Despite the evocative name, restless legs syndrome - the disease is quite serious. Faced with him many, but no one is going to address specialists. The main problem is that patients write off the symptoms of Restless Leg Syndrome on magnetic storms, hard days, fatigue, uncomfortable shoes, without even trying to get to the heart of the problem. Because of this, the disease gradually turns into a complex stage, begins to deliver more discomfort and is more difficult to treat.
Causes of restless legs
The syndrome of Ekbom, or as it is also called - restless leg syndrome, is a neurological disease. It is distinguished by an increase in the motor activity of the lower extremities in the state of rest. Simply put, the patient's legs can not remain calm and in need of constant movement.
To say exactly what causes restless legs, experts are at a loss. Most likely, limb movements cause certain biochemical processes occurring in the brain. This phenomenon can be observed in the absence of iron, dopamine - a substance responsible for motor activity - or with an excess of urea in the blood.
Excessive activity of the legs occurs in men and women, but still the fair sex from the syndrome Ekbom suffer more often. According to statistics, a quarter of patients with restless legs syndrome were inherited. The risk zone also includes pregnant women, people who are overweight , patients who have suffered spinal cord injuries.
Symptoms of Restless Leg Syndrome
The main symptom is discomfort in the legs, because of which a person can not sleep normally at night. The patient feels tingling, burning, aching pain. Some patients begin to contract muscles at night on their feet. The symptoms of the disease appear in just a few minutes after the cessation of movement and acceptance of a comfortable position.
The strongest symptoms of restless legs appear at night. In the morning the body calms down a little, and in the day all manifestations of the disease disappear altogether. Only in later stages of the patient can the need to move his legs constantly - even during the day.
Unpleasant sensations disappear during movement. The best medicine for Ekbom syndrome is walking. Some patients are helped by a change of position, but in many cases the patients still have to move: walk, practice on the simulator, stretch, bend, crouch. Because of this, most patients with restless legs syndrome develop insomnia.
Idiopathic restless leg syndrome is also characterized by periodic movements of the legs in a dream. Fixing them, experts determine the severity of the disease:
- at an easy degree the patient commits no more than 5-20 movements per hour;
- at an average of 20-60 movements;
- with severe - 60 or more movements.
Treating restless legs
First of all, it is necessary to determine the cause of "anxiety" of the legs. Depending on this, the most appropriate method of treatment is chosen. So, with iron deficiency will help drug therapy, and with the hereditary syndrome of restless legs it is recommended to fight with massage and
There are other ways to treat the syndrome of Ekbom:
- Unpleasant sensations can be overcome, falling asleep in an unusual position.
- Calms the restless feet with a contrast shower, aimed at the calves and calves.
- It will not be superfluous to change the diet. In restless legs syndrome, you should not overeat for the night, use caffeinated foods and drinks.
- In some cases, you can resort to the use of hypnotics .