The electrolytes in your body help establish muscle action and blood acidity. They also play other important roles in your vitality and health. Because electrolytes can easily be lost through your sweat and urine or as a result of an underlying illness, you can quickly develop an electrolyte imbalance. One side effect of an electrolyte imbalance is restless legs syndrome. If you experience signs of restless legs syndrome, you should seek medical attention.
Electrolytes
Electrolytes are essentially minerals that run through your bloodstream as salts, bases and acids. Electrolytes carry an electric charge and are essential for controlling and regulating your muscles and vital organs. The electrolytes in the human body consist of calcium, sodium, magnesium, phosphate, chlorine and potassium, explains MedlinePlus. If you are showing signs of restless legs syndrome, your physician may run a serum chemistry test to make sure levels are within their normal ranges. In some cases, an electrolyte imbalance can trigger restless legs syndrome.
Restless Legs Syndrome
Restless legs syndrome, or RLS for short, is a type of neurological disorder that is triggered just as you are falling asleep. Symptoms of RLS include a feeling of the skin on your legs crawling, tingling, tugging, itching or burning. You may also feel the need to kick or move your legs as you are trying to fall asleep. RLS can be brought on by several things such as a dopamine imbalance, iron deficiency and kidney damage. If your electrolyte imbalance is severe enough that it is affecting your kidneys, RLS could occur. In many instances, RLS is worse at night and can also trigger severe leg twitching.
Causes
There are several causes of electrolyte imbalances. The biggest one is loss of fluids through exercise or exertion. If you work out regularly, especially in high heat, you should replenish your fluids immediately. Failure to do so can lead to dehydration. You can drink water, energy drinks or electrolyte replacement drinks. Avoid drinking sugary sodas and fruit juice. Low levels of potassium can trigger muscle spasms and twitching, and this could lead to RLS and make it difficult for you to become comfortable at bedtime. Uncontrolled diabetes or gastrointestinal illness that leads to diarrhea or high urine output can also deplete the body of electrolytes and cause RLS.
Solutions
In severe cases of electrolyte imbalance or malfunction, you may need to be hospitalized and placed on an intravenous drip to regulate your fluids properly. Medicine may be prescribed along with instructions on eating a healthy diet. Drink eight, 8 ounces of water daily especially when exercising. Following a diet based on the food groups of vegetables, fruits, low-fat dairy, whole grains and lean meats will assure you are getting proper nutrition. This can reduce your risk for disease and help you maintain or lose weight. Being overweight can cause RLS, and, thus, losing extra pounds can help minimize occurrences and control symptoms.
