What is HRT for Menopause?

Posted on October 14, 2026 by Patrick Hercules

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) is a treatment that helps people who are experiencing symptoms of menopause and replaces the hormones that the body isn’t making enough of.

HRT is the term used when a person receives treatment at a younger age, especially before the age of 40. Healthcare providers use the term hormone therapy (HT) when the person is receiving treatment after the age of 50. As women transition to menopause, their ovaries stop making high levels of estrogen. This can cause symptoms, such as:

Hot flashes and night sweats

Mood swings, depression, or irritability

Insomnia

Vaginal dryness and painful sexual intercourse

Leaking pee

There are two main types of HRT: estrogen therapy and estrogen-progesterone therapy.

Estrogen therapy involves taking only estrogen. Estrogen can come in many forms, including:

Pills that are taken orally

A patch that sticks to the skin

A gel that is applied to the skin

A ring that is worn inside the vagina

A cream that is applied to the vagina

Tablets that are placed inside the vagina

A spray that is applied to the arm

Estrogen-progesterone therapy, or combination therapy, combines doses of estrogen and progesterone

There are two ways to take hormone replacement therapy: systemic and local.

Systemic hormone therapy means the hormone goes through your bloodstream and travels to the organs and tissues it needs to get to.

Local hormone therapy means the hormone is applied to a specific area.

There are both health benefits and risks to be aware of when taking HRT. Your healthcare provider can help determine if the benefits of HRT outweigh its risks.

A main benefit of HRT is that it relieves uncomfortable symptoms of menopause, which can lead to a better quality of life and allow you to get back to enjoying your daily activities. The benefits of HRT include:

Helping with vaginal dryness and uncomfortable sex

Helping with hot flashes and night sweats

Helping with estrogen deficiency

Other health benefits of taking HRT include:

Reduces your risk of developing osteoporosis or breaking a bone

Improves your sleep

Improves mood and overall happiness in some people

Reduces your risk of developing diabetes

Combination therapy lowers your risk of developing colon cancer

Although HRT can help you get through menopause as you deal with it, it comes with potential risks, including:

Increased risk of uterine cancer, only if you still have a uterus and aren’t taking progestin along with estrogen

Increased risk of breast cancer with long-term use in some people

Increased risk of heart disease if you begin using HRT 10 years after menopause starts

Increased risk of blood clots and stroke

Increased risk of gallbladder disease

It’s important to note that many of these potential risks have to do with your overall health and family history of health conditions. It is important to discuss any individual risks with your healthcare provider.

If HRT doesn’t work for you or if your healthcare provider doesn’t think you would benefit from it, they may offer alternative options that may help your symptoms. Alternative options include:

Antidepressants for hot flashes

Over-the-counter (OTC) vaginal lubricants

Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) for hot flashes and painful sexual intercourse

Fezolinetant or paroxetine, which are FDA-approved for treating hot flashes

If you are experiencing menopause symptoms and are interested in HRT, you can get more information about Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s endocrinology service or make an appointment by calling 718-206-7001.

All content of this newsletter is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended or implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please consult a medical professional before adopting any of the suggestions on this page. You must never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment based upon any content of this newsletter. PROMPTLY CONSULT YOUR PHYSICIAN OR CALL 911 IF YOU BELIEVE YOU HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY.

Mental Illness Awareness Week- National Depression Screening Day

Posted on October 8, 2026 by Patrick Hercules

National Depression Screening Day was created to bring light to the need for depression awareness and accessible and affordable mental health screenings.

Depression is one of the most common mental illnesses. Clinical depression affects men and women of all ages, races, and socioeconomic groups. Depression results from a mix of environmental, genetic, psychological, biological, and biochemical components.

Not everyone experiences depression in the same way, and it can affect anyone at any time. It is important to take steps to seek out professional help and be screened if you or someone you care about feels they may be depressed.

