Fact Checked
Restless leg syndrome is a disorder in the nervous system that causes uncontrollable urges to move the legs especially during lying or sitting down. It affects sleeps and result to insomnia.
Symptoms of restless leg syndrome
- Severe symptoms at night
- The sensation usually begins after lying or sitting down for a prolonged periods of time such as in an airplane, car or inside a movie theater.
- The sensations subsides when stretching, jiggling the legs and walking.
- This condition is associated with another condition called periodic limb movement of sleep.
- Sensations in the legs can be described as creeping, crawling, pulling, aching, throbbing, itching and electric.
Causes
- An imbalance of the brain chemical dopamine which control movements of muscles
- Run in families or hereditary
- Pregnancy or hormonal changes makes the condition worse and disappears after giving birth.
- Conditions that can develop restless leg syndrome include Parkinson’s disease, iron deficiency, diabetes, peripheral neuropathy and kidney failure.
- Medications that includes antipsychotic drugs, antinausea drugs and sedating antihistamines.
Treatment
- Maintain good sleeping hygiene such as a cool, quiet and comfortable sleeping environment.
- Maintain a scheduled time in sleeping and rising in the morning.
- Avoid caffeine and drinking alcohol to prevent disruption in sleeping. Alcohol causes drowsiness and prevents a deep and restful sleeping. In addition, caffeine causes more thoughts and brain activity and cause difficulty in sleeping.
- Perform exercises for the legs in the afternoon or early in the evening to lessen restlessness of the nerves and muscle and for better sleeping. Take a walk, swimming and stair climbing. Before going to bed at night, take a walk around the bedroom for at least a few minutes and shake the legs to lessen the sensations.
- Apply a warm compress on the affected area before sleeping at night for at least 15 -20 minutes to relax the muscles and lessen the symptoms of restless leg syndrome. Wrap heating pad in a towel or a cloth before placing to the area to prevent further irritations and worsen the condition. Another alternative is applying cool and moist towels to relax the legs.
- Take a warm Epsom salt bath in the evening to relax the muscles. Warm water increase flow of blood in the area, hydrates the tissue and relaxes tight muscles.
- Drink plenty of fluids at least eight 8-ounce glasses of water every day or more if performing exercises or playing sports and spending longer times outdoors in hot or humid days. Avoid caffeinated drinks to prevent stimulating urination and cause dehydration.
- Prescribed medications to increase levels of chemical messenger dopamine in the brain.
- Prescribed muscle relaxants and sleep medication for better sleeping at night.
- Opioids or narcotic medications to relieve of mild to severe symptoms of restless leg syndrome.
FACT CHECK
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/restless-legs-syndrome/
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/restless-legs-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20377168
https://www.webmd.com/brain/restless-legs-syndrome/restless-legs-syndrome-rls#1