Restless Legs Syndrome: Hidden Causes Most People Ignore (And How Doctors in Delhi Treat It)

Restless Legs Syndrome feels strange. Your legs want to move even when your mind wants rest. The day is fine, but nights become a fight. Many people in Delhi experience this, but they don’t talk about it. Some think it’s just tiredness. Some think it’s stress. But RLS is more than that. It has hidden causes that often go unnoticed.

Let’s break it down in simple, honest language.

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The Hidden Causes Most People Ignore

1. Low Iron Levels
Many people don’t know this. Even if your hemoglobin is normal, your brain can still have low iron. This affects the dopamine system and triggers RLS. Doctors in Delhi check ferritin levels, not just basic iron.

2. Nerve-Related Issues
People with diabetes, vitamin deficiencies, or nerve compression can have RLS symptoms. When nerves misfire, the legs feel restless, heavy, or buzzing.

3. Certain Medicines
Some antidepressants, allergy tablets, and even cold medicines can make RLS worse. Most people take these without thinking they might affect their sleep.

4. Sleep Deprivation
Ironically, lack of sleep itself can trigger RLS. When your sleep cycle is disturbed for weeks or months, your legs react at night. The brain becomes sensitive.

5. Kidney Issues
Chronic kidney problems are silent in early stages. RLS is sometimes the first sign people feel at night.

6. Pregnancy
Many women in India get temporary RLS during pregnancy because of hormonal changes and low iron. It usually improves after delivery.

7. Stress & Lifestyle
Heavy caffeine, smoking, late-night screens, and long sitting hours make symptoms worse. People think it's harmless, but these habits increase nerve sensitivity.

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How Doctors in Delhi Treat RLS (Real Approach, Not Guesswork)

Doctors don’t treat RLS with one quick pill. They follow a step-by-step method.

1. Detailed Symptom Check
They ask simple questions:
– When does it start?
– Does moving help?
– Do you feel tingling or pulling?
– Is it worse in the evening?

This helps confirm true RLS.

2. Blood Tests for Iron & Vitamins
The first thing many Delhi neurologists do is check ferritin, B12, vitamin D, thyroid, and kidney markers. Treating a small deficiency often improves symptoms faster than any medicine.

3. Lifestyle Guidance
Doctors usually suggest:
– reducing caffeine
– fixing sleep timing
– light stretching before bed
– avoiding long sitting hours
– keeping legs warm at night

These small changes make a big difference.

4. Treating Nerve Issues
If nerve damage or neuropathy is found, doctors treat the root cause instead of just the symptoms.

5. RLS Medicines When Needed
If symptoms are severe, doctors prescribe:
– dopamine agents
– alpha-2-delta ligands
These calm the nerves and reduce the urge to move.

6. Sleep Study (If Symptoms Are Complex)
Some patients in Delhi undergo a sleep study to check for related issues like sleep apnea, which can worsen RLS.

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Living With RLS — You’re Not Alone

RLS can feel strange. You try to explain it, but others don’t understand. The urge to move, the crawling feeling, the irritation in your legs — it feels invisible. But RLS is real, and it has real solutions.

Most people improve when they understand the cause. The right test, the right doctor, and a few lifestyle changes can bring peaceful nights back.