Understanding Restless Leg Syndrome

Feb. 15, 2012 - PRLog -- What is Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS)?
RLS is characterized by discomfort in the legs that occurs at night while resting and is relieved by movement of the legs. Because of the discomfort in the legs, patients may have difficulty going to sleep and staying asleep. The resulting sleep deprivation can lead to daytime tiredness, poor concentration and loss of energy. Additionally, 80% of people with RLS have excessive movements of the legs while asleep. Bed partners may complain of frequent “kicking” in the bed.

What causes RLS?
The exact cause of RLS is unknown but it has a primary form not related to other disorders and a secondary form related to an underlying condition such as kidney failure, pregnancy or iron deficiency.

How is RLS diagnosed?
RLS is diagnosed based on clinical history. Some additional blood labs to detect iron deficiency or kidney problems may be required.

What are some contributing factors that make RLS worse?

Medications:
•   Antihistamines
•   Some antidepressants
•   Caffeine
•   Nicotine

Lack of sleep or poor quality sleep due to:
•   Sleep apnea
•   Inadequate sleep time
•   Insomnia

How is RLS treated?

Several things can be done to improve RLS:
•   Treat causes of daytime sleepiness (sleep apnea, insomnia, etc…)
•   Cut back on caffeine and nicotine
•   Consider medication changes to avoid drugs that can make RLS worse
•   Exercise and receive massage therapy
•   Take iron replacements (if low on iron)
•   Receive pharmaceutical therapy

There are more than 80 types of sleep disorders affecting up to 70 million people in the U.S. Most patients are simply unaware of the dangers of untreated sleep disorders.

Risks associated with insufficient sleep include:

Headaches, depression, chronic pain, decreased concentration, motivation and memory. Some sleep disorders may even result in heart failure and pulmonary hypertension.

Comprehensive Sleep Wellness Center, http://www.bestshuteye.com, can stop the deterioration of health and compromised quality of life most sleep disorder patients experience by treating:

•   Restless Leg Syndrome
•   Sleep Apnea
•   Chronic Fatigue
•   Insomnia, Narcolepsy and other disorders

Services for high-risk patients, such as our Emergency Fast Track for patients who are at risk for serious injury and our DOT Fast Track, designed specifically for a trucker’s schedule.

What sets CSWC apart from other Sleep Medicine Centers?

•   Assessments are always conducted with results delivered as efficiently as possible.
•   Our Clinical Pathway, which has seen 90% compliance, addresses the issues that   typically derail a patient’s progress.
•   Registered respiratory therapists are on staff to provide treatment recommendations and evaluate patient compliance.
•   We handle insurance pre-certification.
•   Our dedication to the patient. We spend time with the patient to understand the problems, conduct an evaluation, find a remedy and ensure a solution.

Comprehensive Sleep Wellness Center, does everything possible to help the patient …because quality sleep is vital.

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At the Comprehensive Sleep Wellness Center we are equipped to manage your specialized sleep care needs.