Health and Wellness
Restless legs kick your partner out of bed
Falling asleep and staying asleep can often be a challenge. Not only for you, but for your bed partner (even the dog).
If it's not snoring that sends one person fleeing for sanctuary in another room, it might be restless leg syndrome (RLS).
About 10 percent of people have painful urges to kick and thrash their legs when trying to fall asleep. The next day, the person may be tired, have mood swings and trouble concentrating. And the bed partner might be annoyed.
Many people don't see a doctor about the kicking problem for years, if ever. Symptoms of RLS are described as creepy-crawly feelings in the legs, tingling, burning or prickling sensations when lying down, such as at bedtime or when sitting. They usually are relieved only by walking or flexing the legs.
RLS can be lifelong, starting as a teenager, or short-term and caused by medications or conditions such as pregnancy or diabetes.
Smoking and drinking alcohol can make things worse. Lifestyle change in these areas should be tried. In addition to medications, some pre-bedtime practices may also help:
- Practice good sleep hygiene. Get seven to eight hours of sleep each night.
- Stretch or massage leg muscles before going to bed.
- Practice relaxation techniques such as biofeedback, meditation or yoga.
- Wear long socks to bed.
- Use a hot water bottle or cold compresses on painful areas before bed.
- Take a hot bath or shower before bed.
- Avoid or cut back on caffeine (coffee, hot tea or cocoa).
- Avoid or cut back on alcohol.
- Eat a healthy diet and exercise.
For more information, contact the RLS Foundation, www.rls.org.
Source: University of Michigan Health System
Used with permission from www.health-eheadlines.com, © 2007 Write On, Inc.
