Restless Legs Syndrome is a condition that affects about ten
percent of the population. The disorder is characterized by an
urge to move the legs, usually accompanied by or caused by
uncomfortable leg sensations. People with RLS often have
difficulty describing their symptoms. Common terms used to
describe the sensations are aching, twitching, tingling,
burning, creeping, crawling, itching, flowing, pulling, searing
and painful. Many people experience these sensations in their
legs, but the arms or other body regions also can be affected.
The symptoms of RLS are generally worse at night, can be brought
on by rest and are relieved by standing up or walking around.
MY STORY
I, too, suffer from RLS occasionally. I've had periods of my
life where the condition seemed to worsen (probably
stress-related). Some of the following suggestions may work for
you, for others maybe not. For me, the lifestyle changes I made
to help with my insomnia also helped with my RLS. I still have a
sleepless night or a night with RLS, but they are far less
frequent. Although
www.natural-cures-for-insomnia.com does not
endorse drug use, there are new drugs available for extreme
cases of RLS when nothing else works.
ALTERNATIVE TREATMENTS
Treatment begins by dealing with any underlying medical
condition that may be cause the symptoms. Many times the cause
is unknown, but it can be associated with neurological
disorders, diabetes, stress and pregnancy. The serious sleep
loss can not only lead to drowsiness, but could lead to
depression and accidental injuries as well. In recent years,
researchers have discovered that iron, folate or vitamin E
levels are often low in RLS sufferers and supplementation can
frequently help. For example, when iron deficiency is the cause,
taking iron supplements can significantly reduce the symptoms of
RLS.
"We know that iron deficiency is involved because every
condition that produces iron deficiency, such as anemia or
pregnancy, increases the risk of RLS dramatically," says Richard
Allen, PhD, a diplomat on the American Board of Sleep Medicine
and a founder of the Johns Hopkins Sleep Disorders Center. In
fact, based on studies of hospital patients, about 40 percent of
people with anemia had RLS and about 20 percent to 40 percent of
pregnant women have RLS.
Another way researchers know that iron plays a role is
iron-deficient patients' response to iron supplementation. "Then
when the iron deficiency is corrected, the RLS often remits,"
Dr. Allen says.
Some people with RLS, however, have normal iron levels.
Researchers say that's not a reason to discount iron as an
underlying cause of their RLS. Studies indicate that the problem
is the brains of RLS patients may not absorb iron normally.
Some other treatment options which may relieve pain include leg
massages, hot baths, heat or icepacks, aspirin or other
over-the-counter pain relievers, and the elimination of
caffeine. As well, regular sleep habits and exercise, especially
earlier in the day, will help people enjoy more restful sleep.
MAGNESIUM AND CALCIUM
Cramps in the lower limbs, restless leg syndrome and
sleeplessness can be eased by the addition of calcium and
magnesium to the diet. Magnesium is more easily absorbed by the
body in the form of dolomite, or with the addition of calcium.
Magnesium helps to support a strong immune system and maintains
normal muscle and nerve function. It is also known to be
involved in every metabolism and protein synthesis and is needed
for over three hundred biochemical reactions in the body, so it
is very important.
One of the benefits of magnesium is its muscle relaxing
properties. The heart is a muscle and high blood pressure is
often caused by the heart not relaxing sufficiently on its
outward (diastolic) beat. There is increasing interest in the
role magnesium can play in managing hypertension and
cardiovascular disease.
WHAT TO AVOID
You should avoid things that can make symptoms of RLS worse:
Tobacco Alcohol Caffeine¡ªChocolate, coffee, tea, and some soft
drinks contain caffeine. Although it may seem to help overcome
daytime sleepiness, caffeine usually only delays or masks RLS
symptoms, and often makes them worse. Some types of
over-the-counter and prescription medicines can also make RLS
symptoms worse. These include: Anti-depressants (most of them)
Anti-nausea medicines Anti-psychotic medicines Antihistamines
Good supplements to take are iron, folic acid, co- enzyme Q10,
extracts of ginko biloba and garlic tablets.
Acupuncture and magnet therapy are also worth trying to help
with restless legs syndrome.
If you are taking prescription medication, always consult your
health care professional before taking supplements.
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