Sleep Disorders: 10 Tips to Ease Restless Legs Syndrome

In many cases, personal habits can make a sleeping disorder like restless legs syndrome worse. Sometimes they are the main cause of the problem.

Here are 10 steps you can take to lessen the symptoms of RLS and get you sleeping better.

• Avoid or limit alcohol, caffeine, and nicotine all together or at least for several hours before bedtime.
• Take medications (prescription and nonprescription) only as directed by your doctor.
• Exercise every day.
• Stretch your legs at the beginning and end of each day.
• Massage your legs regularly.
• Avoid eating a heavy meal close to bedtime.
• Maintain a regular sleep schedule.
• Avoid daytime naps.
• Use your bed only for sleeping or sex.
• Try not to use bedtime as worry time.

Reviewed by The Sleep Medicine Center at The Cleveland Clinic.