People suffering from depression often experience some of these key symptoms:

A persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” mood
Sleeping too little, early morning awakening, or sleeping too much
Reduced appetite and weight loss, or increased appetite and weight gain
Loss of interest or pleasure in activities once enjoyed
Restlessness or irritability
Difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
Fatigue or loss of energy
Thoughts of death or suicide

There are several reasons why it is important to screen for depression, including:

Clinical depression is a serious medical illness
Clinical depression can lead to suicide
Sometimes people with depression mistakenly believe that the symptoms of depression are a “normal part of life”
Depression can co-occur and complicate other medical conditions
Screenings are often the first step in getting help

Screenings are not a professional diagnosis. Screenings point out the presence or absence of depressive symptoms and provide a referral for further evaluation if needed. You should see your doctor or a qualified mental health professional if you experience symptoms for longer than two weeks or if the symptoms are severe enough to interfere with your daily routine.

Only about a third (35.3%) of those suffering from severe depression seek treatment from a mental health professional. Not receiving the assistance needed can lead to adverse health outcomes and affect a person’s quality of life. If you need the assistance and support of a mental health professional, you can find out more about the mental health services at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center. Please call 718-206-5575 to schedule an appointment.

How Short Walks After Eating Help Regulate Blood Sugar Levels

Posted on October 7, 2026 by Patrick Hercules

Blood sugar, or blood glucose, is the main sugar found in the blood. It is our body’s primary source of energy and comes from the food we eat. When your blood glucose goes up, it signals your pancreas to release insulin. However, when things aren’t functioning properly, you can develop high blood sugar, which means there is too much sugar in your bloodstream. You may have high blood sugar due to:

Your body isn’t using insulin correctly
Your pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin

Elevated blood sugar levels can cause blood vessel damage, which can lead to serious complications, such as:

Heart attack
Stroke
Diabetes-related retinopathy, which can cause blindness
Diabetes-related nephropathy, which can lead to kidney failure
Nerve damage

Our blood sugar naturally rises when we eat and is highest about 30 to 90 minutes after eating. However, frequent or especially high spikes in blood sugar levels can increase the risk of or worsen diabetes.

Fortunately, there are several ways to lower blood sugar levels into a healthy range, such as eating healthy, getting regular exercise, and managing stress. Another way to manage blood sugar levels is to take a short walk after eating.

Research shows that a short walk after a meal can:

Prevent your blood sugar from spiking as high as it would if you ate and remained seated
Keep your insulin levels stable

Walking for ten minutes, or as little as two to five minutes, can lower your blood sugar.

When walking after a meal, it is important to stay safe. Some safety tips to keep in mind when walking include:

Go slow and gradually increase your physical activity
Avoid environmental triggers, such as high heat and humidity, environmental allergens, cold air, and safety hazards
Fall prevention for those who are 65 years of age and older

Jamaica Hospital’s Division of Endocrinology treats a wide variety of conditions. For more information about Jamaica Hospital’s endocrinology services, or to make an appointment, please call 718-206-7001.

Can You Actually Catch Up on Lost Sleep?

Posted on September 18, 2026 by Patrick Hercules

For many of us, getting enough sleep during the week can be challenging. Common activities like work, commuting, social life, downtime, and watching TV can cause us to lose sleep. As a result, more than one-third of Americans get less than seven hours of sleep per night, rather than the recommended seven to nine hours. The loss of those one to two hours is called sleep debt.

