Restless Leg Syndrome Disrupts Your Rest, These Causes and How to Overcome It

Feet to shake without knowing because you feel itchy or electrocuted? Or feels something that moves under the skin around the legs and calves while sleeping at night? These signs may be symptoms of restless leg syndrome. Restless legs syndrome (RLS) or Willis-Ekbom's disease is a neurological disease characterized by an unpleasant sensation that causes a strong urge to move and stomp the foot. The sensation can be in the form of itching, tingling, shock, tingling, pain, cramps, or as if an insect is crawling under the skin. RLS usually occurs when the sufferer is at rest, especially at night, so that it can disrupt sleep time and quality.

Factors Causing Restless Leg Syndrome

Restless legs syndrome can be experienced by adults, children, to the elderly. The cause itself is not yet known with certainty, but is thought to be related to genetic factors. Meanwhile, there are other factors that can make restless legs syndrome appear or become more severe, namely:

1. Pregnancy

Restless legs syndrome can occur in pregnant women, especially in the third trimester. However, RLS symptoms generally disappear within about a month after giving birth.

2. Certain diseases

The appearance of RLS symptoms is often associated with several diseases, such as kidney failure, diabetes, peripheral neuropathy, spinal cord abnormalities, and Parkinson's disease. By treating the disease, RLS symptoms can usually subside.

3. Mental disorders

Restless legs syndrome is also associated with mental disorders, such as depression, anxiety disorders, and akathisia. According to research, people with mental disorders or people who take drugs to overcome certain psychiatric problems more often experience symptoms of restless leg syndrome.

4. Side effects of drugs

Some medications, such as nausea, antipsychotics, antidepressants, as well as cold and allergy medicines that contain antihistamines, can worsen the symptoms of RLS.

4. Lack of nutrition

The onset of symptoms of restless leg syndrome is also often associated with certain nutritional deficiencies, such as iron deficiency, magnesium, folate, vitamin B12, and vitamin D.

5. Unhealthy lifestyle

The habit of consuming excessive alcoholic beverages, smoking, and lack of sleep can also cause or worsen RLS symptoms.

How To Help Deal With Restless Leg Syndrome

Until now there has been no specific treatment that can cure restless legs syndrome. The goal of treating restless legs syndrome so far is only limited to help relieve symptoms and improve sleep quality of sufferers. For mild symptoms of restless legs syndrome, the following ways can be done to help relieve the symptoms:

1. Apply a healthy lifestyle

Eating a balanced nutritious diet, reducing alcoholic drinks and caffeine, and stopping smoking can help relieve symptoms of restless leg syndrome.

2. Leg compresses

Compress the feet with cold water and warm water alternately. Changes in temperature can help reduce symptoms of restless legs syndrome. In addition to compressing, you can also take a shower or soak in warm water.

3. Foot massage and acupuncture

According to a small study, foot massage and acupuncture are thought to help relieve symptoms and improve sleep quality in people with restless legs syndrome. However, the effectiveness of this alternative therapy still needs to be studied further.

4. Get enough and regular sleep

Fatigue and frequent lack of sleep can worsen symptoms of restless leg syndrome. Therefore, sufficient hours of sleep every night for 7-9 hours. Do not forget to keep away from things that can disturb your sleep, and turn off the beam of light that is too bright.

5. Regular exercise and relaxation

Regular exercise and managing stress well can help prevent recurrent RLS symptoms. You can do light exercise, such as morning walks or jogging, or do relaxation with meditation, yoga, and breathing exercises.

6. Take supplements

Because symptoms of restless leg syndrome can occur due to lack of certain nutrients, taking additional supplements, such as iron supplements and vitamin D, might help reduce symptoms. You can take supplements as directed by your doctor if your body lacks these nutrients. If the symptoms of restless legs syndrome do not improve after doing some of the ways mentioned above, then you should immediately consult a doctor to get further examination and treatment.