Quinine and RLS

The most common neurological disorder in the world today is Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS). This disorder occurs among 10% of the world's population. While the cause and immediate cure for the syndrome is unknown, the symptoms can be controlled over time through proper medication and diet.

Most RLS patients describe the symptoms as creepy-crawly sensations, numbness and even severe cramps in their limbs. The symptoms usually flare-up when that particular limb has been kept idle or in an uncomfortable position for an extended period of time. For RLS sufferers, air travel and car travel can trigger the symptoms.

While RLS symptoms can occur in anybody, RLS sufferers experience the symptoms often, to the point where their lifestyle is affected by the pain. Some RLS patients have mild cases that can be relieved as soon as they can move their legs and get the blood circulating again. However, for others it might not be so easy to get rid of the symptoms, which can last for hours.

The most painful occurrence is when the syndrome flares up at night. RLS patients with severe symptoms are often jolted out of their sleep by severe leg cramps. This is why insomnia is also a serious issue for RLS patients.

Today there are many researchers working to find a cure for the condition. One of the most commonly prescribed cures for RLS is Quinine, which was discovered accidentally. Quinine is generally given to prevent or cure malaria; however during the course of the treatment, it was also found that the patients treated with Quinine suffered less from RLS.

This has led to the common practice of prescribing Quinine for patients with RLS. For some time, Quinine has been known as a muscle relaxant. It has been widely used for athletes to relieve them from the muscle fatigue and pains that follow after a heavy work-out or a run. It helps to circulate the flow of blood and oxygen in the legs.

This relaxes the muscles and gives them the necessary energy required to support the body and its activities. The increased blood flow and relaxation helps to ease the creepy-crawly feelings that are common with RLS.

It is also known to provide relief from involuntary muscle contractions. There are many other qualities that make Quinine the most preferred choice of medicine for patients suffering from RLS. Quinine should always be taken in appropriate, prescribed dosages. Self-medication of quinine is dangerous.

Another therapy that has had success over the years is mixing traces of quinine with Vitamin E. This forms a very effective cure for RLS sufferers. With continuous Quinine medication over a period of time, the symptoms of RLS can be reduced.

Treatment Options For Restless Leg Syndrome

After many sleepless nights, you finally had the courage to seek help from your doctor to know what's wrong with you. Then he tells you what it is. He calls it Restless Leg Syndrome or RLS. It suddenly makes sense now why you've suffered from painful and unpleasant sensations in your calves and lower legs for many nights now. Now, you may want to ask this question: What are the treatment options available for people like you who suffer from Restless Leg Syndrome?

You've observed that moving your legs, massaging them, doing some deep knee bends and walking seem to provide some temporary relief. You also observed that it often occurs when you are lying down or sometimes when you sit for a prolonged period of time. It occurs most often at night so that you have difficulty falling or staying asleep. Because of this you feel very tired and restless when morning comes.

They say that it is quite difficult to pinpoint the cause of Restless Leg Syndrome. It was linked to anemia and other diseases that are chronic in nature such as Parkinson's disease, diabetes, kidney failure and peripheral neuropathy (where you lose feeling in your hands and feet). They even say that RLS might be a symptom of an underlying medical condition that could be worse.

There is no cure for RLS. Most often, treatments are geared towards alleviating the symptoms of the condition. Generally doctors suggest a change in lifestyle and taking prescription drugs and supplements to relieve the symptoms. The treatment options for Restless Leg Syndrome include the following:

1. Health practitioner advise those who suffer from RLS to stop or even reduce consumption of tobacco products, caffeine and alcohol to prevent worsening of the symptoms.

2. They also advise you to develop a regular sleep schedule in order to regulate your sleeping and waking cycle.

3. Doing some moderate exercises or engaging in activities such as walking, yoga or stretching at bedtime is suggested and has proven to help prevent some occurrences of the symptoms

4. Taking cold or hot baths and massaging the legs or using ice packs or heating pads can be done to relax the muscles in the affected areas.

5. Doctors also advise you to take vitamin and mineral supplements to increase your body's iron, foliate and magnesium levels. It has been observed that RLS generally does not occur in people who have high levels of these minerals.

