RLS, short for restless legs syndrome, is a neurological disorder that causes you to move your legs uncontrollably, and it usually occurs at night or late at night, especially when you’re relaxing or trying to fall asleep. While RLS does not cause serious complications, it can interfere with sleep and cause daytime sleepiness and fatigue. In severe cases, it can significantly reduce quality of life and even lead to depression.
RLS is more common in middle-aged and older adults, and if you have RLS, try some simple self-treatments, and lifestyle changes may also help relieve symptoms. Many people may not take the whole RLS health issue seriously, however, this is a signal from your body to be aware of if you experience any of the following symptoms:
- A crawling, pulling, throbbing, or itching sensation in the leg.
- There is an urge to move the legs, which is felt at rest, such as in a car or airplane, relieved by exercise, such as stretching, shaking the legs, pacing or walking, and is worse at night.
There is no known cause for RLS, some risk factors include:
- Pregnancy or hormonal changes can cause or worsen RLS, however, symptoms usually go away after delivery.
- Other diseases, RLS is sometimes accompanied by other diseases, such as peripheral neuropathy, iron deficiency, kidney failure, spinal cord disease, or Parkinson’s disease.
Here are some simple home remedies that can help relieve RLS symptoms:
- Take a hot bath before bed.
- Massage the legs to relax the muscles.
- Put a hot or cold compress on your leg.
- Develop good sleep habits.
- Get moderate, regular exercise.
- Avoid caffeinated products, including chocolate, coffee, tea, and soft drinks.
- Try PEMF therapy, a new alternative therapy that sends magnetic pulses throughout the body to stimulate natural healing. Studies have shown that pulsed electromagnetic fields can promote nerve regeneration by improving and increasing oxygen and nutrition to damaged nerves, therefore, it is very effective in the treatment of neurological diseases such as RLS. In addition, PEMF can improve sleep using brainwave entrainment, providing better sleep quality for RLS patients. MiraMate Big Magic is a PEMF device designed for the home that helps with RLS by sending gentle frequencies to your body cells. It comes with a comfortable PEMF cushion, so you can wrap the cushion around your legs before bed for a good night’s sleep.
