Restless leg syndrome affects one in ten people at some point in life. You can combat it with natural measures.
6 Remedies to Treat Restless Legs at Home
A strange sensation in the legs prevents you from falling asleep at night? We offer you information about restless leg syndrome and some remedies to combat it at home.
Restless legs syndrome prevents good sleep. In the moments of rest or just before falling asleep, those affected notice a few pricks, tension or tingling in the legs, and to mitigate it they feel the urge to change positions, get up and walk. Those affected are often referred to in the medical literature as ” nightwalkers “.
What Is Restless Legs Syndrome?
It is not an initially serious disorder, but it is very annoying and unsettling. Restless legs syndrome – also known as Ekbom syndrome – is estimated to affect one in 10 people and can manifest sporadically or become chronic.
Its causes are unknown, but it has a genetic component since there are families more affected than others. Older women are the most affected group.
This syndrome, as its name indicates, usually affects the legs, although it can also appear in the arms. Symptoms appear or intensify at night. It does not usually cause pain, but the discomfort is very unpleasant.
As it does not allow to reconcile a deep and restful sleep, the disorder is related to problems of concentration and states of exhaustion during the day. In the case of certification, it can cause serious mental disorders.
Eight out of ten people with restless legs also suffer from “periodic leg movement syndrome”, which is characterized by sudden involuntary leg movements during sleep.
The causes of these involuntary movements are also unknown, but a theory relates them to low levels of dopamine, one of the main brain neurotransmitters. This could also be the cause of restless legs.
How to Treat Restless Legs at Home
If the restless legs do not let you sleep peacefully you can do the following:
- Try not to make more physical or mental efforts than you need in the afternoon and early at night, because stress favors the appearance of symptoms.
- Maintain regular schedules for both going to sleep and waking up. It is very useful to establish a ritual that helps you fall asleep.
- Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine a few hours before going to sleep.
- Get enough exercise during the day and at night eliminate tension in your legs with stretching or yoga exercises. Also practice some relaxation technique, such as progressive relaxation, autogenic training, guided imagery, or mindfulness.
- Improves blood circulation thanks to alternating cold and hot showers, baths, massages and hot or cold wraps.
- Make sure the diet is giving you enough iron. The difficulty of this mineral explains around 30% of the cases. Remember that legumes, sesame seeds, nuts and vegetables, especially cabbages, are iron-rich foods. Accompany them with fruit rich in vitamin C to improve their absorption.