Restless Legs Syndrome Could Impact Penis Function

There’s nothing to make a guy feel like a whole new man than a really good night’s sleep. Unfortunately, there can be numerous conditions which get in the way of achieving that good night’s sleep, such as restless legs syndrome. But in some cases, not only can restless legs syndrome interfere with sleep, it can become a penis health issue as well by potentially affecting good penis function.

About this syndrome

Although restless legs syndrome has likely been around for thousands of years - and perhaps even much, much longer than that - it is only relatively recently that the condition has been given a name and begun to be studied and taken seriously.

According to the Mayo Clinic website, restless legs syndrome is defined as "a condition that causes an uncontrollable urge to move your legs, usually because of an uncomfortable sensation." Although in recent years restless legs syndrome has become identified with activity happening at night while a person is sleeping or trying to sleep, in fact restless legs can occur during daytime hours as well, although this happens somewhat less often.

Also called Willis-Ekborn disease, the syndrome can begin at any stage of life and usually gets worse as a person gets older. Most often, the restless feeling begins after a person has been seated or lying down for a period of time. It may occur while at a movie theatre, for example, or while out to dinner, as well as while simply resting at home or lying down to sleep.

What does it feel like?

As the name implies, a person feels a need to move their legs or feet when the syndrome strikes. This is typically in response to an unpleasant feeling which develops, which some describe as a numbness happening in the leg or foot (not on the skin but in the body part itself). More often, it’s described with a more active verb, such as a throbbing or aching, or as if it something were pulling at the limb or causing it to itch.

This is uncomfortable and inconvenient when it occurs while awake, but it can be even more disruptive while sleeping. The legs can twitch and kick about, sometimes violently, often throughout the whole night. It may cause a person to awaken repeatedly, disrupting their sleep, or it may prevent them from having a "deep sleep," thus awakening from several hours of sleep without feeling rested.

The penis function angle

And what does this have to do with penis function? Well, for one thing, adequate and appropriate sleep is essential for proper penis function. Without it, testosterone production can be impaired, lowering one’s sex drive. Lack of sleep and rest also makes it more difficult to achieve and maintain a full erection, resulting in bouts of erectile dysfunction during sex.

Clearly, a man wants to avoid restless legs syndrome, if for no other reason than to preserve penis function. Identifying the cause of restless legs syndrome can be challenging, as there is much that is not known. In some people, it seems related to iron deficiency, so upping iron intake is often a line of first treatment. In other instances, medications may be employed to increase dopamine production or to affect calcium channels. Muscle relaxants may improve a person’s sleep patterns, though without actually addressing the problem of restless legs syndrome.

Whether because of restless legs syndrome or not, a man wants to take steps to maintain penis function, such as by using a superior penis health oil (health professionals recommend Man 1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin). The best oils will contain L-carnitine, an amino acid which helps preserve penis sensitivity, a key aspect of penis function. Ideally, the chosen oil should also include vitamin B5, aka pantothenic acid, which is a vital nutrient that is required for cell metabolism and the maintenance of healthy tissue.

Can a Sore Penis Result from Restless Legs Syndrome?

In recent years, many people have become aware of a condition known as restless legs syndrome, in which the leg experiences pain or discomfort. This brings about a significant degree of movement of the legs. It may seem a stretch to consider restless legs syndrome as a possible penis health issue, but in fact it can lead to a sore penis in some cases.

What it is

Even though the condition is becoming better known, most people have only a vague idea of what restless legs syndrome is. Also called Willis-Ekbom Disease (after the doctors who discovered it), restless legs syndrome is a sleep disorder described by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) as causing "unpleasant or uncomfortable sensations in the legs and an irresistible urge to move them. Symptoms commonly occur in the late afternoon or evening hours, and are often most severe at night when a person is resting, such as sitting or lying in bed." A person may also experience this condition if they are sedentary for an extended period of time, such as when flying on a plane or being forced to sit at a desk for several hours for work or school purposes.

Restless legs syndrome is known by its symptoms - a restlessness while sleeping which often involves the legs (and sometimes the arms) jerking and twitching while a person sleeps. Often this causes the person to awaken frequently during the night. The lack of proper sleep results in daytime sleepiness and fatigue.

In spite of the fact that it is considered a sleep disorder, the NIH believes it is more properly considered a neurological sensory disorder.

Up to 10% of the population experiences restless legs syndrome, with women somewhat more likely than men to have it.

Sore penis

So restless legs syndrome presents challenges - but how does it result in a sore penis?

