====== Restless leg syndrome ======

Restless legs syndrome, also known as //Willis-Ekbom disease//, is a common condition of the nervous system that causes an overwhelming and irresistible urge to move the legs. Estimates are that around 10% of people suffer from RLS at some stage in their lives. It often occurs during sleeping hours and can cause severe insomnia. In the majority of cases there's no obvious cause (i.e. it's termed //idiopathic//).

RLS can be triggered (or exacerbated) by other medical problems, pregnancy, or by medications, drugs, etc.

Further reading [[http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Restless-leg-syndrome/Pages/Introduction.aspx|NHS, UK]]

//Note:// One of the prominent drugs used to treat RLS, [[content:medicine:drugs:gabapentin]] provides some relief in some patients -  by an as yet unknown mechanism.

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Also see [[content:life_sciences:human_body:hypnic_jerk]]