The Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) and sleep

Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) is a widespread condition that not only affects health but also significantly affects sleep. Learn more about why sufferers experience a painful urge to move their legs and how to improve sleep with RLS.

Table of contents

1. Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS)

2. Causes, symptoms and consequences of RLS

   1. Symptoms

   2. Causes & influencing factors

3. RLS as a sleep disorder

4. Therapy & Help

5. Conclusion

1. Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS)

Restless legs syndrome is a neurological disorder that affects approximately 3% to 10% of people. Patients suffer from unpleasant sensations in the legs, arms, or back, often described as painful or cramp-like pulling, tingling, stabbing, or tearing. This is usually accompanied by an intense urge to move the legs. The symptoms can occur on one side, both sides, or alternately on one or the other, and are particularly common in the evening and at night. Another typical feature of RLS is that the pain worsens when resting or lying down and can be relieved by changing position or moving the affected areas.

Due to the increased urge to move and the pain, which is particularly noticeable in the evening, those affected often cannot rest at all. This also significantly disrupts sleep, resulting in sleep disorders that quickly lead to severe sleep deprivation, daytime fatigue, and increased exhaustion. Restless Legs Syndrome is therefore a serious condition that can severely impact health and well-being in several ways.

2. Symptoms, causes & consequences of Restless Legs Syndrome

Symptoms of RLS

Symptoms often occur in the evening or at night and are described differently by those affected. RLS is generally characterized by the following signs:

• Unpleasant to painful sensations in the legs and/or arms, ranging from mild tingling to cramp-like pain

• Strong urge to move, which occurs more frequently when sitting or lying down

• The symptoms occur frequently or only at night and can be relieved by moving the affected areas

Causes & influencing factors for RLS

Although many people suffer from RLS, the cause of the unpleasant leg pain is not yet fully understood. One possible explanation could be a disturbed dopamine metabolism in the brain. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that transmits motor stimuli in the body, thus helping to regulate movement control. RLS also often occurs together with Iron or vitamin B12 deficiency, impaired kidney function, or during pregnancy. Taking certain medications can also worsen symptoms. However, the exact cause remains to be investigated further.

Possible causes & influencing factors at a glance

• Reduced or weakened kidney function

• Iron deficiency and/or vitamin B12 deficiency

• Nerve or joint damage

• pregnancy

3. RLS as a sleep disorder

Restless Legs Syndrome can also be described in a broader sense as sleep disorder be referred to.The pain and the strong urge to move, which occur primarily when resting and at night, quickly lead to Difficulty falling asleep or difficulty sleeping through the night. Those affected are unable to relax and fall asleep in the evening, or they frequently wake up and have to get out of bed to reduce pain through movement and stretching of the affected body parts.

The constantly interrupted sleep structure then naturally prevents those affected from getting enough deep sleep and regenerating sufficiently, so that the RLS symptoms often occur in Daytime fatigue, exhaustion and chronic lack of sleep In this case, it is all the more important to consult a doctor and counteract the symptoms with appropriate treatment.

4. Therapy & Help

Because the exact cause of the condition is unknown, restless legs syndrome cannot be completely cured. However, it is possible to alleviate the symptoms and better regulate the urge to move in the evening. Controlling and normalizing iron metabolism or balancing dopamine levels in the brain have proven helpful in many cases. However, you should only take iron supplements or medications containing dopamine in consultation with your doctor.

In addition to medication, those affected can also actively combat their pain themselves. Adequate physical exercise in everyday life, cold therapy, alternating showers, massaging/brushing the painful parts of the body, or certain stretching exercises are simple measures that lead to slight improvement for many sufferers.

In the evening, a good sleep hygiene help you fall asleep more easily and have the most restful night possible despite frequent awakenings. Alcohol, nicotine, and caffeine consumption should also be limited, as these substances further negatively affect muscle movement and sleep.

Our sleep tip: If you wake up at night and need to move for a moment, avoid bright light and strenuous activities. Also, try not to put yourself under any additional pressure to help you sleep better. relax and you can quickly get back to sleep.

5. Conclusion

• Restless Legs Syndrome causes painful sensations and movement disorders in the legs, which occur particularly at night and when at rest and are improved by movement.

• RLS often occurs in cases of iron deficiency, impaired dopamine metabolism and kidney problems.

• The symptoms of RLS often lead to sleep disturbances, which result in daytime fatigue and exhaustion.

• Therapy with dopamine or iron supplements and simple self-help measures such as sufficient exercise, alternating showers or cold therapy can reduce the symptoms.

Best wishes and see you soon!