The basal ganglia uses the brain chemical dopamine to produce smooth, purposeful muscle activity and movement. RLS also may be related to a dysfunction in a part of your brain that controls movement. Low levels of iron in the brain also may be responsible for RLS. However, RLS often runs in families and specific gene variants have been associated with the condition. In most cases, the cause of RLS is unknown. Who is more likely to have restless legs syndrome? Although many individuals with RLS also develop PLMS, most people with PLMS do not experience RLS. PLMS is characterized by involuntary leg (and sometimes arm) twitching or jerking movements during sleep that typically occur every 15 to 40 seconds, sometimes throughout the night. More than 80 percent of people with RLS also experience periodic limb movement of sleep (PLMS). Is periodic limb movement of sleep the same or different from RLS? In general, however, symptoms often reappear and become more severe over time. You might experience remissions-periods in which symptoms decrease or disappear for weeks or months-usually during the early stages of the disorder. RLS can cause you to experience the following: In severe cases of RLS, the symptoms occur more than twice a week. With moderately severe RLS, your symptoms might only occur once or twice a week but often result in significant delay of sleep onset, with some disruption of daytime function. RLS symptoms may vary from day to day, in severity and frequency, and from person to person. You may also note a worsening of symptoms if your sleep is further reduced by events or activity. Worsening of symptoms at night with a distinct symptom-free period in the early morning-You might have difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep.You might need to pace the floor or constantly move your legs while sitting. Relief of discomfort with movement-You may need to keep your legs (or other affected parts of the body) in motion to minimize or prevent the sensations.Sensations that begin after rest-They typically occur when you are inactive and sitting for extended periods (e.g., when taking a trip by plane or watching a movie).Although the sensations can occur on just one side of your body, they most often affect both sides. These sensations less commonly affect the arms, and rarely the chest or head. The sensations in your legs may feel like aching, throbbing, pulling, itching, crawling, or creeping. If you have RLS, you may feel an irresistible urge to move, which is accompanied by uncomfortable sensations in your lower limbs that are unlike normal sensations experienced by someone without the disorder. However, treatments are available to ease symptoms. RLS is generally a lifelong condition for which there is no cure. Many individuals who are severely affected are middle-aged or older, and the symptoms typically become more frequent and last longer with age. It occurs in both males and females, although females are more likely to have it. population may have RLS, which can begin at any age. It is estimated that up to seven to 10 percent of the U.S. RLS is both a sleep disorder, because the symptoms are triggered by resting and attempting to sleep, and a movement disorder, because people with RLS are forced to move their legs in order to relieve symptoms. Moving the legs or walking typically relieves the discomfort but the sensations often recur once the movement stops. RLS can severely disrupt your sleep, making it difficult to fall asleep or return to sleep after waking up. Symptoms commonly occur in the late afternoon or evening hours and are often most intense at night when you are resting. Restless legs syndrome (RLS)-also known as Willis-Ekbom Disease, primary RLS, and idiopathic RLS- is a neurological disorder that causes unpleasant or uncomfortable sensations in your legs and an irresistible urge to move them.
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