Exclusive‘Restless Legs’ Can Be Fueled by Some Drugs, Foods, and Lost Nutrients—How to Relieve It?｜Vital Signs

Restless leg syndrome (RLS) affects an estimated 7 to 10 percent of Americans. What causes it and how can it be relieved?

One RLS sufferer describes feeling like “a wire cog being wound up … as tightly as can be and then … [having] no release.”

It’s a “feeling of … my whole body wanting to scream,” she said.

It’s almost as hard to describe the feeling of RLS as it is to pin down its cause. However, it is not a purely psychological issue, as has been suggested in the past, says Dr. Alejandro Centurion.

“There are certain changes in the brain that occur related to dopamine transmission, as well as iron levels of the brain that contribute to this disorder,” he says.

Dr. Centurion is a board-certified neurologist in Carmel, California. He has practiced medicine for 25 years.

Why do certain drugs, like antidepressants, trigger RLS? What can people reliant on such medicines do, if they want to relieve RLS?

Which dietary and lifestyle habits are likely to improve RLS?

“Vital Signs with Brendon Fallon” explores the triggers and the possible remedies for RLS—from supplementing nutrients and acupuncture to switching medications and peroneal-nerve stimulation.

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Vital Signs’ host, guests, and contributors offer general information on improving health and wellness. This is not intended as diagnosis or medical advice. You should consult your medical doctor or holistic doctor before enacting any suggested strategies for health and wellness improvement, including those in relation to preventing or treating specific diseases featured on this program.