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0 When you’re sleeping, your body may do a lot of things that you might not feel, but someone else beside you will. Snoring, talking in your sleep, and moving your limbs – these are all things that you can subconsciously do. Well, restless legs syndrome is also one of those things. And if your sleep partner tells you about it, you should not ignore going to a sleep doctor Damascus MD. Here is everything you need to know about restless legs syndrome and some associated myths.
Myths About Restless Legs Syndrome
It Only Occurs At Night
This has got to be one of the most common myths about restless legs syndrome out there. Most people think that it is a disorder in which your legs are restless only at night or when you’re trying to sleep. Well, that’s far from the truth. Your legs can get restless at any time.
Whether you’re sitting in a meeting, waiting for someone, or doing anything else, your leg will kick up and down naturally, it will sway from side to side and it will be overall restless. So, you want to kick this misconception to the curb that restless legs syndrome symptoms are only severe at night. They can flare up anytime and anywhere, no matter the time of the day, so keep that in mind.
People Don’t Take It Seriously
This might have been true up until a few years ago, but not anymore. Restless legs syndrome was first not taken seriously. People thought that it was not a serious condition and they thought that it was just their body doing some weird tricks on them. Well, that’s anything but the truth.
Restless legs syndrome has become a more serious topic of conversation in medical research and people are trying their best to come up with solutions for this very peculiar and bizarre type of sleep disorder. So, if you thought that restless legs syndrome isn’t taken seriously, well, think again.
You Can’t Feel Your Legs Getting Restless
You can most definitely feel your legs getting shaky. It’s not a matter of feeling the legs moving or not, it’s more of a matter of not being able to stop it. You’ll feel like your leg is shaking and swaying, but you won’t find it in yourself to stop or control the movement.
So, it’s not like you can’t feel anything like your leg is detached from the rest of your body. It’s more like a subconscious thought that people have. So, yes, you can feel your leg shaking and jumping and moving, but you can’t do anything to stop it until it says so itself.
Legs Are The Only Affected Part
Restless legs syndrome, the name says it all, right? It is only going to affect the legs. Well, not exactly. Even though the term is coined with the word “leg” in it, that usually doesn’t mean that only legs are affected. You can feel a lot of your body parts moving and swaying erratically.
You can feel your arms, your torso, and even your head moving and jumping about. This is not just localized to the legs. So, don’t be fooled by the name, because there are a lot of other body parts that might get restless.
It’s Not Dangerous
Even though restless legs syndrome is not a disease or fatal disorder by any means, it still doesn’t take away the fact that it can be dangerous. Sure, it doesn’t cause major and life-threatening things like heart failure and stopping of breath, but that doesn’t mean that restless legs syndrome is all dog and no bark.
It can cause other derailments in the body like suffering from lack of sleep, depression, fatigue, and loss of focus in the long run. This is serious and if you don’t do something about it and bring your sleep back on track, then you will see the aftereffects in no time. Therefore, consult a sleep specialist Bethesda as soon as possible.
It Is Not Genetic
Even though the cause of restless legs syndrome is still a huge topic of research that people haven’t figured out yet, what they do know is that RLS is familial. If you’re someone who suffers from restless leg syndrome, then chances are that this will be handed down to your children too, and so on.
This is a very peculiar disorder and it is mostly chalked up to genetics. So, the next time someone tells you that restless legs syndrome has nothing to do with genetics, you can prove them wrong.
Stress Doesn’t Trigger It
Restless legs syndrome is not because of stress but that doesn’t mean that stress can’t aggravate the condition. Restless legs syndrome is still a very understudied disorder and it is still in the depths of research, so no one knows the cause of it, but one thing is for sure.
Stress can make the restlessness even crazier. Your body is wired tightly and it needs to be released, so the shaking, jerky movements, and swaying of the legs and limbs will be even more erratic than before. So, stress does make restless legs syndrome worse.
It’s More Common In Men
Even though disorders and sleep issues are not gender exclusive, it is noteworthy to mention that restless legs syndrome is more common in women than in men. The exact reason is still up in the air, but researchers believe that it is because of low iron levels and high estrogen levels, especially during pregnancy and other cycles of a woman’s life.
A woman goes through major hormone changes so it is seen as a pattern that they suffer from restless legs syndrome more than men in comparison. Of course, exceptions are always there, so it’s not like this is set in stone or something.
Restless Leg Syndrome Is Not Related To Iron Deficiency
On the topic of iron deficiency, ever since medical professionals have put restless legs syndrome under a powerful microscope and studied it, it has brought forth a lot of information. One of the contributing factors of restless legs syndrome is iron deficiency.
When you’re deficient in iron, your dopamine levels can take a plunge. This can cause your legs and limbs to become very restless and jerky. So, it is very interesting to know that something as simple as iron deficiency can lead to a major sleep-related issue. It is fascinating to know.
Restless Legs Syndrome Worsens With Age
Lastly, restless leg syndrome has nothing to do with age. It doesn’t exactly worsen with age. Yes, people generally lose their focus as they age and their hands and feet tend to be very shaky, but that shouldn’t be mistaken for restless legs syndrome.
It doesn’t usually happen like that. Restless legs syndrome is a disorder that is sudden and jerky movement of the legs and other body parts, but it’s not constant and it does stop after a bit. Age-related tremors are a completely different thing and they are constant and a permanent age-long issue.
Conclusion
Restless leg syndrome (RLS) is a sleep disorder that can be difficult to deal with for some people. Therefore, if you notice the symptoms, contact a sleep center Frederick and only trust what the doctor says.
