Restless Legs

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PUFFY EYES

Restless legs can occur whenever someone is sitting or lying down. We have no idea what causes restless legs. Since restless legs may have different causes, and no one treatment works for everyone.

Trial and Error

Point your toes

If restless legs strike while you're sitting, point your toes and stretch both your legs from foot to hip.

Get up

If restless legs strike after you have gone to bed, again, don't resist the urge to move. Get out of bed and walk up and down the hall a couple of times or, if you have stairs, up and down the stairs.

Focus on B vitamins and iron

Some scientists suspect that a deficiency of folate or iron-or both-may have something to do with the cause of restless legs.

Try hot or cold

Some women find that hot baths relieve restless legs, while others find that cold packs do the trick.

Avoid evening aerobic exercise

Although mevement is important, try to schedule exercise that increases your heart rate for during the day rather than in the evening.

Relax

Once you've turned out the light and crawled between the sheets, try a relaxation exercise such as progressive muscle relaxation.