Restless legs syndrome (RLS), also known as Willis-Ekbom disease, is a condition that causes uncomfortable sensations, most often in the legs. These sensations have been described as tingly, crawling, creeping feelings, and cause the overwhelming urge to move the affected limb.
The symptoms of magnesium deficiency are so numerous:
• ADHD.
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• Acid reflux (heartburn).
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• Arthritis.
• Arteriosclerosis.
• Asthma.
• Blood clots.
• Bone spurs.
• Cancers. Increased risk of a variety of cancers.
• Craving for salt or chocolate.
• Chronic fatigue.
• Constipation.
• Cystitis.
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• Epileptic seizures.
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• Hypertension (high blood pressure).
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• Muscular skeletal problems (fibrosis, fibromyalgia, cramps, pains, Dupuytren’s disease/contracture).
• Nervous problems, anxiety, panic attacks, confusion, irritability, hypertension.
• Neurological problems like depression, anxiety, memory loss, panic attacks, tremors, moodiness, confusion, headaches.
• Obstetric problems.
• Osteoporosis. Even a mild deficiency in magnesium is a risk factor for osteoporosis.
• Restless legs syndrome.
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Middle-aged women, including those going through or past menopause, tend to experience RLS more than any other population. Most people describe the symptoms of restless leg syndrome — which can include experiencing jittery sensations, tingling, burning and aching in one or both legs — as more annoying than actually painful. Some people equate the sensations associated with RLS as “the feeling of bugs crawling up your leg.” In other words, although it’s not very dangerous long term, RLS causes some downright unpleasant side effects.
The desire to quickly get RLS sensations to stop makes people twitch, jiggle or move their legs throughout the night, leading to poor sleep. The worst part is that moving the legs usually doesn’t help RLS symptoms stay away for long — they usually return pretty quickly, and the cycle continues.
What causes RLS, and what can you do about it?
Experts believe that RLS tends to run in families, is tied to poor diet and increased stress, and is likely made worse by a lifestyle that raises inflammation and the risk for nutrient deficiencies. The good news is that restless leg syndrome isn’t likely to cause long-term problems, although dealing with it can still be very tough. Natural ways to treat restless leg syndrome include improving your diet, exercising, stretching and setting up a nightly routine to relax before bedtime.
What Is Restless Leg Syndrome?
Restless legs syndrome is defined as a common neurological sensory motor disorder characterized by an urge to move the legs during periods of rest or inactivity. The urge to move the legs, usually due to uncomfortable and unpleasant sensations in the legs. Symptoms begin or worsen during periods of rest or inactivity (including when sleeping, lying or sitting), are partially or totally relieved by movement and they become worse in the evening or nighttime.
What Causes Restless Leg Syndrome?
Although children or teens can sometimes develop restless leg syndrome during development, puberty or growth spurts, it’s most common in middle-aged to older adults.
Common factors contributing to RLS development include:
Genetics: It’s believed that RLS runs in families, and some studies have found that around half of people with the condition have family histories of RLS.
Gender: Women tend to experience RLS more than men, which experts believe is due to hormonal influences.
Anemia or iron deficiency: RLS is also very common in patients undergoing dialysis for end-stage renal disease.
Other nutrient deficiencies including magnesium deficiency or folate deficiency.
Varicose veins: It’s now believed that varicose veins in the legs, unhealthy veins with valves that fail or leak blood backward into the legs, can cause RLS symptoms for many patients. The National Sleep Foundation reports that certain studies have found up to 98 percent of patients affected by RLS find some symptom relief after treating varicose veins in their legs with non-surgical sclerotherapy.
Chronic medical conditions affecting the kidneys or lungs: This can include obstructive lung disease or kidney disorders that cause electrolyte imbalances.
Pregnancy: Studies show that pregnant woman are at an increased risk of having RLS, especially during their third trimesters, although it usually goes away shortly after delivery. Up to 25 percent of women develop RLS during pregnancy.
Use of medications containing estrogen: This includes birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy used to manage menopause symptoms.
Autoimmune disorders or diabetes: These can contribute to kidney problems, malnutrition, anemia, neurological problems or nerve damage. Among diabetics, it’s common to develop symptoms of neurology (nerve damage) that can lead to RLS.
ADHD: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) has been found to be common in children and adults with RLS.
Cognitive disorders, including Parkinson’s disease.
Signs and Symptoms of Restless Leg Syndrome
Symptoms of restless leg syndrome tend to get worse during the night when someone is sleeping, but they can also occur during the daytime when the person is awake. Sitting for long periods, laying down or staying in one sedentary position usually makes symptoms worse.
The most common restless leg syndrome symptoms include:
Sensations in the legs that are described as creeping, crawling, jittery, burning or aching. Most of the time, sensations are felt deep inside the calf muscles or in the feet, thighs and even arms.
A strong urge or feeling that you need to immediately scratch, move, jiggle or stretch the legs in order to make sensations stop.
Temporary relief from symptoms when you move the legs (although this usually only lasts briefly).
Involuntary leg twitches and jerks, similar to having a cramp (called periodic limb movements). Leg twitches caused by night cramps are among the most commonly reported periodic limb movements due to RLS.
Getting poor sleep due to feeling uncomfortable and waking up often. For many people, RLS symptoms start soon after they fall asleep and persistent intermittently throughout the night, resulting in interrupted sleep, insomnia, and daytime drowsiness or fatigue.
One of the biggest problems associated with RLS is that it disturbs normal sleep and can lead to many complications associated with chronic fatigue and under-sleeping. It also causes many people to turn to prescription sleep-aid or pain-reducing medications, which pose a high risk for addiction, dependency and side effects.
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