ANCSLEEP BLOG

What is Restless Leg Syndrome?

Restless leg syndrome (RLS) is a sleeping disorder characterized by uncomfortable feelings in your legs at night, and sometimes other extremities as well. RLS causes enough discomfort to interfere with sleep, leading to sleep deprivation, hence why it is considered a sleep disorder. It can be a potentially serious condition if the severity is bad enough, so if these symptoms are similar to what you've been experiencing, then please continue reading to learn the next steps. .

RLS is caused by your nervous system. The experience of RLS is similar across the affected population in that there is chronic discomfort in the legs at night. This discomfort can also occur in other extremities. It can be mild, uncomfortable, and even intolerable.

RLS is not always consistent, which can make it difficult to diagnose. You are probably familiar with the scenarios people tend to joke about: you have chronic pain and as soon as you go to the doctor the pain goes away; your car is making a funny noise and as soon as you take it to the mechanic the noise disappears. RLS is similar because it comes and goes over a period of time or could be chronic and experienced all the time.

Many people just tolerate the symptoms but this doesn’t have to be the case. This condition does have a name and can be addressed with the help of a doctor or sleep specialist.

What is Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS)?

Restless leg syndrome (RLS) is a sleep disorder caused by nervous system, and is characterized by uncomfortable sensations in the legs and other extremities during the night. RLS usually causes enough discomfort to interfere with sleep, causing sleep deprivation.

The symptoms of RLS all have one thing in common: discomfort in the legs, though it can also occur in other extremities. This discomfort can be mild, uncomfortable, and even intolerable. Frustratingly, your RLS can:

• Come and go over long periods of time
  
• Be chronic (all the time)
  
• Be intermittent – some nights RLS symptoms appear and some nights they don’t

This can make it difficult to identify that there is even a problem or a sleep disorder present. Continue reading to learn more about RLS and how to treat it.

Restless leg syndrome (RLS) is a nervous system disorder that causes uncomfortable feelings in the legs and other extremities throughout the night. These feelings can be described as tingling or itching sensations that can only be relieved by moving the legs. This often keeps the individual awake throughout the night. 

Therefore, the primary consequence of RLS is sleep deprivation. Furthermore, the worse the sleep deprivation, the worse the symptoms, which continues to worsen the sleep deprivation, thus perpetuating a vicious cycle. 

RLS can be difficult to diagnose and may continue for months, undetected or misdiagnosed. The longer one goes without receiving the proper help, the longer they may suffer from not receiving proper help. Continue reading to learn more about what causes RLS and how you can receive the help you need. 

Restless leg syndrome (RLS) is a disorder of the nervous system that can cause uncomfortable sensations in your legs and other extremities during the night. These feelings can be disruptive enough to interfere with sleep, leading to sleep deprivation and further exacerbating symptoms.

One primary risk associated with RLS is the cycle of waking up to alleviate discomfort, which can result in ongoing sleep deprivation. Additionally, there is a risk that mild or intermittent RLS may go unnoticed or be misdiagnosed, potentially leading to chronic sleep deprivation.

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Restless leg syndrome (RLS) is a neurological condition that triggers unpleasant sensations in the legs, prompting the urge to move them. The discomfort associated with RLS often disrupts sleep, leading to sleep deprivation and categorizing it as a sleep disorder.

Restless leg syndrome (RLS) is a nervous system disorder that causes discomfort in the legs and other extremities throughout the night, and may affect up to 10% of the U.S. population [WebMD]. This discomfort is described as tingling sensations throughout the extremities that are severe enough to interfere with sleep.

This leads to the primary consequence of RLS, sleep deprivation. The discomfort in the legs is only relieved by moving them, which continues to awaken the person suffering from RLS. The worse the sleep deprivation, the worse the RLS symptoms; a vicious cycle that continues and negatively impacts the sleeper. 

There are varying severities of RLS which affect the severity of sleep deprivation. Those with mild to moderate symptoms may go undiagnosed for prolonged periods of time and experience mildly disruptive symptoms. However, those with moderate to severe symptoms may suffer from extreme sleep deprivation and have their condition diagnosed much quicker.