Who Is At Risk for Restless Legs Syndrome?
Restless legs syndrome (RLS) may affect as many as
12 million people in the United States. More than half of the people who have
RLS have family members with the condition.
RLS can affect people of any race or ethnic group,
but the disorder is more common in people of Northern European descent. RLS
affects both genders, but women are more likely to have it than men.
The number of cases of RLS rises with age. Many
people who have RLS are diagnosed in middle age. However, in about 40 percent
of RLS cases, symptoms start before age 20. People who develop RLS early
in life usually have a family history of it.
People who have certain diseases or conditions or
who take certain medicines are more likely to develop RLS. (For more
information, see “What Causes Restless Legs
Syndrome?”)
For example, RLS is common in pregnant women. It
usually occurs during the last 3 months of pregnancy. The disorder usually
improves or goes away after giving birth. Some women may continue to have
symptoms after giving birth. Other women may develop RLS again later in life.
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