Restless leg syndrome (RLS) is a condition in which there is an uncontrollable urge to move your legs when they are in a relaxed position. The symptoms occur most noticeable when the person who has it is lying down, resulting in an inability to fall asleep and stay asleep. This can cause severe exhaustion and fatigue, which can affect a person's work and relationships. While there is no conclusive cause for RLS, there have been several factors that seem to relate to it.
Heredity
The most common factor in people afflicted with restless leg syndrome is heredity. It has been found that the condition runs in families with up to 50 percent of all those suffering from the disease, which suggests that this disease may be genetic, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. This is more common in sufferers who were diagnosed at a young age.
Vitamins and Other Food Causes
One of the factors linked to the disease has been an iron deficiency or anemia, the Mayo Clinic reports. Increasing your iron intake may help with the symptoms of RLS. Also, substances such as alcohol, tobacco, or caffeine can aggravate your symptoms. It has been found that a reduction of these substances in your diet may reduce or, in some cases, completely eliminate the symptoms altogether.
Other causes
Because there is no one cause for restless leg syndrome, it is difficult to pinpoint the reason for the disease. However, there has been a host of other factors that may contribute to the condition. Pregnant women, for example, may experience RLS in the third trimester of pregnancy. If they do have these symptoms, they will usually abate within a month after giving birth. Also, some chronic illnesses, such as kidney failure or Parkinson's disease, can increase the likelihood of having RLS, according to the Mayo Clinic. Certain anti-nausea, anti-psychotic and anti-seizure drugs can also bring on the symptoms of RLS. Finally, if you are suffering from peripheral neuropathy, you may get restless legs because of the nerve damage to your extremities.
