On Your Feet All Day? What Every Teacher Should Know About Varicose Veins
Heart Vascular & Leg Center
April 23, 2025
Do you lie down to sleep, only to have your legs decide it’s a great time to move around? There’s a name for it — restless legs syndrome (RLS), and it’s a sleep disorder. It causes a person to compulsively move their legs (or other parts of the body) and occurs along with other physical sensations, which may include itching, aching, burning, creeping, tugging, pulling, or crawling.
RLS usually pops up in the evening, so you have difficulty falling asleep, staying asleep, or feeling refreshed in the morning. It also tends to be most severe when you’re lying in bed or sitting for prolonged periods.
At Heart Vascular & Leg Center in Bakersfield, California, our team of expert vascular, wound care, and podiatric physicians can offer your treatment for restless legs, greatly improving the quality of your sleep. Here’s what you should know.
Genetics plays a role in many cases of RLS. In fact, up to 92% of patients have a first-degree relative with RLS, and those patients generally develop symptoms at a younger age than those without the link.
A number of medical conditions are also associated with RLS, including:
A number of other substances, such as antidepressant, allergy, and anti-nausea medications; caffeine; nicotine; and alcohol, can either contribute to the development of RLS or make existing symptoms worse.
Some studies show that many patients diagnosed with vein disease also develop RLS, and they can be treated with therapies usually employed for chronic venous insufficiency (CVI). This may be the case because vein disease inflames the muscles and other soft tissues in your legs, which then produce uncomfortable sensations. A study by the National Sleep Foundation found that 98% of patients who received treatment for their vein problems also experienced a decrease in RLS symptoms.
When you come into our office looking for a diagnosis, our team reviews your medical history and all your current symptoms, including your sleep habits. To follow up, your doctor may recommend going for a general physical examination, a neurological exam, blood tests for iron deficiency, or a sleep study to try to rule out underlying causes for your restless legs. They may also perform vascular testing to ensure you don’t have a circulatory system problem.
However, to confirm an RLS diagnosis, the International Restless Legs Syndrome Study Group asserts you have to meet the following five criteria:
There are a number of home remedies that can ease your symptoms. These include:
Your Heart Vascular & Leg Center physician will probably recommend treating any and all underlying causes. If your iron is low, supplementation is a good choice. If you have varicose veins, getting them treated may also have a positive effect on RLS symptoms.
Your doctor can also prescribe medications to reduce unpleasant sensations associated with RLS. Which medication he uses is tailored to each individual patient’s needs.
If you need sleep but your legs have decided to do a jig, you may have restless legs syndrome; Heart Vascular & Leg Center can help. Give us a call at 661-443-5524 to set up a consultation with one of our physicians, or book your appointment online.
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