//

Category

Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS): Symptoms and Treatment

What Is Restless Legs Syndrome?

What Is Restless Legs Syndrome?

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a nervous system disorder that causes an overpowering urge to move your legs. It’s also known as Willis-Ekbom disease, primary RLS, or idiopathic RLS. Idiopathic means that there's no known cause.

Doctors consider it a sleep disorder because it usually happens or gets worse while you’re at rest. But it's also a movement disorder. You might have trouble sleeping or sitting for a long time, such as in a theater or car. It may get worse if you don’t get treatment. Over time, a lack of sleep can cause problems at work or home.

Restless legs syndrome affects up to 10% of people in the U.S. Anyone can get it, but it’s more common in women. Also, middle-aged people are more likely to have severe symptoms.

Sometimes, doctors don’t recognize RLS, especially if symptoms are mild or don’t happen often. But once it’s diagnosed, treatment can often stop it.

What's the link between RLS and periodic limb movement disorder?

Experts estimate that about 80% of people with restless legs syndrome also have periodic limb movement disorder, or PLMD, which is also called periodic limb movement of sleep (PLMS). In PLMD, the arms or legs twitch or jerk during the night. These movements can happen as often as every 15 seconds. The movements disturb sleep and can cause chronic sleepiness.

Many people have periodic limb movement disorder by itself and will never get restless legs syndrome. If you think you may have PLMD, see your doctor.

Who Gets Restless Legs Syndrome?

Experts estimate that up to 7%-10% of people in the U.S. may have restless legs syndrome, also called RLS. About 2%-3% of them have moderate to severe symptoms that affect their quality of life. Also:

  • More women than men get it. Doctors don't know why that is.
  • Most people with severe RLS are middle-aged or older.
  • While children can get RLS, it's rarer than in adults. Roughly 2% of school-age children may have RLS, and it may be more likely if they have a parent with RLS.