 |
 |
Just found this on the Internet and thought it might be of interest; I had not heard of avoidance of caffeine and alcohol in treating RLS. ------------------- Monday March 31 6:27 PM EST 'Restless Legs Syndrome' Treatable NEW YORK (Reuters) -- Jittery, tingling legs, especially at bedtime, don't always indicate an itch to roam, doctors say. They're often part of a chronic, distressing condition known as Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS). "The discomfort is... often described as a deep-seated, creeping, crawling, jittery, tingling, burning, or aching sensation (in the arms and legs)," says RLS expert Dr. Michael Silber, of the Mayo Clinic's department of neurology and sleep disorders center in Rochester, Minnesota. He says this "restlessness is associated with a patient's compelling desire to move the affected limbs" Silber says the condition, which can bring on an exhausting chronic insomnia, "may afflict up to 10 to 15% of the population." The syndrome is usually localized in the calves, but can also affect the thighs and feet, and sometimes the arms as well. "Lying in bed is the most common precipitant," he says, "but symptoms may also occur while the patient is sitting, especially for prolonged periods such as in a theater, automobile, or airplane." But it is at night that RLS is most problematic. "Most patients with RLS have sleep onset or sleep maintenance insomnia," Silber explains. He says the higher intensity of limb sensation during the nighttime hours seems to be connected with the circadian, or daily, physiologic cycle. The impetus behind unwanted limb 'restlessness' is still unclear, but Silber speculates that normally-suppressed nerve impulses are allowed free play in those afflicted with RLS. Certain connections to other neurological conditions, nutrient deficiencies, rheumatoid arthritis, even pregnancy, have been noted as well, Silber says. "The condition can develop in patients of any age," he says, "(but) about 40% of patients recall symptoms before the age of 20 years... about two-thirds of patients report progression of symptoms with time." RLS patients often treat themselves -- exercise, hot baths, and leg massages all seem to help relieve that jittery feeling. And Silber says the avoidance of alcohol, caffeine, and cigarettes can help lessen disease symptoms as well. But he says sometimes medication is the best answer. Dopamine, morphine, benzodiazepines, and anticonvulsants are just a few drugs which seem to help suppress RLS symptoms. Too many RLS patients are waiting too long for a proper diagnosis, however. RLS "is often misdiagnosed," according to Silber, "and patients report a mean of 2 years' delay in the correct diagnosis after they have sought medical attention." His review, aimed at raising physician awareness regarding RLS, was published in the Mayo Clinic Proceedings. SOURCE: Mayo Clinic Proceedings (1997;72:261-264) -- Kathrynne Holden, MS, RD Editor-in-Chief, "Spotlight on Food--nutrition news for people 60-plus" Tel: 970-493-6532 Fax: 970-493-6538 http://www.fortnet.org/~fivstar You may wish to contact: Better Business Bureau of the Mountain States, < [log in to unmask]> for further information.