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What is restless legs syndrome?

If you suffer an overwhelming urge to move your legs when you're in bed or relaxing, you could be affected by 'Restless Legs Syndrome' (RLS), a neurologic sensorimotor disorder. The exact cause of RLS is unknown, but recent research in the US has found evidence of links with iron deficiency in the brain.

More than 80% of people with RLS also have a condition known as 'periodic limb movement disorder' (PLMD). Symptoms include involuntary leg twitching or jerking movements during sleep that occur repeatedly throughout the night and result in disrupted sleep.

How common is insomnia?

Between 10 and 30% of the world's population is affected by insomnia, making it the most common sleep disorder. Insomnia, the inability to either fall asleep or to stay asleep long enough to get a proper night's rest, can be either acute or chronic. Acute insomnia lasts for one to several nights, and if it persists for longer than a month, it is considered chronic.

What are the stages of sleep?

Sleep is made up of five different stages - drowsiness, light sleep, two stages of deep sleep and Rapid Eye Movement (REM). Most dreams occur in REM sleep, when your limb muscles become temporarily paralysed and your breathing, heart rate and eye movements become more rapid.

The first sleep cycle usually lasts for 90 minutes, and the REM phase takes longer in each cycle after that. You can have up to five cycles during a typical night's sleep.

What do I do if I feel drowsy when driving?

Despite what many people believe, if you're feeling sleepy while driving, turning up the radio, opening the window or turning up the air conditioning won't help you stay awake.

The best thing you can do is pull over into the nearest safe rest area and nap for 15 to 20 minutes. Caffeinated drinks can help overcome drowsiness for short periods, but it can take half an hour for these to take effect.

  • Publication date: September 2008