Restless leg syndrome (RLS) is a condition that causes a compelling urge to move your legs, which also comes with uncomfortable sensations like aching, tingling, crawling, itching, and pulling.

The discomfort is relieved when you move your legs, but since this usually happens when you go to bed, you end up unable to sleep and struggle with sleep deprivation symptoms, like difficulty focusing, weight gain, and daytime sleepiness.

At Northwest Houston Heart Center in Houston, Texas, cardiologists Dr. A. Adnan Aslam and Dr. Roy Norman diagnose and treat restless leg syndrome. While RLS can certainly be uncomfortable, a number of treatments, as well as self-care options, can help you get a good night’s sleep.

What causes RLS?

Researchers don’t really understand what causes RLS. They think it may relate to how the basal ganglia, the part of your brain responsible for movement, functions. The basal ganglia uses the neurotransmitter dopamine to regulate how your body moves.

If this brain area doesn’t receive enough dopamine, it can’t regulate your movement as well as it should, leading to RLS symptoms.

The following may also contribute to RLS:

• Genetics: The gene can be passed from parent to child.
• Iron deficiency: Iron can be low in your brain even with normal blood levels.
• Underlying medical conditions: Some conditions can cause RLS secondary to the main problem.
• Medications: Antihistamines, antidepressants, or antinausea medications can all lead to RLS or worsen its symptoms.
• Vein disease: especially chronic venous insufficiency

In addition, triggers like alcohol, nicotine, caffeine, and stress can all cause an RLS episode.

Treating RLS

There’s no cure for RLS, but there are two types of treatments: medication and lifestyle changes. If your case is caused by an underlying condition, such as vein disease, treating that condition can also help.

Medications that relieve RLS symptoms include the following:

• Iron supplements combined with vitamin C
• Antiseizure medications (e.g., gabapentin, pregabalin)
• Dopamine agonists (pramipexole, ropinirole)
• Dopamine precursors or medications that turn into dopamine (levodopa)

Certain medications like benzodiazepines (clonazepam), hypnotics (zolpidem), or opioids (methadone, buprenorphine) can help in severe cases if all other forms of treatment don’t help. However, these have harmful side effects and may lead to dependence, so they’re used sparingly.

If you have iron-deficient RLS, there are many types of iron supplements you can try; a simple blood test can help determine which is best for you. If the doctor suspects brain levels of iron are very low, and your RLS symptoms are severe, an iron infusion may help.

If you have mild RLS symptoms, the doctor may recommend the following at-home therapies to make you feel more comfortable:

• Get regular exercise, such as aerobics, riding a bike, swimming, or walking. These may all help combat symptoms. Be sure to avoid intense exercise within a few hours of bedtime, though.
• Follow good sleep hygiene guidelines. Don’t read, watch TV, or work on the computer while on the bed; the bed should be only for sleeping and sex.
• Soak your legs in a warm tub, and apply a heating pad or cold compress to your legs. These offer temporary relief.
• Reduce your overall stress by trying things like mindful breathing, yoga, tai chi, or talking with a psychotherapist.

If you’re looking for a quick fix, giving in to moving your legs can temporarily relieve the symptoms, but they’ll most likely return when you stop moving. You can also try massaging the legs, walking around, or stretching.

Are your restless legs keeping you up at night? Northwest Houston Heart Center can help. Give us a call at any of our locations (Tomball, Cypress, Magnolia, and The Woodlands, Texas), or book online today. You can also text us at 832-402-9518.