According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, sleep
deprivation is a serious and growing epidemic in the U.S. with
potentially life-threatening consequences. The chronically sleep
deprived may be at greater risk of obesity, heart disease, heart attack
and even premature death.
Some people may be able to address the problem by reducing their
caffeine intake, shutting down the mesmerizing glow of their computer
and cell phone screens, or choosing an earlier bedtime. But for millions
of Americans suffering from restless legs syndrome (RLS), problems of
sleep deprivation actually begin the moment they lie down.
The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
estimates that as many as 12 million Americans may be suffering from
RLS, a lifelong neurological condition that’s also known as Willis-Ekbom
Disease.
Suffering With RLS
People with RLS often experience uncomfortable, uncontrollable tingling,
aching, and pain in their legs. The symptoms, which typically begin
while a person is at rest, may awaken him or her from a sound sleep or
delay his or her ability to fall asleep in the first place. In severe
cases, RLS attacks may occur several times and with increased severity
during the night.
Many people find their only relief from an RLS attack comes from
physical movement, such as massaging their limbs or walking around the
room, to address their discomfort. Repeated sleep interruptions from RLS
can reduce a patient’s quality of life, leading to physical fatigue,
reduced mental functioning, and emotional stress.
Women are twice as likely as men to have RLS. And although people of any
age may be affected, mature adults may suffer the most, because RLS
symptoms tend to increase in both frequency and duration with age.
Historically, medications have been used to treat RLS, but many of these
drugs have significant side effects and present risks of drug
interaction and addiction. NINDS also reports that some drugs have been
found to actually worsen patients’ RLS symptoms over time, despite
initially providing relief.
Fortunately, there’s new hope for RLS sufferers. The U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) recently cleared Relaxis, a new, nondrug treatment
to help RLS patients. Relaxis is not a drug and therefore does not carry
any of the risk and side effects associated with them.
How Relaxis Addresses RLS
Relaxis is a prescription-only medical device that provides controlled,
targeted, vibratory counterstimulation. During an RLS episode, patients
place the low-profile Relaxis pad at the site of their discomfort. They
then choose a vibration intensity, which ultimately overwhelms their RLS
symptoms while they remain in the comfort of their bed. After 30
minutes, Relaxis gradually ramps down and shuts off without waking the
patient.
Relaxis was invented by Dr. Fred Burbank, a well-known physician and
inventor, who sought relief from his own RLS symptoms. Results from two
randomized, multicenter, controlled, double-blinded, prospective
clinical research studies have been published in a peer-reviewed medical
journal, indicating that the Relaxis device was found better than
placebo pads for improving sleep quality in patients with primary RLS.
“Until now, RLS patients’ only options were to suffer unaided through
their condition or face the potential side effects of long-term
medication therapy,” says Dr. Burbank, chairman of Sensory
NeuroStimulation, Inc., the company that developed Relaxis. “We are
pleased to have the first and only nonpharmacological approach, which is
clinically proven and FDA cleared, to address the symptoms of this
devastating condition,” he concluded.
Relaxis is now available nationwide by prescription only. Interested patients should ask their doctor or visit http://www.myrelaxis.com/
for more details. Relaxis is made in the U.S.A. by Sensory
NeuroStimulation, Inc., a privately held company based in San Clemente,
Calif.
Content by NAPS