Do You Have Primary RLS or Secondary Restless Leg Syndrome?

Some people have primary RLS, while others have secondary RLS, but do you know which type of Restless Leg Syndrome you’re suffering from? In fact, do you even know what RLS is and what you can be doing to ease your symptoms?

You should know that Restless Leg Syndrome is a central nervous system disorder which can inhibit the ability to rest or sleep. Many associate it as a sleep disorder as it often occurs at night. It involves involuntary movements of the legs, tingling, and urges to move frequently. Symptoms typically become worse when at rest and at night, but you might find that you suffer from it whenever you’re just sitting still.

If you suffer from these symptoms it can be quite disturbing. While this condition can become frustrating for many people, it is not life threatening, but it can be disruptive if your symptoms become severe.

Primary RLS or Secondary RLS

An easy way to know what type of RLS you have is if you have no other ailments such as diabetes or anemia, then you likely have Primary RLS. This can be affected by your diet, the amount of caffeine you consume, the amount of activity you get or if you have certain vitamin or mineral shortages, but is not caused from another condition.

If you have a condition such as diabetes, anemia, or other problems, however, and your RLS didn’t start until your other condition occurred, then it’s likely that you have secondary RLS and the symptoms may very well subside when your other conditions are under control.

How Did You Get RLS?

Primary RLS is widely thought to be hereditary for the most part. For instance, if you have a family history of this condition, then it’s likely that you will too. However, there may be other factors which are affecting whether or not you suffer from this condition, such as low iron, magnesium or B vitamins.

While the cause of primary RLS isn’t known, there are some factors which can affect how much you will suffer from this condition such as smoking, alcohol consumption, certain medications, your diet and hormonal imbalances. So it’s a good idea to talk to your health care professional about the many different ways that you can help to manage your RLS symptoms so that you can get a good nights sleep again and begin feeling normal and healthy with rested legs. RLS doesn’t have to control you, but you need to know what you can do to control your RLS symptoms.

If you find that you suffer from secondary RLS, you should know that the symptoms are often sudden and you may find that you begin to suffer with them when you begin taking a new medication or have an illness. For instance, certain allergy medications can cause you to suffer from secondary RLS, so in this case, you may have to do some investigative work to find out what’s really causing you to suffer from RLS.