Restless legs syndrome

Restless legs syndrome
Other namesWillis–Ekbom disease (WED),[1] Wittmaack–Ekbom syndrome
Sleep pattern of a person with restless legs syndrome (red) compared to a healthy sleep pattern (blue)
SpecialtySleep medicine
SymptomsUnpleasant feeling in the legs that briefly improves with moving them[2]
ComplicationsDaytime sleepiness, low energy, irritability, sadness[2]
Usual onsetMore common with older age[3]
Risk factorsLow iron levels, kidney failure, Parkinson's disease, diabetes mellitus, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, pregnancy, certain medications[2][4][5]
Diagnostic methodBased on symptoms after ruling out other possible causes[6]
TreatmentLifestyle changes, medication[2]
MedicationDopamine agonists, levodopa, gabapentinoids, opioids[4][7][8][9]
Frequency2.5–15% (US)[4]

Restless legs syndrome (RLS), also known as Willis–Ekbom disease (WED), is a neurological disorder, usually chronic, that causes an overwhelming urge to move one's legs.[2][10] There is often an unpleasant feeling in the legs that improves temporarily by moving them.[2] This feeling is often described as aching, tingling, or crawling in nature.[2] Occasionally, arms may also be affected.[2] The feelings generally happen when at rest and therefore can make it hard to sleep.[2] Sleep disruption may leave people with RLS sleepy during the day, with low energy, and irritable or depressed.[2] Additionally, many have limb twitching during sleep, a condition known as periodic limb movement disorder.[11] RLS is not the same as habitual foot-tapping or leg-rocking.[12]

  1. ^ "Restless Legs Syndrome Fact Sheet | National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke". Ninds.nih.gov. Archived from the original on 28 July 2017. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "What Is Restless Legs Syndrome?". NHLBI. November 1, 2010. Archived from the original on 21 August 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference NIH2010Age was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference AFP2013 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ Cite error: The named reference NIH2010Ca was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference NIH2010Diag was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference pmid27448465 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference pmid34218864 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Gossard, Thomas R.; Trotti, Lynn Marie; Videnovic, Aleksandar; St Louis, Erik K. (20 April 2021). "Restless Legs Syndrome: Contemporary Diagnosis and Treatment" (PDF). Neurotherapeutics. 18 (1): 140–155. doi:10.1007/s13311-021-01019-4. PMC 8116476. PMID 33880737. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 January 2023. Retrieved 27 January 2023.
  10. ^ "Restless Legs Syndrome Information Page | National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke". Ninds.nih.gov. Archived from the original on 8 October 2019. Retrieved 7 July 2019.
  11. ^ "What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Restless Legs Syndrome?". NHLBI. November 1, 2010. Archived from the original on 27 August 2016. Retrieved 19 August 2016.
  12. ^ Cite error: The named reference :5 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
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