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Medical Edge Newspaper Column from Mayo ClinicThe Difference Between Shaky Leg Syndrome and Restless Legs Syndrome With shaky leg syndrome, the legs visibly shake or jerk when you stand. Symptoms are relieved when you sit, lie down or lean against a wall. There is usually no feeling of pain or discomfort other than the unpleasant nature of the tremor. Because the condition can disrupt balance, patients with shaky leg syndrome may not venture out much, and may become more dependent on others than they would like. The condition is rare, affecting far less than 1 percent of the population. Anticonvulsant medications such as valproic acid (Depakote) and gabapentin (Neurontin) can provide some relief. In contrast, restless legs syndrome causes the legs to feel extremely uncomfortable when sitting or lying down. People with restless leg syndrome describe the sensation as jittery, tingling, burning or aching feelings in the lower legs and thighs. The unpleasant feeling goes away when you get up and move around. Restless leg syndrome is common, affecting an estimated 20 percent of the population. Symptoms can range from bothersome to incapacitating. They can fluctuate and even disappear for a time. Although restless legs syndrome doesn’t lead to other serious medical problems, it often interferes with sleep, which can adversely affect quality of life. Treatment for restless legs syndrome includes medications used to treat Parkinson’s disease and epilepsy as well as opioid analgesics, muscle relaxants and sleep medications. Restless legs syndrome can be associated with iron deficiency, and any patient with restless legs syndrome should be evaluated for possible iron deficiency. Iron replacement may help to relieve symptoms. Lifestyle changes and home care can relieve symptoms, too. Options include massaging your legs, applying warm or cool packs, using relaxation techniques such as yoga or meditation, exercising, and cutting back on caffeine, alcohol and tobacco. Restless legs syndrome can be hereditary, whereas shaky leg syndrome usually is not.
Readers: A Mayo Clinic research team used a simple, noninvasive tool to discover an association between stiffness in arteries and the presence and amount of coronary artery calcium, leading to the possibility of more accurate assessment of heart disease risk in adults with no symptoms, according to a recently published study. "About 40 percent of the American public is considered to be at moderate risk for heart disease," says Iftikhar Kullo, M.D., the lead author of the study. "Nearly half the heart attacks come without warning, which means we need to do a better job of screening people. This test has that potential." The test, aortic pulse wave velocity (aPWV), measures how fast the pulse wave travels down the aorta, the major artery arising from the heart. It is a potential screening tool because it is quick (takes 10-15 minutes), painless, noninvasive and likely to be less expensive compared with other cardiac screening tests, Dr. Kullo says. For the test, the patient lies on a bed and a pencil-like device (tonometer) is placed on the skin over the carotid artery (in the neck) and then the femoral artery (in the upper thigh). The tonometer measures the pressure wave inside the artery. A slower pulse wave means the artery is more elastic and healthier; a faster wave means the artery is stiffer and less healthy, he says. The research found that study participants with stiffer arteries also had a greater presence and amount of calcium in the coronary arteries, an indicator of coronary atherosclerosis (plaque buildup). --- © 2006 TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC. |
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