What Causes Restless Leg Syndrome?
Restless
legs syndrome or shortly RLS, is a health condition in
which legs feel very uncomfortable while sitting or lying
down, especially at night. Usually it makes one feel like
getting up and moving around. When doing so, the
unpleasant feeling of restless legs syndrome might go
away, sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't.
Restless leg syndrome affects both, men and women and can
begin when you're young or as you get older. Restless legs
syndrome can disrupt sleep thus leading to daytime
drowsiness.
So, what causes restless leg syndrome?
Nobody actually knows the real cause for restless leg
syndrome. Some research has been done and the researchers
suspect it might be due to an imbalance of the brain chemical
called dopamine. Dopamine sends messages to control muscle
movement.
It has also been noticed that restless leg syndrome runs in
families and that stress tends to make things even worse. If
there is any changes in hormonal balance, that may worsen
restless leg syndrome symptoms. Also, some women experience
restless leg syndrome during their pregnancy and it disappears
soon after the delivery.
However, restless leg syndrome is not related to some
serious medical problems, but sometimes it accompanies other
conditions and some of them are peripheral neuropathy.
Peripheral neuropathy damages the nerves in hands and feet and
sometimes it is due to chronic diseases such as diabetes and
alcoholism. Also, iron deficiency might cause restless leg
syndrome, it might cause or worsen restless legs syndrome.
Researchers assume that kidney failure might be the cause
too, at least to some degree. This is when the kidney does not
function properly, iron stores in blood can decrease and cause
some of the rls symptoms. All these and some other changes in
body chemistry may cause or worsen restless leg syndrome.
Some other, known causes of restless leg syndrome include
muscle overexertion, prolonged sitting, dehydration, decreased
potassium levels, neuromuscular disorders, such as Parkinson's
disease, certain medications, such as albuterol, niacin,
diuretics, and some calcium channel blockers and antipsychotic
medications, also alcohol use.
If you find this article helpful, but need more information,
you are welcome to visit this very informative website, where
you can find a lot of information about restless leg syndrome
and help yourself with this annoying health condition. There
are many different ways to combat restless leg syndrome and you
can find some excellent information about restless leg
syndrome, simply by visiting the website below.
Sam Jackson owns very
informative weblog, where you can find lots of useful
information about restless leg syndrome.
Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Samm_Jackson
|