RLS is a state from which millions of people all over the world suffer from everyday. There has been varying degrees of study done on this syndrome but no one has been able to exclusively say what causes it, even though a recent study done by a group of researchers at Penn State College of Medicine and Johns Hopkins University was able to find what may be a probable cause. More on that later in this article.
What is recognized about the cause of rLS is that its origins appear to center around problems with mind chemistry and nerve impulses that control the legs. Researchers have found that people 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 ease these creepy-crawly feelings is getting up and moving around.
It is not recognized what causes these nerve impulses but it is supposed that diet plays a important part in it. Caffeine has been found to be a causative agent for people with rLS as it stimulates the brain 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 found that their symptoms have lessened or gone away.
Many individuals who suffer from Restless leg syndrome have discovered that stress or emotional problems makes their symptoms get worse. Stress and mental fatigue can affect mind function and the way it sends signals to the rest of the body. By reducing or eliminating stress the symptoms of restless leg syndrome will be reduced.
Medical investigation believes most of the problems associated with restless leg syndrome have to do with vitamin and mineral deficiencies. These deficiencies can 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 released in June of 2003 the researchers found that cells in the mid-brain area were not getting an adequate amount of iron. This significant locate pointed to the reality that RLS is a sensory motor disorder and is not any form of psychological problem. This means that there isn't really any damage to the brain cells and because they are iron deficient there is a good probability that good treatments will 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 an adequate amount of iron the neural signals may misfire causing the leg movement and the feelings of something crawling just under the skin. This does not necessarily mean that those with RLS are iron deficient; it's just that not an adequate amount of iron is able to get into the appropriate mind cells to allow for efficient neural firing.
It should also be pointed out that smoking cigarettes have been linked to Restless leg syndrome. Studies have proven that cigarette smoke decreases the body's ability to correctly absorb and metabolize vitamins a minerals causing a deficiency of these vital nutrients. Stopping smoking has been shown to decrease or get rid of the symptoms completely.
Anybody who suffers or thinks they suffer from Restless leg syndrome should seek the advice of their doctor. They could run tests to help uncover the cause of their restless leg syndrome and help sufferers take the correct steps to effectively cure their condition.
Author Resource:-
Do You Have RLS Legs? Check Out This Blog For More Info.
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://articlepile.com/images/icon_Rss.png "XML Feed For RSS"){kind=icon}
Category Rss Feed
Print This Article
Add To Favorites