Restless legs syndrome is a troublesome neurological disorder that prevents the sufferer from sleeping at night, as it causes a burning or throbbing sensation in the legs that makes it difficult for him to remain still while lying down.
Experts warn that this syndrome is often an indicator of a deeper problem that could lead to serious complications, namely iron deficiency in the body (anemia)
Iron deficiency weakens the body's ability to produce dopamine, the hormone responsible for regulating leg movement, and can lead to shortness of breath, brain fog, rapid heartbeat, and may even result in heart failure.
Dr. Brian Chin, a sleep specialist at the Cleveland Clinic, offers a simple solution to this problem: adding more iron to the daily diet, which can help reduce the risk of these complications and improve the quality of sleep at night.
Iron is abundant in foods such as beef, chicken, eggs and oysters, with three oysters containing seven milligrams of iron.
For vegetarians, dark leafy greens such as cooked spinach are also an excellent source.
Daily requirements vary according to age and gender. An adult male needs only 8 mg per day, while a woman needs 18 mg per day until menopause, then it drops to 8 mg thereafter.
This difference is due to the fact that up to a third of women of reproductive age suffer from iron deficiency due to blood loss during menstruation, according to experts.
Iron supplements can also be taken.
Iron is not only beneficial for treating restless legs syndrome; it is also essential for protecting immune health and producing energy, as it helps form a protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to the rest of the body.
In severe cases where raising iron levels is not enough, Dr. Chen explains that there are other treatment options, although there is no definitive cure for the syndrome.
These options include advanced medications, some mild opioids under medical supervision, and even special devices used to control the symptoms of restless legs syndrome.