Sleep debt, or sleep deficit, is the difference between how much sleep you need and how much you get. Sleep debt is cumulative, so going to sleep a half hour or an hour later than normal over a few days can add up quickly. Two weeks of sleeping just six hours a night produces the same level of cognitive impairment as if you stayed awake for two full days straight. Other side effects caused by sleep debt can include:

Poor vision, hearing, coordination, and balance

Reduced energy and motivation

Slower reaction time

Drowsiness and irritability

Impaired memory, attention, judgment, and decision-making

Decreased performance in many areas, including athletics

Long-term sleep debt can lead to sleep deprivation, which occurs when you are frequently not getting as much sleep as you need. Not regularly getting an adequate amount of sleep increases the risk of developing health conditions, such as:

Cancer

Heart disease

Dementia

Mental health disorders, such as depression

Sleep deprivation can also impact your health in other ways, including:

Immune system dysfunction

Poor emotional regulation

Executive function issues

Metabolic dysregulation and weight gain

Inhibited sex drive

Higher risk of accidents, falls, and other injuries

Sleeping in on the weekends is the most common strategy to recover lost sleep. It can help with the occasional sleep deficit, but it isn’t good for the long term.

According to research from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine showed that after five nights of sleeping less than four hours, a single recovery night of about nine hours still left people with residual attention lapses and slower reaction times. A six-week study of high-performing adults found that two nights of eight-hour recovery sleep failed to restore accuracy on tests of spatial orientation and sustained attention. Furthermore, performance declined steadily during the restricted weeknights, and the sleep recovery during the weekend wasn’t enough to cause a reset.

Additionally, a study done at the University of Colorado brought 36 healthy adults into a sleep lab for two weeks and found that people who slept only five hours a night gained about three pounds and saw a 13% decrease in insulin sensitivity. The group that slept five hours during the week and was allowed to sleep in on weekends fared even worse, as they also gained three pounds and experienced a 27% decrease in insulin sensitivity. What’s more, their liver and muscle metabolism suffered more than the group that never got recovery sleep at all.

When you finally get the opportunity to sleep longer, your brain prioritizes deep sleep, the sleep stage that restores daytime alertness and cognitive function, first. This is called a rebound effect. Your brain categorizes the sleep stages and recovers the most critical stages before anything else, which is why the first long recovery sleep feels so restorative even if you are far from fully recharged.

Complete recovery from weeks of sleep debt and deprivation will require many nights of quality sleep, rather than making up the sleep during the weekend. The first step in getting sufficient sleep is to improve your sleep hygiene. There are several ways to improve your sleep hygiene and reduce your chances of accumulating sleep debt, including:

Keeping a set sleep schedule

Developing a nightly routine

Considering daytime habits

Improving the bedroom environment

When recovering lost sleep, the most effective strategy is to add sleep in small, consistent increments instead of overhauling your schedule. Some techniques that can be useful to help you properly catch up on sleep and eliminate sleep debt include:

Staying consistent

Keeping a sleep diary

Trying an afternoon nap

Giving time to the process

Talking to your healthcare provider

If you are having difficulty sleeping and would like help, Jamaica Hospital’s state-of-the-art sleep center can help diagnose and treat various sleep disorders. For more information or to make an appointment, please call 718-206-5916.

National AFib Awareness Month

Posted on September 9, 2026 by Patrick Hercules

September is National AFib Awareness Month, a month dedicated to promoting education, early detection, and improved care for AFib.

AFib stands for atrial fibrillation, a type of arrhythmia, or abnormal heartbeat. During AFib, the heart’s upper chambers, or the atria, beat chaotically and irregularly. They beat out of sync with the lower chambers, called ventricles.

Afib can lead to blood clots in the heart. It also increases the risk of stroke, heart failure, and other heart-related complications.

Afib usually isn’t life-threatening, but it is a serious medical condition that needs proper treatment to prevent serious health issues.

