The blinds are shut, your sunrise alarm clock has been dutifully set and you've drowned your silk pillowcase with lavender spray.
All is well. Until your legs start to spasm without an iota of control.
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What triggers restless leg syndrome?
So... what's going on? Twitchy legs before bed, or while you’re lying there, is called restless legs syndrome.
‘It’s characterised by an uncomfortable, irritable feeling in the legs, which can be painful,’ says Professor Adrian Williams at the London Sleep Centre. FYI –women are twice as likely to develop restless legs syndrome as men.
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‘In response, patients move their legs to relieve the discomfort.’
The condition is thought to be neurological, with Professor Williams pointing to studies attributing the condition to a problem with iron storage in the body.
Some neurologists think it might have something to do with how the body handles the happy hormone dopamine.
There's also a link between pregnancy and restless leg syndrome – one in five women who are expecting will be affected in the final three months.
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Why? Well, that's pending, but symptoms should clear after you've given birth.
What is the best treatment for restless leg syndrome?
Good news: supplementation with said iron can help. So can a medication called dopamine agonist, which acts in the brain in the same way as the happy hormone dopamine. The final word?
Discuss treatment options with your GP to kick the habit (and not any fellow bed occupants).
Now that you know about restless leg syndrome, find out what the best natural sleep aids are.
