Perhaps you are suffering from it and are not aware of it. Approximately, one in ten European and North American adults He suffers from Restless Legs Syndrome, but it is severely underdiagnosed.
In countries like Spain, for example, up to 90% of patients are unaware they have it. And in most cases, diagnoses are very late.
An aggravating circumstance is that it is even more difficult to detect in children, since it can be associated with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). as they demonstrate multiple studiesthere is a close relationship between ADHD and sleep disorders in general.
Burning, bubbly, or tickling sensation
So pay attention to the symptoms. Just as they describe some investigationsthose affected experience sensations described as “crawling”, “gas bubbles in the veins” or “burning” that force them to move their legs to temporarily relieve the anguish or anxiety that causes them.
In the most serious cases, the affected person has to get up and even start walking: this is the only way to alleviate their restlessnesswhich reappears as soon as he goes to bed.
Also called Willis–Ekbom disease either periodic movement disorder of the extremitiesthis anomalous and redundant movement is especially linked to sleep: more than 80% of episodes occur at night. Both the International Classification of Sleep Disorders (ISCD-3), such as the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11), includes it within the “sleep-related movement disorders”.
The symptoms (or sensations) cause it to take longer to fall asleep. In addition, the movements cause a higher number of awakenings and make it difficult to access deep sleep (phases 3 and 4). During these stages, mainly, bodily and neurological restoration occurs.
Why is it produced?
As for the causes, they are multiple. For years it has been attributed to an iron deficiency, anemia (deficient oxygen delivery to the tissues) and alterations in the levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine. All these factors are related to the regulation of movement.
Approximately 50% of the cases would have an origin genetic, without associated diseases. However, the syndrome can appear as a secondary consequence of other pathologies, such as diabeteshe parkinson wave multiple sclerosis. Some study also indicates that it is common in patients with head trauma.
What consequences can it have for health?
Restless legs syndrome is associated with other sleep-related problems, such as insomnia and excessive tiredness or daytime sleepiness. This can compromise the school performance of minors (attention, memory, concentration, orientation and learning problems), cause accidents of various kinds and even impair social relationships and the performance of daily activities.
In addition, it sometimes has serious psychological consequences, linked above all to the depression and anxiety.
Prevention and treatment
The practice of healthy habits contributes to the prevention of multiple pathologies, and mild cases of this disorder are no exception. Like any type of disturbance linked to sleep, it requires improving our nighttime rest habits, including massages, stretching or specific muscle relaxation therapies.
In addition, any activity that promotes muscle relaxation and induces sleep is recommended, such as taking a warm or hot bath before bed. The efficacy of focusing on a cognitive task in a sustained manner has even been analyzed as a strategy to reduce symptoms. That is, carry out mental activities that initiate a behavior other than moving the legs.
It is also highly advisable to do physical exercise during the day and reduce or eliminate the consumption of exciting substances, such as tobacco, caffeine or theine.
Finally, when restless legs syndrome has a neurological origin, drugs of various kinds are used. Among them, those who provide iron to the body and regulate dopamine levels. Nor can it be ignored that some medications, such as antipsychoticscan worsen this syndrome.
Raul Quevedo-Blasco, PhD in Psychology. Sleep and Health Promotion Laboratory (Mind, Brain and Behavior Research Center-CIMCYC), University of Granada
This article was originally published on The Conversation. read the original.