6. For cases where the symptoms are too severe for other remedies to provide comfort, doctors can prescribe one of the following drugs:

a. Benzodiazepines. They tend to depress one's central nervous system in order for sufferers to be able to sleep better despite the symptoms. However, those who have sleep apnea should not use them.

b. Dopaminergic agents. These are drugs that are most often prescribed for Parkinson's disease patients. They have also proven to reduce symptoms of RLS and leg movements at night.

c. Opoids. These are "relaxants" or painkillers that can often help those who suffer from severe symptoms.

So you see, there are actually a lot of treatment options for Restless Leg Syndrome. Some people falsely claim that RLS is not a very serious condition and can be left untreated. They believe that symptoms would probably go away after a while. Some symptoms do, but most do not.

Seeing your doctor is the first step in treating your condition. It will save you from having a lot of pain in the future, since the likelihood of the symptoms worsening increases the longer it is left untreated.

If the restless leg syndrome you want to treat, the Leg Wedge Pillow is what you need

Can't sleep because you need to move your legs? Then it is possible that you may be suffering from restless leg syndrome.

Restless leg syndrome is a sleep disorder in which people feel an intense need to move the legs that is hard to resist, but they also feel tingling or pain in their legs at the same time. This sensation is usually caused by lying down in bed or by sitting for too long, like when you are travelling in a car or bus for several hours or when you are reading in your bed for a long time. This sleep disorder usually manifests in the evening, which may cause people some problems to fall asleep, so what they usually do is to walk around and shake their legs so they can find relief for this discomfort.

The causes of restless leg syndrome are not clear, but it looks like stress may make this condition worse. Some studies have shown that RLS can be a genetic syndrome in some cases, so children may inherit from their parents. Other causes that can contribute to the manifestation of RLS are some medical problems or even certain medications. There is not a test a doctor can use to diagnose RLS so what they do is diagnose it by listening their patients describing their symptoms like when they feel the desire to move their legs accompanied by unpleasant sensations like tingling or pain, or when these uncomfortable sensations begin or became worse when they are not moving (resting, sitting watching TV or travelling), also they may feel some relief for restless leg syndrome when walk or exercise the affected muscles, and finally when this problem is worse or happens only in the evening or at night.

Treating the restless leg syndrome

There can be several restless leg syndrome treatments, depending on the symptoms. When it is a temporary disorder it resolves when other conditions are treated. But, when RLS is genetic-based or is caused by medical disorders, it is necessary to follow a treatment. Iron deficiency is a reversible cause of RLS so doctors recommend iron tablets or iron therapy. When RLS symptoms manifest often or in a severe way, doctors prescribe restless leg syndrome medications.

To control or decrease RLS symptoms doctors recommend reducing stress and avoiding alcohol and tobacco products. Also placing the calves and legs in a proper and comfortable position is of great help to reduce the pain and discomfort, so they strongly advice to use a leg pillow like the Leg Wedge Pillow.

This is an orthopedic pillow that has been designed to fit the natural curves of a person's body, providing the necessary comfort. It can be used in a close position between the legs, or in an open position as an ankle support which is very useful when treating restless leg syndrome because it elevates, cradles and relaxes the legs and feet, relieving the user from any pain or discomfort related to this sleep disorder.

Why Quinine Sulfate is a Treatment for Restless Leg Syndrome

Quinine sulfate is a known muscle relaxant that has been used for many years to help relax tense muscles and relieve muscle cramps. It also helps people who are suffering from involuntary muscle contractions. These attributes make it the perfect choice for treating the muscle cramps that affect many sufferers of restless leg syndrome.

There are a variety of symptoms that can occur with restless leg syndrome, but leg cramps can be the most annoying and painful. Waking up in the middle of the night with leg cramps is not anyone's idea of fun. The pain of leg cramps can range from mild to excruciating and one of the most effective ways to deal with leg cramps is by taking quinine sulfate.