There are many symptoms of AFib, including:

Feelings of a fast, fluttering, or pounding heartbeat
Chest pain
Dizziness
Fatigue
Lightheadedness
Reduced ability to exercise
Shortness of breath
Weakness

People can experience three types of AFib, including:

Paroxysmal AFib
Persistent AFib
Long-standing persistent AFib

The most common cause of AFib is problems with the heart’s structure. Other health problems and heart diseases that can cause AFib include:

A congenital heart defect
Sick sinus syndrome
Obstructive sleep apnea
Heart attack
High blood pressure
Lung diseases, including pneumonia
Coronary artery disease
Thyroid diseases
Infections from viruses

Many factors can increase your risk of AFib, including:

Age
Caffeine, nicotine, or illegal drug use
Drinking too much alcohol
Changes in the level of body minerals
Family history
Long-term health conditions
Obesity
Some medicines and supplements

Healthy lifestyle choices can reduce heart disease risk and prevent AFib. Some basic heart-healthy tips include:

Controlling high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes
Not smoking or using tobacco
Eating a diet that is low in salt and saturated fat
Exercising at least 30 minutes a day at least five days a week
Getting at least seven to nine hours of sleep a day
Maintaining a healthy weight
Reducing and managing stress

A healthcare provider can diagnose AFib by examining you and asking questions about your medical history and symptoms. Tests may be done to look for conditions causing irregular heartbeats such as heart disease or thyroid disease, including:

Blood tests
ECG or EKG
Holter monitor
Event recorder
Implantable loop recorder
Exercise stress tests
Chest X-ray

The goals of AFib treatment are to reset and control the heartbeat and prevent blood clots. Treatment for AFib depends on how long you’ve had it, your symptoms, and the cause of the irregular heartbeat. Afib treatment can include:

Medications
Cardioversion therapy
Surgery or catheter procedures

If you are experiencing any symptoms of Afib, you can schedule an appointment at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Cardiology Department by calling (718) 206-7100. If you are experiencing an emergency, please dial 911 right away.

What is Holistic Pain Management?

Posted on August 26, 2026 by Patrick Hercules

Chronic pain is any pain that lasts longer than three months. It can be caused by conditions such as arthritis, fibromyalgia, or a troublesome injury. When a person suffers from chronic pain, it can be overwhelming, as it disrupts and affects every part of their life.

Integrative health is a progressive approach to healthcare that combines leading treatment services from modern medicine with a deep understanding of illness, healing, and wellness.

This approach combines modern and holistic medicines to help prevent the onset of disease, address existing chronic conditions, and promote healing in patients who are at the center of a treatment plan that considers the physical, emotional, and social needs of that individual.

Traditionally, pain management techniques focused solely on the physical aspects and treated symptoms rather than addressing the underlying causes. However, extensive research suggests that pain has a profound impact on our mental and spiritual well-being as well. This is where holistic pain management comes in.

Holistic pain management is a comprehensive, whole-person approach to treating chronic pain. It combines evidence-based therapies, such as physical therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), acupuncture, nutrition, and stress management. This is done to address the physical, emotional, and lifestyle factors that contribute to pain, instead of only relying on medication.

The key components of holistic pain management include:

Physical therapies

- Exercise

- Physical therapy

- Massage

- Chiropractic care

Mind-body approaches

- Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

- Mindfulness and meditation

- Biofeedback

Complementary therapeutic treatments

- Acupuncture

- Yoga

- Tai chi

- Herbal medicine

- Aromatherapy

- Hydrotherapy

Lifestyle changes

- An anti-inflammatory diet

- Stress reduction

- Sleep optimization

Integrative medical care consisting of a coordinated team approach combining multiple evidence-based treatments

There is also a spiritual aspect to holistic pain management. Prayer and other forms of spiritual practice can be beneficial for pain management, as connecting to a higher power or a sense of the divine can provide a source of comfort, strength, and hope in the face of pain for some individuals.

Additionally, energy healing practices, such as Reiki or Qi Gong, are other spiritual approaches to pain management. Reiki and Qi Gong are based on the belief that the body has an innate energy system that can be balanced and harmonized using gentle touch, visualization, and intention. By promoting the flow of energy and restoring balance within the body, energy healing practices may help to alleviate pain and promote overall well-being.

