Is Restless Leg Syndrome Common in pregnancy?
RLS affects 10% of women and up to 40% of pregnant women, making it the most common problem in pregnancy, according to a 2010 study by the University of Michigan. Your genes, hormones and an iron deficiency could be culprits.
What are you lacking when you have restless leg syndrome?
Iron deficiency is thought to be one of the main causes of RLS. Several studies have shown that iron supplements can help ease RLS symptoms ( 1 , 3).
How long does restless legs last in pregnancy?
Symptoms should go away within four weeks of delivery, although one study found that 97 percent of women with RLS found complete relief a few days after giving birth.
What are the main symptoms of the restless leg syndrome?
The main symptom of restless legs syndrome is an overwhelming urge to move your legs. It can also cause an unpleasant crawling or creeping sensation in the feet, calves and thighs. The sensation is often worse in the evening or at night. Occasionally, the arms are affected, too.
How can I stop restless legs during pregnancy?
- Avoid drinking coffee, soda, and other caffeinated beverages.
- Exercise every day, but stop within a couple of hours of bedtime so you don’t get too wound up to sleep.
- Get into a regular sleep routine. Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, if you can. …
- Use a heating pad.
Do bananas help with restless leg syndrome?
Tips for increasing your potassium include: Eating more fruits, like bananas, can help restless legs syndrome. Eating more vegetables, like leafy greens, can help restless legs syndrome Talk to your doctor before taking a potassium supplement to make sure you don’t take too much.
Does drinking water help restless legs?
These days, drinking tonic water might seem like a natural way to treat RLS. One liter of tonic water usually contains no more than 83 mg of quinine. A normal dose of quinine pills contains about 500 to 1000 mg of quinine. Drinking a liter of tonic water each day is unlikely to help RLS symptoms.
What is the root cause of restless leg syndrome?
Often, there’s no known cause for RLS . Researchers suspect the condition may be caused by an imbalance of the brain chemical dopamine, which sends messages to control muscle movement.
What foods are bad for restless leg syndrome?
If you have RLS, there are also foods that you will want to avoid because they can exacerbate the condition and make your symptoms worse. The top three foods to avoid are chocolate, sugary sodas, and fried foods.
How does restless legs feel?
People with restless legs syndrome have unusual feelings in their legs (like itching, crawling, pulling, aching, throbbing, or pins and needles) and a powerful urge to move their legs to make the sensations go away. The condition can also happen in other areas like the arms, chest, or head.
Does magnesium help restless legs?
An older study found that magnesium treatments provided relief as an alternative therapy for patients with mild or moderate RLS. Getting more magnesium is an extremely effective treatment for RLS when magnesium deficiency is a contributing factor to the condition.
How much iron do I need while pregnant?
During pregnancy, you need 27 milligrams of iron a day. Good nutrition also can prevent iron deficiency anemia during pregnancy. Dietary sources of iron include lean red meat, poultry and fish. Other options include iron-fortified breakfast cereals, prune juice, dried beans and peas.