What is Restless Leg Syndrome
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke define Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS) as:"A neurological disorder characterized by unpleasant sensations in the legs and an uncontrollable urge to move when at rest in an effort to relieve these feelings. RLS sensations are often described by people as burning, creeping, tugging, or like insects crawling inside the legs. Often called paresthesias (abnormal sensations) or dysesthesias (unpleasant abnormal sensations), the sensations range in severity from uncomfortable to irritating to painful."Treatment for RLS is problematic because often the cause of the syndrome is unknown, however, if an underlying disorder can be diagnosed, such as peripheral neuropathy or diabetes, treatment of these conditions can bring relief to RLS sufferers. Check out this article for more ideas on how to treat restless leg syndrome symptoms if underlying disorders are not diagnosed.
If you suffer from RLS then you should look into getting a diagnosis and treatment plan scheduled because RLS could be a sign of deeper problems, and at the very least it is a sign of increased risk for Cardiovascular Disease… maybe, in my opinion, due to the poor sleep patterns and stress associated with the syndrome.
UPDATE 6/19/2009: Heartstrong recently posted about this same RLS finding over at Healthy Hearts. The study cited was along the same lines but is more recent and published in the journal Neurology. I would encourage you to take a look at Heartstrong's post and see the similarities for yourself.
Source
Best Life, Apr 2008
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/restless_legs/detail_restless_legs.htm
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