Holistic pain management isn’t about choosing one approach over another. Instead, it is about integrating and recognizing the interconnectedness and various aspects of the mind, body, and spirit to create a thorough and personalized plan for pain relief to support the body’s natural healing processes.

If you are interested in learning more about any of Jamaica Hospital Medical Center’s Integrative Health services, events, or classes, or would like to schedule an appointment, please call us at (718) 206-5675.

Social Anxiety

Posted on July 31, 2026 by Patrick Hercules

When a person has social anxiety disorder, or social phobia, everyday interactions can cause significant anxiety, self-consciousness, and embarrassment because they fear being scrutinized or negatively judged by others around them. Fear and anxiety may lead to avoidance that can disrupt their lives. Additionally, severe stress can affect daily routines and common everyday social experiences, including:

Attending parties or social gatherings

Interacting with unfamiliar people or strangers

Starting conversations

Making eye contact

Going to school or work

Dating

Eating in front of others

Using a public restroom

For those living with social anxiety disorder, comfort levels in social situations vary and depend on personality traits and life experiences. Some people are naturally reserved, and others are more outgoing.

Having feelings of shyness or discomfort in certain situations isn’t necessarily a sign of social anxiety disorder, particularly in children. Social anxiety disorder typically begins in the early to mid-teens, though it can sometimes begin in younger children or in adults.

The signs and symptoms of social anxiety disorder can include constant:

Intense fear or anxiety during social situations

Intense fear of interacting or talking with strangers

Worry about embarrassing or humiliating yourself

Fear of situations in which you may be judged negatively

Avoidance of doing things or speaking to people out of fear of embarrassment

Avoidance of situations where you might be the center of attention

Fear of physical symptoms that may cause you embarrassment, such as:

Blushing

Sweating

Trembling

Having a shaky voice

Anxiety in anticipation of a feared activity or event

Expectation of the worst possible consequences from a negative experience during a social situation

Analysis of your performance and identification of flaws in your interactions after a social situation

For children with social anxiety disorder, anxiety about interacting with adults or peers may present itself as crying, having temper tantrums, clinging to parents, or refusing to speak in social situations.

Several physical signs and symptoms can accompany social anxiety disorder, including:

A fast heartbeat

Trouble catching your breath

Sweating

Trembling

Blushing

An upset stomach or nausea

Dizziness or lightheadedness

A feeling that your mind has gone blank

Muscle tension

Social anxiety disorder symptoms can change over time and may flare up if you’re facing a lot of changes, stress, or demands in your life. Although avoiding situations that cause anxiety may make you feel better in the short term, your anxiety is likely to continue over the long term if left untreated.

Like several other mental health conditions, social anxiety disorder likely stems from a complex interaction of biological and environmental factors, including:

Brain structure

Inherited traits

Environment

Many factors can increase the risk of developing social anxiety disorder, including:

Family history

Temperament

New social or work demands

Negative experiences

Having an appearance or condition that draws attention to you

If social anxiety is left untreated, it can control your life, as anxieties can interfere with work, school, relationships, or enjoyment of life, and can cause:

Low self-esteem

Poor social skills

Isolation and difficult social relationships

Trouble being assertive

Negative self-talk

Hypersensitivity to criticism

Low academic and employment achievement

Substance abuse, such as drinking too much alcohol

Suicidal ideation, suicide, or suicide attempts

To diagnose you with social anxiety disorder, a healthcare provider will want to determine whether other conditions may be causing your anxiety or if you have the disorder along with other physical or mental health disorders. They may determine a diagnosis based on:

A physical exam that helps assess whether any medical condition or medication may trigger symptoms of anxiety

A discussion of your symptoms, such as how often they occur, and in what situations

Reviewing a list of situations to see if they make you anxious

Self-report questionnaires about symptoms of social anxiety

Criteria listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5)

The treatment for social anxiety disorder depends on how much it affects your ability to function in your daily life. The most common treatment for social anxiety disorder includes psychotherapy, medications, or a combination of both.

