Restless leg Syndrome (RLS) is a brain, nerve, and sleep condition that leads to uncontrollable and irresistible pleasure in moving and twitching the legs.
A sense of relaxation and urge satisfaction is achieved through such rapid movements of the legs. The reason for RLS is agonizing sensations in an individual’s legs, and muscles.
These symptoms mainly pop up in the evening time and this uncontrollable leg activity may vary with an individual’s sleep schedule and routines, keeping them from falling asleep.
An interesting fact about this syndrome is that its second name is Willis-Ekborn disease, named after Sir Thomas Willis who scripted a medical description on this medical issue back in 1672 AD.
Commonality Of This Syndrome
In Nepal, approximately 2-3% of the population has restless leg syndrome (RLS), observed more common in females than in males.
This generalizes that genders assigned female at birth carry significantly greater proximity of being diagnosed with RLS. This doesn’t however mean that males aren’t affected! They are but in a limited spectrum compared to the female population.
Also as an individual ages, the odds of contracting RLS increase!
Causes Of Restless Leg Syndrome
What causes Restless Leg Syndrome hasn’t yet been identified precisely by medical science. However, when the basal ganglia fail to receive enough dopamine, a series of events that unfollow may lead to RLS. So we can conclude that when the body lacks enough dopamine, restless legs occur.
Here are some reasons, that researchers suggest might lead to RLS:
- Genetics: RLS can be inherited by a gene carrying the condition. One of your biological parents or both might be the carriers of the defective gene!
- Iron deficiency: Iron deficiency in the brain is an alarming reason RLS appears in individuals.
- Underlying medical condition: Some hidden and unidentified medical conditions may lead to secondary RLS, which is when RLS occurs in the presence of another medical condition
- Medications: Primarily a genetic disorder, some reasons as simple as medications for antihistamines, antidepressants to antinausea medications might provoke RLS
Home Remedies For Restless Leg Syndrome In Women
Home remedies aren’t gender specific and, hence can be incorporated by both males and females. Considering your comfort as our sole virtue, we have listed a detailed set of remedies to implement for Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS).
1. Warm/ Cold Compresses:
- Applying heat or cold to the limbs eases up the tension in the muscles relieving the stress and discomfort accumulated.
- Both warm and cold sensations are temperatures different than the normal human body, hence the compression is usually effective.
- Identifying which works best is very individualistic. Therefore, an alternate between warm and cold helps you find your perfect fit!
2. Regular Exercise:
- Getting regular exercise such as cardio, hitting the gym, running, swimming, etc. helps with the symptoms easing them up.
3. Sleep Habits:
- Medical practitioners cannot stress much about the importance of quality sleep. Avoiding the usage of gadgets or engaging in any activity that may alter the circadian rhythm, causes an inability to sleep making RLS worse. Hence, getting plenty of sleep and rest can help soothe the symptoms
- Mental health balance, and taking care of diet also heal the syndrome. Avoiding caffeine before bed is an example!
Home remedies might be efficacious to some extent but in some scenarios, the medical condition can be degrading for which medication is necessary. Here is a list of medications for restless leg syndrome:
Restless Leg Syndrome Medications List
- Iron Supplements, taken with vitamin C.
- Antiseizure medications (gabapentin, pregabalin).
- Dopamine agonists(pramipexole, ropinirole).
- Dopamine precursors or medications that turn into dopamine (levodopa).
Experiencing a magical sleep with RLS can be challenging! Altogether you can put up a set of habits to calm restless legs at night and doze off to a deep sleep.
- Sleeping Late at night till late morning to get the much-needed quality sleep
- Disciplined beg timings every night
- Stretching before sleep
- eliminating caffeine hours before nap time
- Taking a warm bath before bedtime
- Cooling your legs with an ice pack or warming the legs with a heating pad
- Leg massages before sleeping
