July 22, 2014

Let Your Legs Rest. How to ease the creeping, itching, pulling, creepy-crawly, tugging sensation from Restless Legs Syndrome.

July 18-25 is Restless Leg Syndrome Education & Awareness Week which is a good time to talk about what it is, what causes it and how to ease the symptoms. It’s often called the most prevalent condition that you’ve never heard of. There’s a 50/50 chance that parents will pass it on t0 their children.

WHAT IT IS

Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS), also known as Willis-Ekbom disease, afflicts about 10 percent of the U.S. population with an uncontrollable urge to move their legs when they are at rest – often interfering with sleep and leaving them fatigued. Suffers report a creeping, itching, pulling, creepy-crawly, tugging, or gnawing sensation that gets worse the longer they rest. Once it starts, they get relief only when they get up and move around which is a terrible way to spend the night.

SOME CAUSES

The leading cause is iron deficiency, which explains why RLS is especially common in pregnant women. Some research suggests that the deficiency in some cases may result from the body’s inability to process enough iron, so even supplements won’t help those people. Magnesium deficiency may be involved and some drugs for high blood pressure, nausea, colds, allergies, depression, and dopamine

NATURAL REMEDIES

Soaking in your Hot Spring Spa, especially before bedtime, can help, according to the Willis-Ekbom Disease Foundation. Other ways to manage RLS include:

• Reducing use of caffeine, alcohol, or tobacco, and, many advise, high-fructose corn syrup.
• Maintaining a healthy, balanced diet.
• Walking.

• Riding an exercise bike.
• Massaging the legs.

For more information about RLS, contact the Willis-Ekbom Disease Foundation at 819 Second St. SW, Rochester, Minn. 55902-2985, or call toll-free (877) 463-6757.

The foundation publishes a free information booklet, ”Living With Restless Legs,” and a quarterly newsletter, ”Nightwalkers,” and provides a network of support groups. More medical information is available on the foundation’s Web site: www.rls.org.

If you are diagnosed with RLS, you might ask your doctor for a hot tub prescription. The treatment gives relief and might be insurable. Come take a FREE test soak at any one of our 5 Olympic Hot Tub locations to feel the difference a hot tub can make.

As the Romans said it, Sanum per Aqua. Health through water.

MORE:

How to Get Insurance to Pay for Your Hot Tub Therapy

Don’t Let Nocturnal Leg Cramps Ruin Your Sleep

Hot Tub Buyers Guide: 8 Important Reasons to Take a Test Soak Before You Buy