Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and restless legs syndrome (RLS) may have some symptoms in common, but they are very different diseases. However, both primarily affect the legs and both can be treated. However, the causes of PAD are easier to identify than the causes of RLS in many cases.
Narrowing in the arteries due to fatty deposits causes PAD. In this way, it is like arterial disease that affects the heart. PAD is also sometimes referred to as peripheral vascular disease, as PAD can also cause other arteries such as those in the neck to become blocked.
With one exception, PAD usually has a known cause. However, in functional PAD, the blood vessels and arteries are fine, but will occasionally go into spasm, causing severe pain. Spasms may be related to cold weather, smoking, or exercise.
In organic PAD, the cause is clearly narrowed arteries. In the early stages, this can cause leg cramps during exercise that cease at the end of exercise. PAD patients are also at high risk of stroke, as an artery can become blocked and send a blood clot to the brain.
In general, PAD is addressed through lifestyle changes. These include quitting smoking, following a low-fat diet, and exercising regularly. PAD patients may also take anticoagulant agents to prevent blood clots, or they may also take cholesterol-lowering medications. In some cases, those with PAD require angioplasty to open narrowed veins.
In primary RLS, the condition may be linked to inheritance. There is usually no known cause. Symptoms of RLS include the need to move the legs when sitting or lying down, and pins and needles or crawling sensations in the legs. PAD may also be associated with sleep difficulties, as leg pain can make it difficult to sleep. With RLS, sleep is often affected by spasm or movement of the legs when one has lain down to sleep. Therefore, night waking is quite common.
Certain psychiatric medications, diseases such as diabetes, and the use of caffeine and tobacco can cause secondary RLS. Often, this type of RLS is completely curable if the diseases can be cured or the cause is identified and eliminated.
For those with incurable RLS, medications and lifestyle changes, such as not smoking, can help reduce symptoms. Both RLS and PAD can be relieved if the patient eliminates certain activating agents such as nicotine.