While full strength quinine sulfate must be prescribed by a licensed physician there are over the counter medications that have trace amounts quinine sulfate in them. These trace amounts of quinine sulfate are combined with vitamin to produce an over the counter supplement that can be used as a treatment for restless leg syndrome. The vitamin E is used to help promote oxygen flow to the leg muscles which also helps relieve muscle cramps and when combined with the quinine sulfate is quite effective at leg cramp relief and also helping to prevent future occurrences.

Another nice thing about using quinine sulfate as a treatment for restless leg syndrome is that it has few side affects. There are other drugs available that help relieve leg cramps but many of them have the side affect of loss of muscle control. While getting relief from muscle cramps is always welcome not being able to get up and move around because of loss of muscle control can be about as annoying as the cramps themselves. Quinine sulfate does not have this side affect and allows people who suffer from restless leg syndrome to retain their mobility and go about their daily lives.

If you or someone you know thinks they may suffer from restless leg syndrome it is important to visit your doctor to confirm the diagnosis. If you attempt to treat your symptoms without knowing what it is that is causing it you can end up doing more harm then good. This is particularly important when taking over the counter medications because while they may help relieve the symptoms, the symptoms may be a sign of any number of other conditions that may or may not be related to restless leg syndrome. A correct diagnosis will not only make sure that the treatment you are receiving is proper it will also allow your doctor to counter any adverse side affects you may have taking your medications.

If you think you have or currently suffer from restless leg syndrome and the leg cramps that can come with it see your doctor. They can provide a prescription for quinine sulfate and help effectively treat your restless leg syndrome.

Can You Recognize The Signs Of Restless Leg Syndrome

Some researchers estimate that Restless leg syndrome affects as many as 12 million Americans.

RLS was once thought to be due to disease in the blood vessels of the legs or in the nerves in the legs that control leg movement and sensation. Both of those suggestions have been rejected. RLS occurs in both genders, although the incidence may be slightly higher in women. Symptoms may begin at any stage of life, although the disorder is more common with increasing age.

Restless leg syndrome usually begins slowly. Over time, the legs become more affected. Individuals affected with the disorder describe the sensations as burning, creeping, tugging, or like insects crawling inside the legs. When RLS is advanced, a person may feel these symptoms in the hands and arms.

Certain medications-such as anti nausea drugs (prochlorperazine or metoclopramide), anti seizure drugs (phenytoin or droperidol), anti psychotic drugs (haloperidol or phenothiazine derivatives), and some cold and allergy medications-may aggravate symptoms. Other triggering situations are periods of inactivity such as long car trips, sitting in a movie theater, long-distance flights, immobilization in a cast, or relaxation exercises.

Because moving the legs (or other affected parts of the body) relieves the discomfort, people with RLS often keep their legs in motion to minimize or prevent the sensations. They may pace the floor, constantly move their legs while sitting, and toss and turn in bed. Exercise and relaxation techniques may be helpful to relieve the discomfort. People combat the sensation of restless legs in a number of ways -- by stretching, jiggling their legs, pacing the floor, exercising or walking.

There are herbal supplements such as LegCalm that will help to eliminate the crawling and uncomfortable sensations experienced in RLS. This particular herbal supplement will also aid absorption of minerals from the diet, preventing deficiencies and anemia. as well as improve circulation.

RLS is often unrecognized or mis diagnosed. In many people the condition is not diagnosed until 10-20 years after symptoms begin. Once correctly diagnosed, RLS can often be treated successfully.

Restless Leg Syndrome

Restless Leg Syndrome is an affliction that manifests itself as an uncomfortable feeling your legs.

Lying down and sitting has the tendency to aggravate these feelings. The only form of relief for the individual to relieve these uncomfortable feelings in their legs is by getting up and moving around. Most commonly these feelings occur during sleep and when they do; the person must wake up and move around. This is why this syndrome is categorized as a sleeping disorder - it is the constant disruption of sleep that the affected person must deal with.

A hard to describe uncomfortable feeling in the person's legs (and even arms) is the most common symptom of restless leg syndrome. The feelings themselves are difficult to describe or to put into words... but suffers of Restless Leg Syndrome know these aren't feelings of typical cramps or muscle soreness. Restless leg syndrome results in anything from a tingling to a burning type of sensation. These feelings are most prominent during the nighttime or periods of inactivity i.e. trying to sleep. The onset of restless leg syndrome can vary both in frequency and in intensity.

