What Keeps Triggering Restless Leg Syndrome at Night?

You’ve had a long day and are looking forward to getting a good night’s sleep only for that familiar tingling and crawling sensation to start in your legs.

If you’ve ever had the uncontrollable urge to move your legs, especially at night, you’re probably dealing with restless leg syndrome (RLS).

Unfortunately, giving in to the sensation and moving your legs only provides temporary relief. What’s more, having to do this continuously prevents you from enjoying quality sleep.

So, what’s the solution?

To help you better understand how to treat RLS, it helps to look at what might be triggering the condition for you.

Common RLS Triggers

In many instances, if you start experiencing restless leg syndrome before the age of 40, it is heredity. It can also be linked to pregnancy, particularly during the last trimester.

Then there are a few underlying medical conditions that can trigger RLS, including:

• Iron deficiency
• Nerve damage in the hands and feet
• Spinal cord damage or injury
• Kidney failure
• Parkinson’s disease

Lastly, there are lifestyle factors, which can also affect your predisposition to restless leg syndrome:

• Smoking
• Excessive alcohol consumption
• Stress and anxiety
• Drinking caffeine close to bedtime
• Vigorous exercise close to bedtime
• Medications such as antidepressants, antihistamines, and anti-nausea pills

Now that you’re aware of some of the most common triggers, you may be able to pinpoint what’s triggering RLS for you.

Let’s move on to how you can treat or at least alleviate restless leg syndrome symptoms.

Easy Ways to Treat Restless Leg Syndrome

Here are a few simple tips you can adopt to eliminate or at least lessen how often RLS occurs at night:

• Avoid any food or drinks that could trigger RLS, particularly at night.
• Quit smoking or reduce the number of cigarettes your smoke at night.
• Speak to your doctor about any medication you’re taking and whether it could be triggering RLS.
• Take an iron supplement.
• Use a topical treatment such as RLS Leg Cream from Vita Sciences.
• Develop a better sleep routine by sticking to a specific bedtime and creating an optimal sleeping environment.
• Change your body temperature by taking a cool shower or soaking in a warm bath before bed.
• Massage your legs before bedtime to improve circulation.
• Practice stress and anxiety relief exercises such as meditation, tai chi, yoga, or deep breathing.
• Exercise regularly during the day or take a light stroll when you get home from work – nothing too vigorous after 5 pm.
• Schedule an acupuncture appointment.

When to See a Doctor

If you have tried the above tips and are still experiencing restless leg syndrome, it might be time to see a doctor.

Even more so if you’re losing enough sleep for it to disrupt your life or you’re starting to feel even more anxious and depressed.

There is no need to wait until your symptoms worsen either – if you feel it’s worth seeing a doctor sooner, do so.