The symptoms are worst at night, causing uncontrollable twitches, tics or kicks of the legs, feet or toes that can make sleep all but impossible. Frequency varies from a few episodes a month to almost nightly. The cause is unknown, but is thought to stem from problems in the central nervous system. Some 10 percent of people 30-79 and 19 percent of those older than 80 answered yes. The overall age-adjusted prevalence was 10 percent, a rate that compares closely with restless legs studies in Canada and Germany.
Previous studies suggest that women are more likely than men to have the syndrome.
See a doctor for a checkup that could include a test for the presence of diabetes, and changing any medications that might contribute to sleep problems. Several prescription drugs can control symptoms, and they work in 80 percent to 90 percent of cases, Phillips said. E-mail this story to a friend. All rights reserved. Any copying, redistribution, or retransmission of any of the contents of this service without the expressed written consent of the Lexington Herald-Leader is prohibited.