes to the everyday routine. In the case of secondary RLS, it is important to manage the underlying health issues that led to this condition.

Additional Tips to Manage RLS

Sometimes, it can get very challenging to live with restless leg syndrome, as it disrupts one’s sleep and also affects everyday things. While following the appropriate course of treatment is a must for curing restless legs syndrome, one can also follow a few coping strategies. This will relieve symptoms significantly while reducing overall discomfort.

• Getting adequate sleep (6-8 hours a day) is crucial. For this, one should maintain a consistent sleep schedule.
• Engaging in moderate physical activity on a daily basis can help. One can opt for light activities, such as walking, stretching, yoga, etc.
• Limiting caffeine intake can help manage the symptoms of RLS.
• Excessive alcohol consumption can exacerbate symptoms, so it is important to keep a check on this.
• Taking warm baths or relaxing foot massages can also help ease the symptoms of RLS.  
• There are several exercises for restless leg syndrome that one can easily do at home.