Restless, twitchy legs at night? You’re not alone – and you don’t have to suffer

But what if your body refuses to relax?

After a busy day our bodies don’t always find it easy to wind down, which can result in a feeling of restlessness or twitching, especially in the legs, as we try to go to sleep.

Restlessness in the legs affects a significant percentage of the population, with many finding it hard to describe the symptoms.

Is it twitchy, cramping, creeping, or crawling?

However you describe the feeling, it culminates in an almost compulsive need to twitch, stretch or bend the legs. Not exactly the ideal state for a good night’s sleep. More like a nightmare.

While the exact cause of a feeling of restlessness in the legs at night hasn’t been diagnosed, those who suffer can do different things to try and reduce uncomfortable symptoms, including:

• Daily exercise
• Avoiding alcohol, caffeine and smoking
• Creating a regular bedtime routine
• Having a warm bath
• Massage
• Applying alternating cold and heat packs

Some common health conditions present with similar symptoms and over the counter (OTC) medications and/or supplements, that contain ingredients that promote good muscle health, have been shown to reduce severity.

These ingredients include:

Magnesium A mineral, magnesium plays an important role in the body, including supporting muscle and nerve function. It can be found in foods including green leafy vegetables, nuts, seeds and whole grains.

Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine) Found in foods including poultry, fish, bananas and chickpeas, Vitamin B6 helps keep the nervous and immune systems in the body healthy.

While both of these ingredients occur naturally in foods, it can sometimes be hard to get enough via diet alone. Supplements that boost your body’s magnesium and Vitamin B6 levels are available at leading pharmacies.

Don’t let symptoms like twitchy, restless legs disturb your sleep. Speak to your pharmacist or medical practitioner today to find out more about OTC solutions that can help.