That's Fit

I had a roommate in college that had what we called "jimmy legs." She didn't know what was wrong, but as soon as she'd lay down to sleep her legs would start to feel "creepy crawly" (her words) and the next thing you'd know she'd be jerking and shaking her legs -- sometimes on purpose, sometimes not. We used to laugh it off, but I know it was really uncomfortable for her. And I know that, since she didn't know what was really going on, it was frightening for her, too.

Though I can't say for sure, my guess is that my roommate had restless leg syndrome (RLS). RLS is a neurological condition that affects up to 10% of the US population. RLS patients feel uncomfortable sensations and an overwhelming urge to move their legs. Symptoms become worse during rest -- particularly when lying down -- and are put at bay by movement.

GlaxoSmithKline's Requip medication has been a premiere treatment for mild to moderate RLS. The FDA just approved a generic form of Requip. The medication is also approved to treat symptoms of Parkinson's Disease.

RLS, better known as Restless Leg Syndrome, is a neurological disorder that causes people to have a strong urge to move their legs. Though it seems like just about every kid on the planet suffers from this disorder, it's typically a problem faced by older adults.

Researchers from the University of Montreal's Sacre-Coeur Hospital in Canada may have discovered that RLS may increase a person's chance of developing cardiovascular disease. To study a small number of people with untreated RLS in a sleep laboratory, researchers kept them overnight, allowing the researchers to monitor periodic leg movement and blood pressure changes in the test subjects. The study revealed that systolic blood pressure rates during these frequent leg movements rose by an average of 20 points, with diastolic blood pressure also rising by an average of 11 points.

Because drastic blood pressure surges during sleep have been associated with a higher rate of stroke in the elderly, the researchers made the RLS connection. However, there is still a great deal more investigation into this RLS/blood pressure link that needs to be completed at this time. Also, the researchers themselves suggest that their findings be interpreted with caution since the study was limited by its small sample size.

Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS), which is defined as a creeping or burning sensation that comes with uncontrollable leg movements, affects millions of people around the world. Research has been making leaps and bounds with this disorder in recent years, and as a result if you're seeking help there are several different angles to consider:

• Neurology RLS is often genetic, so the neurologist will look at your family tree, in addition to doing blood tests and possibly prescribing prescription medication.
  
• Sleep One the of the biggest life areas affected by RLS is sleep. Activity (such as walking) often helps, or keeping yourself occupied in other ways, like with crosswords or games. In some cases prescriptions medications may also help.
  
• Naturopath Taking natural approaches to improve your body's circulation may help relieve RLS symptoms. Herbs, hydrotherapy treatments, and even simply getting enough calcium in your diet everyday can make a big difference.

Do you struggle at night with legs that want to keep moving, even though it's time to sleep? You may struggle from Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS). Until recently, there wasn't unanimous agreement over whether the condition had a physical or psychological basis, or if it was even real. But recent research has found a genetic link to the condition, connecting a gene variation to people in the United States, Canada, Germany, and Iceland. Researchers say the gene variation probably accounts for about 50% of RLS, and interestingly, in one study was also linked to low iron levels. Low iron levels have previously been associated with RLS as well.

Read more about RLS, including symptoms and treatment options, at the Restless Leg Syndrome Foundation's web page.

"Restless Legs Syndrome," or RLS, has only recently become a more widely recognized disorder -- most people have seen the commercials on TV and ads in magazines by now. But new research shows that people who suffer from RLS may have more to worry about than just escaping that creepy-crawly feeling in their legs: they could be at increased risk for heart disease.

People who suffer from symptoms of RLS -- involuntary leg twitching or jerking and that generalized "restless, gotta get moving" feeling -- experience rises in blood pressure similar to those of people who have sleep apnea. And sleep apnea is a known risk factor for heart disease for that very reason.

As of now there is no cure for Restless Leg Syndrome, but there are things you can do to help lessen symptoms and decrease your risk -- see your doctor for advice.