An off chute of Restless Leg Syndrome is involuntary leg flexing and extension; otherwise known as Periodic Limb Movements of Sleep (PLMS). The difference is that PLMS occurs during periods of sleep and most people who exhibit this aren't aware that it is happening... except for anyone who may be in the same bed.

A bodily chemical called dopamine (which controls muscle movement) appears to be the common denominator with restless leg syndrome. The conventional thinking is that RLS may be somewhat hereditary since it occurs in families of 50% of those who suffer.

There are other contributing factors as well such as pregnancy and stress; as either of these can seem to aggravate the symptoms.

Restless leg syndrome can be difficult to diagnose for a number of reasons. First of all, the actual cause can be attributed to a number of reasons or circumstance. Secondly, the vast majority of sufferers don't seek medical attention for their condition.

In order to accurately evaluate and diagnose, doctors need to ask a variety of questions including the type of pain, when the pain occurs, the frequency of the occurrences, and what seems to make the symptoms go away. Certainly a visit to a sleep clinic can go a long way toward the diagnosis because you can be monitored as you sleep.

Moving about is the preferred method by most people when it comes to seeking relief. Walking stretching and flexing exercises help when no other diagnosis has been arrived at. However, if it is determined that the cause is related to something such as an iron deficiency, treating that specific element can many time alleviate the symptoms and pain.

Many times simple lifestyle changes are prescribed to eliminate the symptoms of restless leg syndrome.

Occasionally Restless Leg Syndrome will be treated by stronger prescription type of medications but to date this type of treatment has had only mixed results.

Non-prescription treatments include over-the-counter pain relievers, hot or cool packs, massage, yoga, exercise and development of a sleep routine that encourages better sleep.

Conquering Restless Legs: Victory over Defeat

Do your legs have the heebie-jeebies and creepy-crawlies, especially at night? Do you just have to move them? Do these symptoms play heck with your sleep? Then you just might have restless legs syndrome (RLS), a condition for which treatment is available.
While I was still in training to become a neurologist, I got excited when I made a diagnosis of Ekbom's syndrome, as RLS was then known. In those days, the condition seemed rare and exotic, something a doctor almost never encountered.

Nowadays, in my community practice of neurology, I see cases of RLS almost every day. So where were all these people 25 years ago? Unless the disease has suddenly started propagating like mad, one has to conclude that previously the patients weren't talking, the doctors weren't listening--or both.

Estimates of the prevalence of this condition vary widely, but in a large study conducted in five European countries, 5.5% of the population over the age of 14 had this condition. RLS occurs in both genders, but is slightly more frequent in women. RLS occurs at any age--including in childhood--but becomes more common with advancing years.

Although there is now much more awareness of restless legs syndrome among doctors and patients alike, it is still often underdiagnosed or misdiagnosed. For example, a child's symptoms might get misdiagnosed as due to growing pains or attention deficit disorder, and an adult's symptoms might get interpreted as due to nerve damage or poor circulation.

What are the usual symptoms? In 1995 an international conference of experts agreed upon the following four features:

1. There is a desire to move the legs in association with unusual or uncomfortable sensations deep within the legs.
2. There are overt restless movements in a response to or in an effort to relieve the unusual sensations or discomfort.
3. Symptoms are worse or exclusively present at rest (inactivity or relaxation) and might be temporarily improved by voluntary movements of the affected limbs.
4. Symptoms occur most frequently during the evening or early part of the night.

In addition, most people who have restless legs syndrome also have "periodic leg movements of sleep" or PLMS, previously abbreviated as PMS, but this was, uh, confusing. PLMS refers to abrupt, brief leg movements, generally affecting both legs, and which occur repeatedly during the first several hours of sleep.

The person with PLMS might know only that their bedclothes are a mess the next morning. However, the spouse or other sleeping partner might experience disruption of their own sleep by the movements. Sometimes they relocate to another bed because of them.