Basically, it has to do with all the movements of the legs while a man is asleep. The movements are often jerky and spasmodic, and sometimes the movements are very large. If the penis is "caught" in the middle of these movements, it can be squeezed and pressed in such a way as to cause a sore penis. In addition, the frequent movement results in the penis undergoing extreme movement, rubbing up against the fabric of a man’s underwear, pajamas or bedsheets. This can result in chafing when the restlessness is especially intense. So often a man awakens from a restless night feeling unrefreshed - and also has to deal with a tender or sore penis.

Beyond soreness, there also are indications that restless legs syndrome increases the risk of erectile dysfunction in men. About half of men with the condition report experiencing some form of impotence as well. This is believed to be related to dopamine, a neurotransmitter, the presence of which plays a key role in proper erectile function and in avoiding restless legs syndrome.

Determining what’s causing restless legs syndrome is important to finding appropriate treatments. Men who believe they may experience restless legs syndrome should definitely consult with a doctor for a diagnosis and, if necessary, a treatment plan.

Whether caused by restless legs syndrome or any of numerous other causes, a guy wants his sore penis to get back to normal as soon as possible. Regular use of a top drawer penis health crème ( health professionals recommend Man1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin ) can both soothe a sore penis and keep it in better health (and less prone to soreness). A crème that can keep penis skin hydrated will be able to repair and soothe the penis skin more effectively, so select a crème with proven hydrating agents like Shea butter and vitamin E. It also helps if the crème includes vitamin D, the "miracle vitamin" which supports healthy cellular function in the penis.

Masturbation May Ease Restless Legs Syndrome

Restless legs syndrome is a fairly common condition, affecting about10% of all adults in the U.S. While more of a nuisance than a cause for alarm, those with restless legs syndrome welcome anything that alleviates their discomfort. Surprisingly, masturbation may be one way to combat this issue. Men interested in good penis care know that masturbation has many benefits, but the possibility that it keeps legs under control is likely to be news to most.

What is RLS?
 
Restless legs syndrome (or RLS) is a sleep-related movement disorder in which a person has an irresistible impulse to move the legs when at rest. It is most popularly known for the fact that its victims experience severe leg movements while they sleep, which causes discomfort for them and impedes the restfulness associated with and needed from sleep. In addition, those who sleep in the same bed are made uncomfortable and have their own sleep disturbed by the sometimes violent involuntary leg movements.

In popular culture, RLS is limited to the bedtime hours. In practice, however, many people with RLS experience similar, if not as intense, desires to move their legs while awake. When that desire is stifled, they may experience itchiness, numbness or "creepy" feelings in their legs.

Causes 
 
What causes RLS? There are quite a few things which are linked to the appearance of RLS, including:

- Iron deficiency , the cause of perhaps 20% of all RLS cases. Lack of iron is thought to impede dopamine production, and lack of dopamine seems to be a big factor in RLS. (Dopamine is a hormone that plays a key role in how a body experiences pleasure.)

- ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), primarily because of the lack of sufficient dopamine.

- Genetics , especially (again) when the genes create a situation in which dopamine is frequently lacking.

- Medications , which may inadvertently create or worsen RLS while improving other conditions.

Masturbation as medication
 
So why is masturbation a possible relief for RLS? According to a study published in the journal Sleep Science, it all has to do with dopamine.

As indicated above, dopamine production seems to play a role in RLS. As a matter of fact, many doctors prescribe medications that aim to up dopamine production in order to provide relief from RLS.

But what if there were a natural way of increasing dopamine, rather than an artificial way? Scientists have studied brain imaging scans taken of men experiencing an ejaculation. The scans show that the dopamine levels generated during male orgasm are extremely high.

In at least one case study, a man was found to alleviate all his RLS symptoms whenever he masturbated. From this study, many doctors had taken to advising their male patients with RLS to try masturbating just before bed every night. And many patients report that it does indeed make a difference and allow them to get a good night’s sleep.

Not that a man needs an excuse for masturbation, but it’s good to know that he can justify his solo activities as a means of warding off restless legs syndrome. Of course, sometimes masturbation gets a little over-aggressive, so it helps if a man regularly applies a first rate penis health crème (health professionals recommend Man1 Man Oil, which is clinically proven mild and safe for skin) to an overused penis. A raw penis responds well to a crème that contains moisturizing agents like vitamin E and Shea butter. It’s even better if the crème also contains vitamin A, which is blessed with strong anti-bacterial properties. This enables vitamin A to fight many of the bacteria which cling to the penis and bring with them a rank, unwanted penis odor.