RLS is a condition from which millions of people all over the globe suffer from each day. There has been varying degrees of investigation done on this syndrome but no one has been able to explicitly say what causes it, even though a recent study done by a team of researchers at Penn State College of Medicine and Johns Hopkins University was able to find what may be a likely cause. More on that later in this article.
What is known about the cause of rLS is that its origins appear to center around problems with brain chemistry and nerve impulses that control the legs. Researchers have discovered that individuals who suffer from this syndrome have nerve impulses that cause the legs to move or shift in reaction to the feeling that something is crawling around on them. The only thing that seems to assuage these creepy-crawly feelings is getting up and moving around.
It is not recognized what causes these nerve impulses but it is believed that diet plays a significant part in it. Caffeine has been found to be a causative agent for people with rLS as it stimulates the mind to send out movement and pain signals to the legs of those affected. Many people who suffer from Restless leg syndrome have eliminated caffeine from their diet and discovered that their symptoms have lessened or gone away.
Many individuals who suffer from Restless leg syndrome have found that stress or emotional concerns makes their symptoms get worse. Stress and mental fatigue could affect brain function and the way it sends signals to the rest of the body. By reducing or eliminating stress the symptoms of rLS will be reduced.
Medical research believes most of the concerns associated with restless leg syndrome have to do with vitamin and mineral deficiencies. These deficiencies could cause chemical imbalances in the mind and of particular concern is a deficit of iron. This brings us to the study done by Penn State and Johns Hopkins.
In a report out in June of 2003 the researchers discovered that cells in the mid-brain area were not getting enough iron. This important find pointed to the fact that Restless leg syndrome is a sensory motor disorder and is not any form of psychological problem. This means that there isn't actually any damage to the brain cells and because they are iron deficient there is a good likelihood that good treatments could be found.
What they discovered is that the brain cells of the individuals with rLS are lacking a receptor that allows the cells to receive the amount of iron they need to function correctly. Because the cells don't have enough iron the neural signals may misfire creating the leg movement and the feelings of something crawling just under the skin. This does not necessarily mean that those with Restless leg syndrome are iron deficient; it's just that not enough iron is able to get into the appropriate brain cells to allow for efficient neural firing.
It ought to also be noted that smoking cigarettes have been associated to Restless leg syndrome. Studies have proven that cigarette smoke decreases the body's ability to correctly absorb and metabolize vitamins a minerals generating a deficiency of these vital nutrients. Stopping smoking has been shown to decrease or eliminate the symptoms completely.
Any person who suffers or thinks they suffer from Restless leg syndrome ought to seek the advice of their doctor. They will run tests to help uncover the cause of their rLS and help sufferers take the appropriate steps to effectively treat their condition.
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Here is a great related article on Leg Cramps Nighttime
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