There isn’t a way to predict what will cause someone to develop anxiety disorders. However, you can take steps to reduce the impact of symptoms if you’re anxious, such as:

Getting help early

Setting priorities in your life

Keeping a journal

Avoiding unhealthy substance use

Social anxiety disorder can be a chronic mental health condition, but learning coping skills in psychotherapy and taking medications can help you gain confidence and improve your ability to interact with others.

If you are experiencing symptoms of social anxiety and need the assistance and support of a mental health professional at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, please call 718-206-5575 to schedule an appointment.

Wellness Wednesday Tip

Posted on July 22, 2026 by Patrick Hercules

Our daily lives can be bombarded with constant bad news, tragedy, negativity, stress, worry, and anxiety. These factors can affect our mood and cause our nervous systems to overload, causing us to lose sleep, which can then lead to cardiovascular issues, weakened immune function, metabolic problems, and mental health conditions.

Mindfulness and meditation are overlapping techniques proven to ease stress, improve sleep, and enhance concentration.

Practicing mindfulness can be as simple as walking through a park, admiring nature, or using mental health apps to help anchor you in the present. Engaging in these activities can help calm anxiety, improve focus and concentration, and increase positive feelings.

Meditation combines body and mind by focusing on sensations, such as breathing, images, or a repeated word or phrase. One exercise that works similarly well for adults and younger people is box breathing. Box breathing is a form of yogic deep breathing that uses the concept of a box with four sides, represented here by breathing while you slowly count to four, four times. Four counts of breathing in, four counts of holding your breath, four counts of exhaling, and four more counts of holding after your exhale. This rhythmic pattern of breathing helps regulate the nervous system, suppressing anxiety and stress, lowering the heart rate and blood pressure, and boosting focus.

If you are feeling anxious or overwhelmed and need the assistance and support of a mental health professional at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, please call 718-206-5575 to schedule an appointment.

Body Dysmorphia

Posted on May 8, 2026 by Patrick Hercules

Body dysmorphia or body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is a mental health condition that causes you to unfairly and negatively think about how you see and feel about your body and appearance. A person who has body dysmorphia may feel embarrassed, ashamed, or anxious. Other common symptoms of body dysmorphia include:

Constantly comparing yourself with others

Constantly asking others if you look okay

Not believing others when they say you look fine

Hiding parts of your body under a hat, scarf, or makeup

Constantly checking yourself in the mirror or avoiding them entirely

Constantly grooming or exercising

Picking at your skin with your fingers or tweezers

Seeing several healthcare providers about your appearance

Having unnecessary plastic surgeries

Suicidal ideations

Avoiding social situations

Not leaving the house, especially during the day

These symptoms can cause severe disruptions in a person’s life, affecting their thoughts, which can undermine their mental and physical well-being.

Experts estimate that body dysmorphia affects about 2.4% of adults in the U.S. overall, and between 1.7% and 2.9% of people globally.

Body dysmorphia is most likely to begin in the teen or early adult years. Two-thirds of people with body dysmorphia develop the condition before the age of 18, usually around 12 or 13 years old. However, it can also start in early adulthood.

Experts don’t fully know how or why body dysmorphia occurs, but they believe multiple factors are involved, such as:

Genetics

Brain structure, chemistry, and activity differences

Cultural influences and popular media

A history of childhood abuse, neglect, or bullying

People who suffer from body dysmorphia are more likely to have other mental conditions, including:

Anxiety disorders

Depression

Eating disorders

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)

Substance use disorders

The symptoms of body dysmorphia can take many shapes as a person who suffers from this condition can excessively focus on one or more parts of the body, such as their:

Face, such as their nose, complexion, wrinkles, acne, and other blemishes

Hair, such as its appearance or any thinning and/or baldness

Skin and appearance of their veins

Breast size

Muscle size and tone

Genitalia

There aren’t any medical tests that can diagnose dysmorphia. A healthcare provider will perform a medical evaluation to help rule out other medical conditions and may refer you to a mental health professional for further evaluation. The mental health professional will diagnose body dysmorphia based on:

