Restless Legs Syndrome(RLS)
by
Cynthia M. Johnson, MA DefinitionRestless legs syndrome (RLS) is a nerve problem. It causes a person to move their legs without control. CausesThe exact cause is not known. It may be a combination of genes, the environment, and other health problems. Risk FactorsRLS is more common in women. It is also more common in people who are White and those who are over 65 years of age. Other things that may raise the risk are:
SymptomsProblems may be:
DiagnosisYou will be asked about your symptoms and health history. A physical exam will be done. This is enough to make the diagnosis. There is no test for RLS. Tests to check for health problems that may trigger RLS are:
TreatmentThere is no cure for RLS. The goal of treatment is to manage symptoms. Options are:
PreventionThere are no known guidelines to prevent RLS. RESOURCES:National Sleep Foundation https://sleepfoundation.org Restless Legs Syndrome Foundation http://www.rls.org References:Garcia-Borreguero D, Cano-Pumarega I. New concepts in the management of restless legs syndrome. BMJ. 2017 Feb 27;356:j104. Gonzalez-Latapi P, Malkani R. Update on restless leg syndrome: from mechanisms to treatment. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep. 2019;19(8):54.
Restless legs syndrome (RLS). EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:
https://www.dynamed.com/condition/restless-legs-syndrome-rls
. Accessed October 2, 2020.
Restless legs syndrome fact sheet. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke website. Available at: ...(Click grey area to select URL) Accessed October 2, 2020. Understanding RLS. Restless Legs Syndrome Disease Foundation website. Available at:
https://www.rls.org/understanding-rls. Accessed October 2, 2020. Winkelman JW, Armstrong MJ, Allen RP, et al. Practice guideline summary: Treatment of restless leg syndrome in adults: Report of the Guideline, Development, Dissemination, and Implementation Subcommittee of the American Academy of Neurology. Neurology. 2016;87(24):2585-93. Last reviewed September 2020 by
EBSCO Medical Review Board
Rimas Lukas, MD Last Updated: 10/2/2020 |
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