As the causes of restless leg syndrome are poorly understood, there is no recognized way to prevent it.

However, since some nutrient deficiencies essential (iron, folic acid, vitamin B12) seem to contribute to the syndrome, we can put all the chances in our side by having a varied diet that meets our nutritional needs. If in doubt, consult a doctor to diagnose any deficiency. Also consult the Nutrition sheet, as well as the Iron, Folic Acid and Vitamin B12 sheets to know the symptoms related to deficiencies and their food sources.

In addition, people with disease such as diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis can reduce their risk by actively following their treatment.

Some life habits tend to trigger and worsen symptoms, for the majority of people with this condition. By modifying them, we can reduce the symptoms. This should be an integral part of the therapeutic approach.

• Have a food healthy and diverse to meet the body’s nutrient needs. Consult our Nutrition file.
• Reduce as much as possible the consumption of caffeine, for example coffee, tea, cola and chocolate. Some people have reported solving their problem this way. We can try the experiment for a few weeks and observe the difference4.
• Decrease the consumption of alcohol and tobacco, which also seem to exacerbate the symptoms.
• Practice thephysical exercise on a regular and moderate basis contributes to the quality of sleep and may also calm symptoms. In a randomized clinical study, the decrease in symptoms was noted from the 6e week of the training program (3 sessions per week) and was maintained until the end of the study (3 months)11.
• Learn to better fight the stress. Fatigue and stress sometimes contribute to the syndrome. See the Complementary Approaches section, and the Stress and Anxiety feature for an overview of possible solutions.
• To create a environment conducive to sleep. If you are looking for tips on how to sleep better, consult our file Did you sleep well?
• Some pharmaceuticals can make symptoms worse. This would be the case, for example, with antidepressants and bronchodilators. Ask your doctor or pharmacist for more information.