A psychological evaluation, which assesses risk factors, thoughts, feelings, and behaviors related to negative self-image

Your personal, social, family, and medical history

Signs and symptoms that you have experienced

The treatment for body dysmorphia often can include a combination of:

Psychotherapies, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and family therapy

Medications, such as antidepressants

You may find that negative thoughts about your body are hard to control, and you may even spend hours each day worrying about the way you look. Your thinking can become so negative and persistent that you may think about suicide at times. If you are having suicidal thoughts or behaviors, dial 988 on your phone to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. If there is an emergency, call 911.

If you need the assistance and support of a mental health professional at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center, please call 718-206-5575 to schedule an appointment.

Restless Leg Syndrome

Posted on May 7, 2026 by Patrick Hercules

Restless legs syndrome (RLS), or Willis-Ekbom disease, is a condition that causes a strong urge to move the legs, typically accompanied by an uncomfortable sensation. This sensation usually occurs in the evening or at night when sitting or lying down. Moving the legs eases the discomfort for a short time.

There are two types of restless leg syndrome: early onset and late onset.

Early onset restless leg syndrome is diagnosed before the age of 45, usually runs in your biological family, and progresses slowly.

Late-onset restless leg syndrome is diagnosed after the age of 45 and progresses more quickly.

Restless leg syndrome affects between 7% and 10% of the U.S. population and is more common among Caucasian people and females.

The symptoms of restless leg syndrome include:

An uncomfortable sensation in the legs that causes the urge to move them

A temporary feeling of relief when the legs move

Sensations that worsen while resting

Twitchy legs or leg jerks in the evening and while sleeping

Restless leg syndrome symptoms can affect sleep and can cause:

Sleep disruptions, difficulty falling or staying asleep

Fatigue or daytime sleepiness

Behavior or mood changes

An urge to get out of bed to stretch or move the legs

Depression or anxiety

Difficulty paying attention, remembering things, or concentrating

When a person experiences restless leg syndrome, they feel sensations that make them want to move their legs and feet. These sensations include:

Crawling

Itching

Aching

Throbbing

Pulling or tugging

Burning

There isn’t a known cause for restless leg syndrome. However, researchers believe it may be caused by an imbalance of dopamine, the brain chemical that sends messages to control muscle movement.

Other factors that may contribute to the risk of developing restless leg syndrome include:

Genetics

Medications, such as antihistamines, antidepressants, or anti-nausea medications

Having an underlying medical condition, such as an iron deficiency

Other medical conditions can cause restless leg syndrome, including:

Anemia

Pregnancy

Diabetes

Kidney disease

Peripheral neuropathy

Substance abuse disorder

There are several triggers, such as alcohol, caffeine, nicotine, stress, and certain medications, that can make restless leg syndrome symptoms worse.

To diagnose restless leg syndrome, a healthcare provider will perform a physical exam to review your symptoms and ask about your medical and family medical history. They may also perform a neurological exam, blood tests, and recommend an overnight sleep study. The criteria they will use to confirm a diagnosis of restless leg syndrome include:

You have the urge to move your legs, usually occurring with uncomfortable sensations like aching or pulling.

Symptoms begin or worsen during periods of rest or inactivity.

You have partial or total relief when stretching, walking, or exercising the affected muscles.

Your symptoms are worse or only occur in the evening or at night.

Another medical condition didn’t cause your symptoms.

Treating restless leg syndrome includes taking medications or changing your routine at home by following recommended at-home therapies to help relieve your symptoms and help you feel more comfortable.

If you are experiencing any symptoms of restless leg syndrome, you can consult with a neurologist at Jamaica Hospital Medical Center. To schedule an appointment, please call (718) 206-7246.