Getting a great night of sleep is important to your physical, mental, and psychological well-being. There are many issues that can affect your sleep, including some medical conditions. Periodic limb movements during sleep, also known as PLMS, is one medical condition that can keep you from sleeping well.

Dr. Richard K. Bogan at Bogan Sleep Consultants in Columbia, SC, offers a full range of sleep services including effective treatments for PLMS, to help you sleep soundly.

According to the National Sleep Foundation, PLMS is a condition characterized by “independent, repetitive, highly-stereotyped limb movements that occur during sleep.” The condition includes repetitive movements, sleep disturbances, and fatigue caused by the movements.

The uncontrolled movements typically occur every 10 to 60 seconds and can last anywhere from a few minutes to hours. The type of movements can include:

  • Flexing your toe or foot
  • Bending your ankle
  • Bending your knee
  • Twitching your hip

No one knows what causes PLMS, but there are a few things that can increase your risk of PLMS including high caffeine intake, high-stress levels, certain medications including antidepressants, and having ADHD. PLMS is also more common among adults over 50 years old. Restless legs syndrome also often accompanies PLMS.

The good news is, there are effective treatments for PLMS. The first step is a sleep study to determine if you do have PLMS. Once a diagnosis of PLMS is established, our sleep doctor at Bogan Sleep Consultants may recommend:

  • Avoiding caffeine in your diet, because caffeine can stimulate PLMS symptoms
  • Iron supplements, because low iron levels can make symptoms worse
  • Medications, including dopamine agonists to reduce PLMS symptoms

You and your body need to sleep well. Lack of sleep caused by PLMS can result in difficulty concentrating, daytime fatigue, performance issues, and other problems. To find out if you have PLMS and learn more about treatment for sleep issues, call Dr. Richard K. Bogan at Bogan Sleep Consultants in Columbia, SC, today!