RESTLESS LIMBS
SLEEP APNEA
from the article "5 Common Sleep Disorders: Disturbing or Dangerous?"
By Laurie Sanchez, Lifescript Staff Writer
Published January 26, 2011
Reviewed By Edward C. Geehr, M.D
Restless Limbs
This bodily behavior, called periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD), mostly affects legs but sometimes arms too.
It’s often confused with restless leg syndrome (RLS) – that irritating, tingling feeling that starts in the legs as you’re trying to fall asleep and makes you need to move around. Many people have both conditions.
“There’s a common overlap,” Gromer says. “Patients don’t often come in to be treated for PLMD, since it usually doesn’t disturb them, but they'll want treatment for RLS.”
PLMD differs from RLS because it occurs only when you’re asleep, and movements – ranging from twitches to kicks – are involuntary.
Most people with PLMD don’t know they have it. The biggest sign is that they wake up with the sheets strewn about, says Hirshkowitz.
While these movements won’t necessarily harm you, “they tend to disturb a bed partner,” Gromer says.
What you can do about it: If PLMD is disrupting your sleep, or you regularly wake up tired, talk to your doctor.
Treatment is the same as for RLS: It includes taking iron supplements, since the disorder is linked with having a low amount of ferritin, a protein that helps store iron.
A doctor may also prescribe dopamine agonists (drugs that mimic the effect of the neurotransmitter dopamine), levodopa [also known as L-DOPA, a psychoactive drug that increases dopamine concentrations], sleep agents such as benzodiazepines and anticonvulsant medications.
Regular exercise, such as walking and nightly stretching, and limiting caffeine and alcohol also seem to help, Hirshkowitz says.
MY THOUGHTS
i'm so curious if i have the restless limb syndrome i'm thinking of turningthe video on while i'm sleeping.
SLEEP APNEA
from the article "5 Common Sleep Disorders: Disturbing or Dangerous?"
By Laurie Sanchez, Lifescript Staff Writer
Published January 26, 2011
Reviewed By Edward C. Geehr, M.D
Restless Limbs
This bodily behavior, called periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD), mostly affects legs but sometimes arms too.
It’s often confused with restless leg syndrome (RLS) – that irritating, tingling feeling that starts in the legs as you’re trying to fall asleep and makes you need to move around. Many people have both conditions.
“There’s a common overlap,” Gromer says. “Patients don’t often come in to be treated for PLMD, since it usually doesn’t disturb them, but they'll want treatment for RLS.”
PLMD differs from RLS because it occurs only when you’re asleep, and movements – ranging from twitches to kicks – are involuntary.
Most people with PLMD don’t know they have it. The biggest sign is that they wake up with the sheets strewn about, says Hirshkowitz.
While these movements won’t necessarily harm you, “they tend to disturb a bed partner,” Gromer says.
What you can do about it: If PLMD is disrupting your sleep, or you regularly wake up tired, talk to your doctor.
Treatment is the same as for RLS: It includes taking iron supplements, since the disorder is linked with having a low amount of ferritin, a protein that helps store iron.
A doctor may also prescribe dopamine agonists (drugs that mimic the effect of the neurotransmitter dopamine), levodopa [also known as L-DOPA, a psychoactive drug that increases dopamine concentrations], sleep agents such as benzodiazepines and anticonvulsant medications.
Regular exercise, such as walking and nightly stretching, and limiting caffeine and alcohol also seem to help, Hirshkowitz says.
MY THOUGHTS
i'm so curious if i have the restless limb syndrome i'm thinking of turningthe video on while i'm sleeping.
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