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Restless leg syndrome is an overwhelming urge to move the legs.
The legs usually shake back and forth, possible accompanied by an
intermittent tingling sensation. Only moving the legs back and forth
relieves the sensation. It is worse at night, usually when an individual
is trying to go to sleep. It often occurs with period of inactivity
and it definitely plays a role in insomnia because it impedes the
individual from falling asleep. A recent study at Johns Hopkins
cites iron deficiency as a possible cause for restless leg syndrome.
The researcher states that it is not necessarily an iron deficiency,
but rather the mechanism by which iron is absorbed into the brain
cells is functioning incorrectly. Obviously further research in
this area is being conducted. To see this study, please go to www.rls.org,
and you can review the study at that time.
Other methods to better sleep include:
- Avoiding liquids 3-4 hours before going to sleep, specifically
caffeine containing sodas, coffee, tea, and even chocolate, which
has a lot of caffeine.
- Smoking is a stimulant. Please avoid any tobacco product usage
before getting to sleep.
Alcohol in small amounts maybe effective initially in helping an
individual fall asleep. However large amounts, as discussed earlier,
will definitely impact REM sleep. One glass of wine before bedtime
might be helpful; however if you would prefer avoiding alcohol,
a glass of milk would be a good substitute. The reason for this
is that milk does contain a specific chemical, L-Tryptophan, which
in some individuals induces sleepiness.
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