The usual course of RLS is that the condition is present for life, and can worsen over time. RLS and PLMS are among those conditions described as due to a "chemical imbalance" in the brain. The abnormality does not show up on MRI scans, CT scans, electroencephalograms (EEGs), spinal taps or blood tests.

Although no cure yet exists, treatment can reduce symptoms and improve function. While medications are the mainstay of treatment, many patients find that physical maneuvers improve their symptoms, like rubbing their legs or periodically getting up and walking around.

Choice of medication depends on what else is going on with the patient. In some cases the RLS is due to another condition in need of its own treatment, like iron deficiency, anemia, diabetes, nerve damage or advanced kidney disease. Pregnancy can also induce RLS, though in this situation the symptoms usually resolve after the woman delivers.

The most common form of RLS occurs without evidence of a second, underlying condition, except for a possible genetic link to relatives with RLS. In these patients drugs that boost dopamine--one of the brain's chemical transmitters--are the first choice. These are the same drugs used in Parkinson's disease, another condition in which dopamine is in short supply. However, for the most part, the two diseases are otherwise unrelated.

Dopamine-blocking drugs--comprising most of the anti-nausea and anti-psychotic medications--can have the unintended consequence of worsening symptoms. For example, in the author's practice, a young woman with RLS went to an emergency room because of a migraine attack. She received an intravenous dose of the dopamine-blocker promethazine (brand name Phenergan) and this made her legs acutely restless and uncomfortable. In another case, an elderly woman with memory loss and agitation received risperidone (Risperdal) and this caused RLS symptoms that had not been present previously.

Certain drugs that also serve as anticonvulsants, like gabapentin (Neurontin) and clonazepam (Klonopin), can help. Painkillers also work, and probably do so by interacting with a specific set of painkiller receptors in the brain, rather than just dulling symptoms. However, because treatment is generally needed over a long period of time, painkillers are not the usual treatments of first choice.

Restless Leg Syndrome and Supplements

Restless Legs Syndrome is a condition that affects about ten percent of the population. The disorder is characterized by an urge to move the legs, usually accompanied by or caused by uncomfortable leg sensations. People with RLS often have difficulty describing their symptoms. Common terms used to describe the sensations are aching, twitching, tingling, burning, creeping, crawling, itching, flowing, pulling, searing and painful. Many people experience these sensations in their legs, but the arms or other body regions also can be affected. The symptoms of RLS are generally worse at night, can be brought on by rest and are relieved by standing up or walking around.

MY STORY

I, too, suffer from RLS occasionally. I've had periods of my life where the condition seemed to worsen (probably stress-related). Some of the following suggestions may work for you, for others maybe not. For me, the lifestyle changes I made to help with my insomnia also helped with my RLS. I still have a sleepless night or a night with RLS, but they are far less frequent. Although www.natural-cures-for-insomnia.com does not endorse drug use, there are new drugs available for extreme cases of RLS when nothing else works.

ALTERNATIVE TREATMENTS

Treatment begins by dealing with any underlying medical condition that may be cause the symptoms. Many times the cause is unknown, but it can be associated with neurological disorders, diabetes, stress and pregnancy. The serious sleep loss can not only lead to drowsiness, but could lead to depression and accidental injuries as well. In recent years, researchers have discovered that iron, folate or vitamin E levels are often low in RLS sufferers and supplementation can frequently help. For example, when iron deficiency is the cause, taking iron supplements can significantly reduce the symptoms of RLS.

"We know that iron deficiency is involved because every condition that produces iron deficiency, such as anemia or pregnancy, increases the risk of RLS dramatically," says Richard Allen, PhD, a diplomat on the American Board of Sleep Medicine and a founder of the Johns Hopkins Sleep Disorders Center. In fact, based on studies of hospital patients, about 40 percent of people with anemia had RLS and about 20 percent to 40 percent of pregnant women have RLS.

Another way researchers know that iron plays a role is iron-deficient patients' response to iron supplementation. "Then when the iron deficiency is corrected, the RLS often remits," Dr. Allen says.

