14 Common Causes of Restless Legs

At some point in time, almost everyone has experienced some of the symptoms of restless leg syndrome. You might have just not been able to keep your legs still for a few moments, or perhaps you were woken up at night to feel uncomfortable. Restless leg syndrome occurs when you have uncomfortable sensations in your legs. These sensations may feel like pins and needles, itching, or a feeling of something crawling on your legs.

The symptoms might be quite mild or very severe. Most of the time, you will be at rest when you experience these symptoms. Restless leg syndrome is not serious, but the severity might fluctuate, and the symptoms can be uncomfortable. Most of the time, the underlying cause can be treated, and you will be able to get back into your normal routine. Here are some of the common causes of restless legs. 

1. Iron Deficiency Anemia

When you have low hemoglobin levels in your blood because of a lack of iron, you might be diagnosed with anemia. Low iron levels in the blood are one of the most common reasons that a person might experience restless legs. A person may suffer from low iron levels for many reasons; most often, it is because of a lack of iron in their diet. Iron supplements can be taken as a way to help boost iron levels.

Once a person has increased the amount of iron in their blood, the symptom of a restless leg will often go away on their own. If you are experiencing the symptoms of restless leg syndrome, talk to your doctor about it. A blood test will reveal whether or not you have an iron deficiency that is causing these symptoms. If anemia is the cause of your symptoms, dietary changes, and supplements might be prescribed to help.