| |
 |
|
| Medical Edge |
|
|
|
Medical Edge Newspaper Column from Mayo Clinic
FREQUENT BLOOD DONATION MAY LEAD TO RESTLESS LEGS SYNDROME
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: For years I have given blood every time the
blood mobile comes around, but last time a curious thing happened. The
nurse asked me if I ever experienced symptoms of restless legs. What was
she talking about? She also said I should take a break from blood donations
for a month or two. Why? I thought there was a shortage of blood, and
I was helping out. — Milwaukee
ANSWER: You are very generous to donate blood frequently, and your
gift of blood is a precious resource. However, frequent blood donation
can deplete the body’s iron stores and lead to iron deficiency.
This is important because a recently published Mayo Clinic study found
an association between iron deficiency caused by frequent blood donation
— defined as donation more than three times a year for at least three
years — and restless legs syndrome. The good news is that when patients
in the study received iron-replacement therapy, the symptoms of RLS disappeared
or were markedly improved.
RLS is a disorder characterized by unpleasant sensations in the calves
of the legs when the person sits or lies down for an extended period.
The sensations are often described as a tingling, aching, crawling or
creeping feeling. Because the symptoms occur primarily at night, many
patients with RLS suffer from insomnia, which jeopardizes overall health.
Symptoms generally improve when the person stands up and moves around.
According to the Restless Leg Syndrome Foundation, up to 8 percent of
the U.S. population may suffer from this condition. While many people
have only a mild form of the disorder, the foundation estimates that RLS
severely affects the lives of millions of individuals.
People with RLS have decreased iron stores in the brain, which appears
to be responsible for the majority of symptoms. If you develop symptoms
of restless legs, you should temporarily stop donating blood and see your
doctor.
In general, it’s a good idea for frequent blood donors with restless legs
to have their iron levels measured periodically through a serum ferritin
test. People with serum ferritin concentrations of less than 50 mcg/L
should not donate blood until their iron stores are replenished.
— Michael Silber, M.D., Neurology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.
Additional Resources:
Restless
Leg Syndrome and Blood Donation
Appointment
Information
More
Information on Restless Leg Syndrome
---
Medical Edge from Mayo Clinic is an educational resource and doesn’t
replace regular medical care. To e-mail a question, go to www.mayoclinic.org,
or write: Medical Edge from Mayo Clinic, c/o TMS, 2225 Kenmore Ave., Suite
114, Buffalo, N.Y., 14207. For health information, visit www.mayoclinic.com.
© 2004 TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.
|
|
