Restless Leg Syndrome: A Hidden Culprit Behind Your Poor Sleep

What is Restless Leg Syndrome—and why does it strike when you’re trying to sleep?

If you’ve ever laid down at night and felt an overwhelming urge to move your legs — tingling, creeping, pulsing sensations that only ease when you stretch or walk — you’re not imagining things. You may be one of the millions living with Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS), a surprisingly common and underdiagnosed sleep disorder that’s wreaking havoc on rest across all age groups.

At The Respire Institute, we often see patients who arrive thinking they have insomnia or trouble “winding down,” only to learn that an overactive nervous system — not an overactive mind — may be the cause.

What is Restless Leg Syndrome?

Restless Leg Syndrome, also called Willis-Ekbom Disease, is a neurological condition that causes unpleasant sensations in the legs and an irresistible urge to move them. It most often occurs at night or while resting and can severely disrupt sleep quality.

Key symptoms of RLS include:

• Uncomfortable sensations (itching, crawling, tingling) deep in the legs
• Urge to move, especially in the evening or when lying down
• Relief only when moving or walking
• Sleep disruption and daytime fatigue

Symptoms can vary from mild to severe and may even affect the arms. Over time, untreated RLS can significantly impact your ability to fall and stay asleep — and therefore your mood, memory, and overall health.

What Causes Restless Leg Syndrome?

The exact cause isn’t fully understood, but research suggests it may be linked to:

• Dopamine imbalance in the brain, affecting movement and sensory perception
• Genetic predisposition (often runs in families)
• Iron deficiency, even in the absence of anemia
• Chronic conditions like kidney disease, diabetes, or peripheral neuropathy
• Pregnancy, especially in the third trimester
• Certain medications (e.g., antihistamines, antidepressants)

According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), RLS affects up to 10% of the U.S. population, yet remains widely underdiagnosed — especially in younger adults who might brush off symptoms or associate them with stress or anxiety.

How RLS Affects Sleep — and Why It’s Often Missed

One of the most frustrating parts of RLS is that it tends to show up just when you’re trying to rest. That makes it easy to misinterpret as general insomnia or even just “stress.”

But here’s the kicker: patients with moderate to severe RLS can wake up dozens of times each night, sometimes without even realizing it. This leads to chronic sleep deprivation, brain fog, irritability, and increased risk of depression or anxiety.

At The Respire Institute, we consider RLS part of the broader spectrum of sleep movement disorders. We frequently screen for it in sleep studies and initial consultations — even if it wasn’t the original reason for referral.

How We Diagnose RLS

RLS doesn’t show up on a blood test or scan — which is why a comprehensive evaluation is so important. Our approach includes:

• Clinical interview and symptom questionnaire
• Sleep history and patterns of disruption
• Iron level testing, including ferritin
• Rule-out process for other causes like neuropathy or vascular disease
• In some cases, overnight sleep study to evaluate for other coexisting conditions like sleep apnea or periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD)

Treatment Options: Relief Is Possible

The good news? RLS is highly treatable once identified.

Lifestyle changes:

• Stretching before bed
• Warm baths or massage therapy
• Avoiding caffeine, nicotine, alcohol
• Iron supplementation (if deficient)

Medical therapy:

• Dopaminergic agents (used in Parkinson’s disease)
• Gabapentin or pregabalin
• Sleep aids (only in some cases, and typically short-term)

Our goal is to match you with the least invasive, most sustainable treatment plan, based on your specific symptoms and underlying causes.

You’re Not Alone — Especially If You’re a Woman

RLS occurs in both men and women, but women are nearly twice as likely to develop it, especially during hormonal changes like pregnancy or menopause. It can also begin early — in your 20s or 30s — and worsen over time if left untreated.

If you’re waking up exhausted, struggling to fall asleep, or finding yourself constantly moving your legs at night, RLS might be the hidden reason behind your disrupted sleep cycle.

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How The Respire Institute Can Help

As leaders in sleep medicine, we specialize in identifying all the root causes of poor sleep — not just the obvious ones. That includes:

• Ruling out coexisting sleep apnea or narcolepsy
• Tailored lifestyle and medication management
• Non-CPAP treatment options if you’re struggling with devices
• Referrals to neurologists or specialists if needed

Whether you’re newly diagnosed or just exploring the possibility of RLS, we’re here to help you find clarity — and better sleep.

Final Thoughts: If You Can’t Stay Still, It’s Time to Speak Up

You don’t have to accept “bad sleep” as your norm. If your legs seem to have a mind of their own at night, it’s not all in your head — and it’s not something you should ignore.

Restless Leg Syndrome is real, treatable, and more common than most people think. And at The Respire Institute, we’re here to help you put restlessness to rest.

Think you might have RLS?

Let’s talk about what’s keeping you up.
Request a consultation with our sleep team to evaluate your symptoms and take the first step toward better sleep — and a better life.