RLS and sinus problems?

[wilabozo]

It seems when my sinuses get inflamed my RLS gets worse, not sure if there is a link? I know when my nose is stuffed up I have to sleep with my mouth open, which seems to make my RLS worse. Anyone else have that experience?

[Madlegs1]

Do you take antihistamines for the Sinus?

If so, then some of them can aggravate RLS.

[Hidden in reply to Madlegs1]

Just what I was about to post. Fools or great minds Madlegs1?

I was taking Galpseud a couple of months ago and had completely forgotten my body doesn't like them... I soon remembered!

[Madlegs1 in reply to Hidden]

Super great minds, of course!😜🤩

[wilabozo in reply to Madlegs1]

I don't take any medication at all. But I'm doing some breathing exercises lately that seem to help, holding my breath to increase CO2 blood count which causes the nose to open up. I'm also looking into the role of nitric oxide in vasodilation, nose breathing increases NO.

[LotteM in reply to wilabozo]

Hi, those breathing exercises sound interesting. I also suffer frequently from clogged-up sinuses. Do you have a reference or a link to those exercises? Or can you describe them. For me it would definitely be worth trying.

[wilabozo in reply to LotteM]

Hi. The breathing exercises I do are part of altitude training stimulation. Here's an example of how they do it.. really simple:

youtube.com/watch?v=8KqVGqh...(Not working as expected?)

[Edharris in reply to Madlegs1]

Hi folks - I'm the newbie here.

For all you blocked up sinus / stuffy nose sufferers, pls have a look for preservatives (typically sulphites) marked in the 200's on grocery packaging. I had a stuffy nose and asthma my whole life til I worked this out....! Maybe a link here with RLS? I know preservatives can not only cause respiratory issues, but adverse reactions in children (aggression, oppositional defiance, rage, tantrums etc).

Major culprits: champagne, white wine, beer, preserved/dried meat, dried fruit, cordials and lots of other things.

Good luck and thanks for all the helpful comments on this forum.

[Madlegs1 in reply to Edharris]

I agree fully. Sulphates/ sulphites and other preservatives are just some of the triggers for my RLS.

[wilabozo in reply to Edharris]

Thanks for the info! Actually I've been eating quite a bit of dry fruit lately so that might be stuffing up my nose.

The only possible connection I can find between RLS and breathing is the intake of nitric oxide. When you breath through your nose you get a lot more nitric oxide because it gathers inside your nose. It is needed in the blood to open up the blood vessels... maybe that's going to help RLS? I also know that dopamine plays a role in vasodilation, so there could be a link there.

[gentoorax]

I have sinus problems - previously caused by rebound from overuse of a nasal spray. I have been wondering if there is a link. About to start a steroid nasal spray in the hopes this will resolve it. Worth noting I don't take an antihistamines as they are known to make RLS worse. I sometimes think it makes it feel worse because it wakes you up more during the night which gives RLS an opportunity to be felt more.

[Eryl]

Some believe that inflammation in the nerves is the cause of most rls, so your sinus problems and rls could be triggered by the same thing. Common causes of inflammation in the absence of trauma or infection are high carb diets, refined vegetable oils, nightshades or artificial food preservatives (sorbates eg E202). It could be one of them or a combination of a little bit of each one.

[wilabozo in reply to Eryl]

Hey Eryl,

I've mostly eliminated those foods from my diet, but still getting flare ups most nights. I'm thinking there must be some other factors. What do you think about the role of exercise? If I change my exercise routine then my legs complain that night, so doing the same execise everyday seems to give me the best chance to have a low RLS night. Have you had that?

[WideBody]

Wow, I have thought the same thing. I ALSO practice slow breathing those times when my nose it stuffy. (I don't take medication for that). I 100% agree a stuffy nose equals bad RLS. I know it' s weird.

[wilabozo in reply to WideBody]

I've been finding some weird connection to breathing problems and RLS. I'm now thinking it has something to do with nitric oxide.

Here's an interesting coincidence, women in late stage pregnancy often get RLS, and also they get sinus problems, I don't think the two have ever been linked.

[Edharris in reply to WideBody]

Slow breathing - to the extent of reducing oxygen and increasing carbon dioxide in the blood can be good for asthma and a blocked nose. It's believed that higher CO2 helps O2 release from haemoglobin. If slow breathing works for you - check out the Buteyko method.

[Stdorn]

Interesting. I too have had sinus problems my whole life and have been suffering from rls for almost 2 decades. I am not taking any antihistamines as I am aware they makr my rls go nuts until they wear off.

[marsha2306]

I don’t know if it’s directly related but I just started putting a humidifier on.

[Hidden]

I have noticed the same issue here . Just made a connection between the two. When I am have an attack of RLS, I also get "Restless (irritable) bladder" and am urinating every ten minutes. This is despite have a neurostimulator for urge incontinence. Seems like it is all tied in together.

Jerold in Citrus Park, FL USA

[silkusmaximus in reply to Hidden]

Yes - it's me too! My bladder is keeping me up ALL NIGHT at the moment. I have RLS, also stuffed up nose and I'm almost certain they're all related.

They're all signs of inflammation and I've been on an anti-inflammatory diet for a while but I think there's something in my diet at the moment that is causing a flare up.

Maybe gluten, preservatives as mentioned above or something else.

I'm a healthy eater, tried cutting out sugar, carbs, been pescatarian for 15 or so years....

Do you smoke at all?

[Hidden]

I ,too, will have that triad of symptoms when I sometimes have an RLS attack in the evening. I also get a stuffy nose and "restless bladder". It does not happen every time but it does often enough that I have recognized it as a pattern. I have also had the experience of a "restless genital sensation" at occasional intervals. It is difficult to describe to someone that has never experienced it, much like trying to describe RLS to someone that has never had it. It is an unpleasant "nonsexual" form of sexual arousal that is occasionally associated with severe RLS episodes. It is also associated with the "restless bladder" type symptoms.

I believe I have mentioned this in less detail in the past.