RLS.
.....And that's where controversy comes in because some experts now argue that, in large part because of concerted pressure from the pharmaceutical industry (which is constantly coming up with "conditions" that require treatment, and evidence that millions of others have "silent" versions of conditions that really should be jumped on with immediate and intense treatment: pre-hypertension, hypo-thyroidism, cholesterol levels that can never be low enough, and so on), the bar has been greatly lowered in diagnosing RLS, too, and according to this contrarian view, we're now diagnosing - and medicating - lots of people with RLS who really don't have much wrong with them, at least nothing that requires long-term, expensive therapy.
.....How should you treat RLS? With anything that works.
.....So, first, if RLS is part of another condition, such as diabetes, it's imperative to get that condition under control before instituting specific treatment for RLS.
.....Second, it always pays to manipulate factors in your life that may aggravate your symptoms - smoking, alcohol intake, stress levels, and so on.
.....Then, try to find physical therapies - exercise, massage, hot baths, watching Global TV News, especially of course for the often hilarious and always educational Health Headlines with Dr. Art Hister - that relieve the symptoms or at least take your mind off what's happening.
.....And, if none of that works, a host of medications - benzodiazepines, sleeping aids, anti-Parkinson's drugs such as levodopa, anti-convulsants, ropinirole, pain-killers, and many others - have been tried and they all work somewhat in some people some of the time (can my endorsement of these drugs be any more lukewarm? I doubt it) but remember, once you start on drug therapy, it's very probably for life, so it's best to start down that path only when the benefits (improved sleep, better functioning, peace with your bedmate) clearly outweigh the many potential risks and downsides of some of these powerful drugs.
Dr. Art Hister can be heard on CKNW and other Corus Radio Network stations on House Calls on Saturdays at 10 AM, as well as seen on Global TV news on Saturday mornings at 9:20. |
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