Some people with RLS, however, have normal iron levels. Researchers say that's not a reason to discount iron as an underlying cause of their RLS. Studies indicate that the problem is the brains of RLS patients may not absorb iron normally.

Some other treatment options which may relieve pain include leg massages, hot baths, heat or icepacks, aspirin or other over-the-counter pain relievers, and the elimination of caffeine. As well, regular sleep habits and exercise, especially earlier in the day, will help people enjoy more restful sleep.

MAGNESIUM AND CALCIUM

Cramps in the lower limbs, restless leg syndrome and sleeplessness can be eased by the addition of calcium and magnesium to the diet. Magnesium is more easily absorbed by the body in the form of dolomite, or with the addition of calcium.

Magnesium helps to support a strong immune system and maintains normal muscle and nerve function. It is also known to be involved in every metabolism and protein synthesis and is needed for over three hundred biochemical reactions in the body, so it is very important.

One of the benefits of magnesium is its muscle relaxing properties. The heart is a muscle and high blood pressure is often caused by the heart not relaxing sufficiently on its outward (diastolic) beat. There is increasing interest in the role magnesium can play in managing hypertension and cardiovascular disease.

WHAT TO AVOID

You should avoid things that can make symptoms of RLS worse:

Tobacco
Alcohol
Caffeine—Chocolate, coffee, tea, and some soft drinks contain caffeine. Although it may seem to help overcome daytime sleepiness, caffeine usually only delays or masks RLS symptoms, and often makes them worse. Some types of over-the-counter and prescription medicines can also make RLS symptoms worse. These include:
Anti-depressants (most of them)
Anti-nausea medicines
Anti-psychotic medicines
Antihistamines
Good supplements to take are iron, folic acid, co-enzyme Q10, extracts of ginko biloba and garlic tablets.

Acupuncture and magnet therapy are also worth trying to help with restless legs syndrome.

If you are taking prescription medication, always consult your health care professional before taking supplements.

Restless Legs Syndrome or Growing Pains?

Restless legs syndrome is a common sleep disorder affecting about 1 in 10 adults. Characterized by an uncomfortable, and sometimes painful, itching or prickling in the legs and an uncontrollable desire to move the legs, restless legs syndrome is one of the most common causes of insomnia.

It is normally seen as a problem once you reach the age of about fifty and tends to get worse as you get older. It’s also the ‘poor relation’ of sleeping disorders and unlike insomnia, sleep apnea or narcolepsy, all of which are studied in medical school and reasonably well understood by doctors, restless legs syndrome is given relatively scant attention. One study even goes so far as to suggest that in as many as 3 out of 4 cases the condition goes undiagnosed, even when the patient presents with all the symptoms of the disorder.

This lack of focus on the problem, and general acceptance of it being a problem of the middle aged and elderly, perhaps hides the real extent of the problem and, in particular, masks the fact that restless legs syndrome may well play a major part in the lives of our children.

For many years now children have been complaining of symptoms at night which we have brushed off as simply growing pains. In addition, our children often appear unable to sit still for more than a couple of minutes and we simply put this down to normal childhood hyperactivity. The truth, however, is that a substantial number of our children are in fact suffering from restless legs syndrome.

The cause of restless legs syndrome remains something of a mystery although a good picture of the disorder is now beginning to appear and two elements of this picture should act as a wake up call to the medical profession.

The first element in the picture is that of a genetic basis for restless legs syndrome. It is now accepted that this condition runs in families with one study showing that as many of half of all cases show a family history. This is re-enforced by recent chromosome studies identifying a specific gene that is believed to play an important part in susceptibility to restless legs syndrome. Perhaps most significant of all however is a report published by the Mayo Clinic at the end of last year which showed that in a study of more than 500 children nearly three quarters of those with restless legs syndrome had a family history of the disorder.

The second element in the picture is that of an iron deficiency in sufferers. A number of studies by respected institutions, such as John Hopkins University, have shown that low levels of iron are common in cases of restless legs syndrome. It comes as no surprise therefore that more than eighty percent of the children in the Mayo Clinic study with restless legs syndrome also showed low iron levels.

