Do you smoke?: - Restless Legs Syn...

Restless Legs Syndrome

22,350 members16,447 posts

Do you smoke?

Daragh profile imageDaragh125 Voters
53
No - I used to smoke but I quit
40
No - never have, never will
20
Yes - I smoke cigarettes: > 10 per day
7
Yes - I smoke cigarettes: 1-5 per day
3
Yes - I smoke cigarettes: 6-10 per day
2
I only have a cigarette when socialising
1
Yes - I smoke pipe tobacco
0
Yes - I smoke Cigars
13 Replies

not that smoking does anything to make RSL worst certainly wasn't smoking at the age of 8 when RLS started ,

sal

riaz profile image
riaz in reply to

neither was I when I first noticed it as a child in Junior school

well, i used to smoke heavy, i could get through 40 a day noooo problem, i stopped when i was 45 years old.... and my RLS hit the roof. so i sorry but i dont believe it aggravates RLS, and i also know im going to get " its just coincidence" thrown at me, but when my mum stopped smoking hers got worse alos !!!

thats also ...lol

They say cut out smoking cause it aggravates RLS, but for me, it hasnt made mine worse. Also when i did try giving up it made my RLS go nuts...

nightdancer profile image
nightdancer

I think they just use smoking as an "excuse" for lack of a better word. No matter what disrase you are reading about, smoking is blamed for 80 % of things, or "may attribute" to symptoms, etc I agree that smoking, while it is not good for us, does not have thing to do with RLS one way or another. I know way more non smokers with RLS, tha I do who are smokers. Same as being overweight. No, it is not good for us, but I also think they just lump that in with smoking, drinking. I have heard of people who were told that if they lost weight their RLS would go away. That is not a very caring doctor in my opinion. I also know more skinny RLSer's than obese ones.

I used to smoke when I was younger and have thought about how hard it was to actually finally quit. It took many attempts and I remember all the side effects of depriving my body of those chemicals it had been used to. I became very anxious, stressed and had a bad temper and it took over a year to finally kick the habit.

I have thought a great deal about what influence smoking has played on my long term health since developing RLS. Did the physical and mental strain of quitting smoking compound me to get RLS?? There is no way to answer that question, not until someone gets a better understanding of the causes of this disease. Like so many illnesses RLS has a strong genetic influence but I would put money on it that smoking has its part to play along with other influencing factors in triggering RLS in certain people.

This is complete guess work I know but the real message here is not to smoke in the first place and this simple rule can potentially extend your life by up to 14 years (so one website I just found quotes).

riaz profile image
riaz

didn't start smoking till age (have now stopped) but remember havong RLS as a child at Junior school and had to once secretly remove my nylon stockings in a cinema in France during a school exchange visit as my legs were driving me mad

Elmstreet profile image
Elmstreet

I didn't start smoking until I was 47 - I am now 49, had RLS since a teenager, daily symptoms since around 35.

peterk profile image
peterk

I used to smoke a couple of years ago but not very much, about 4 a day. since quitting my RLS has been very bad but I would not go back to it.

bambisoloved profile image
bambisoloved

I started smoking just to do something when restless and RLS bad. I think it helped pycologicaly but RLS under control now but still smoke as i am dependent on them.

I have decided to give up because because of the risks, seeing a nurse soon.

ladydawny profile image
ladydawny

smoking gets blamed for everything lol :) I don't smoke so the Dr always looks confused when I am ill and I get asked :P Well maybe is something else then hehe?

Mopsy1950 profile image
Mopsy1950

Not for over twenty five years

Moderation team

Kaarina profile image
KaarinaAdministrator
Geepjul profile image
GeepjulAdministrator

Content on HealthUnlocked does not replace the relationship between you and doctors or other healthcare professionals nor the advice you receive from them.

Never delay seeking advice or dialling emergency services because of something that you have read on HealthUnlocked.