Restless leg syndrome is a type of neurological disorder where one experiences an uncontrollable urge to shake or move their leg due to an uncomfortable sensation. This condition is typically triggered during the night or when a person is lying down.
This condition is also called Willis Ekbom disease, and it creates an uncomfortable feeling in the leg which might feel like crawling, pulling, itching, and prickling.
Around 5 to 10% of adults in the US have restless leg syndrome, and this condition is more commonly found in women than men.
Read ahead to learn how the symptoms and some tips for treating RLS.
Symptoms of Restless Leg Syndrome
According to the International Classification of Sleep Disorders, some of the words RLS patients use to describe the sensations they feel include uncomfortable, twitchy, an urge to move, and restless.
These crawling and uncomfortable sensations start, especially when a person is lying in bed or sitting still.
Mild RLS symptoms may include nervousness, stress, or restlessness but severe cases of RLS can be hard to ignore. These symptoms can worsen when the individual is trying to sleep and cause other sleep issues like daytime sleepiness, sleep deprivation, and fatigue.
What Causes RLS?
RLS is still a mystery to many sleep experts. This condition might be due to a genetic factor, or it could even be due to an environmental trigger.
40 percent of individuals with RLS have a family member with the same conditions. Five gene variants have also been identified that are linked with RLS.
Some sleep experts also suggest an association between RLS and low iron levels in the brain. Parkinson’s disease is also linked with RLS since, in this condition, there is an obstruction in the dopamine pathways of the brain.
Home Remedies that Mitigate Restless Leg Syndrome
Here are a few effective home remedies that can alleviate symptoms of RLS.
- Minimize your coffee and alcohol intake
- Improve sleep hygiene
- Consider fixing your sleep schedule. Try waking up and going to bed at the same time every day
- Do stretching exercises for your legs every day
- Take a warm bath to relax your muscles
- Get regular exercise
- Use an ice pack or a heating pad whenever you experience symptoms
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