So just what does all of this mean? Well, it’s simple. If your child is having trouble sleeping and complaining of discomfort at night, particularly in the legs, perhaps there is a little more to it that just growing pains. Similarly, if your child is constantly running around or jumping up and down then perhaps discomfort in the legs rather than hyperactivity is the cause.

Growing pains are normal in children, as are periods of excessive activity, and the odd night here and there is certainly nothing to worry about. But, if your child’s growing pains appear night after night then there’s a good possibility that these aren’t growing pains at all, but are the symptoms of restless legs syndrome.

Sleep Disorders and Restless Leg Movement

Fifteen years ago, I fractured my ankle. It required surgery, the insertion of one metal plate and four pins. My leg was placed in a cast and I was told to keep the leg suspended for at least 2 months. Despite the hospital noise and light, I was able to sleep.

But what I can never forget is that my dreams were filled with running episodes and restless leg movements --me running up and down hills, even falling on the uneven grassy surface. I could feel my foot jamming into a hole and the movement of the fall would wake me up. Then I would lie in bed feeling silly because the cast was so stiff that I could not even wriggle my toes.

I have since discovered that restless leg movements in sleep are common experiences. They are normal spasms that occur just before we fall asleep. However, there are other disruptive restless leg movements that are symptoms of sleep disorder syndromes. People with Periodic Limb Movement Disorder, for example, are wakened by involuntary rhythmic movements of the limbs during sleep.

Sometimes these take the form of twitching in toes and ankles; other times, they involve more flailing and exaggerated movements of the arms and legs. But the restless leg movements come in clusters, some lasting a few minutes, others more than an hour. In effect, the restless leg movements are jerky and persistent enough to disrupt sleep and cause sleep deprivation.

About 80% of people with periodic leg movement sleep disorder also experience the Restless Leg Syndrome, a condition that affects about 10% of the adult population in North America and Europe.

Unlike the periodic limb movement disorder, restless leg is most often experienced as "insects crawling inside the legs," a sensation which leads to an urge to stand up and move around. You can be in bed, trying to sleep, but your limbs become prickly or tingly and this sensation can only be relieved by physically getting up and moving around. Needless to say, sleeping when you have this syndrome is next to impossible.

Because our knowledge of these disorders is limited (the exact causes of these conditions are still unknown), treatment is often limited as well. Research, however is ongoing and much progress has been made in the last 5 years to define the nature and manifestations of these disorders. Here, for example, are some new expressions of these disorders uncovered by research.

1.Both restless leg syndrome and periodic leg movements are common in children with hyperactivity attention deficit disorder.

2.Both conditions seem to be more prevalent in the older adult female population.

3.Neurophysiological studies also indicate that restless leg syndrome is linked to irregularities in the spinal cord and brain.

4.Other studies have shown a correlation between the disorders and reduced iron concentrations in some brain regions.

5.Periodic Leg Movement Sleep Disorder seems to be linked to predisposing factors such as diabetes, use of anti-depressants, kidney disease, metabolic disorders, rheumatoid arthritis and circulatory problems.

6.A great deal of attention is also focused on the genetic component of both disorders. According to the National Sleep Foundation, restless leg syndrome occurs 3 to 5 times more frequently in first degree relatives of people with the same syndrome than in people without the syndrome. This finding definitely suggests a strong hereditary component to the sleep disorder.

If you do experience these restless leg movement symptoms that chronically deprive you of sleep, what can you do?

1.Some people experience mild cases of these disorders and seem to be able to function quite well without medical supervision. Consult your physician about your situation if it regularly deprives you of sleep and is causing inattentive or careless daytime responses that require medical attention. Your physician may be able to prescribe medication that can help you with the problems. A study sponsored by Eli Lilly suggests that a drug used to treat Parkinson's disease, may be effective in the treatment of restless leg syndrome and periodic leg movement disorder.

2. Use of electric nerve stimulation therapy applied to an area in the feet or legs seems to be helpful as well. This therapy is usually done 15-30 minutes before bedtime.

3.Make use of home treatments for relaxation--such as meditation, yoga or massage.

4.Avoid using alcohol, caffeine or anti-depressants as these may trigger episodes of restless leg movements.