| Restless legs syndrome is an odd, yet | | | | comes down again, and then you have |
| common disorder that causes people to | | | | frequent little awakening, frequent |
| continually move their legs, especially | | | | little increases in blood pressure,"says |
| at night when they're trying to fall | | | | Dr. Howard Maker, a neurologist at Beth |
| asleep. | | | | Israel Medical Center. |
| As if that wasn't bad enough, now | | | | The study found blood pressure rates |
| there's new research that shows it may | | | | during periodic leg movements rose by an |
| increase one's blood pressure and | | | | average of 20 points for the systolic |
| overall risk for cardiovascular disease. | | | | reading, which is the top number, and by |
| This is a neurological problem, sort of | | | | an average of 11 points for the |
| in the same family as Parkinson's. | | | | diastolic reading, which is the bottom |
| Restless legs syndrome is an odd, yet | | | | or second number. |
| common disorder that causes people to | | | | The authors argue that drastic blood |
| continually move their legs, especially | | | | pressure surges at night have been |
| at night when they're trying to fall | | | | associated with a higher rate of stroke |
| asleep. | | | | in the elderly. |
| As if that wasn't bad enough, now | | | | Dr. Maker though, says the jury is still |
| there's new research that shows it may | | | | out with RLS. "Restless leg syndrome |
| increase one's blood pressure and | | | | may or may not have a bad effect on the |
| overall risk for cardiovascular disease. | | | | cardiovascular system it hasn't been |
| This is a neurological problem, sort of | | | | proven that these little increases in |
| in the same family as Parkinson's. | | | | blood pressure have been dangerous, we |
| But this latest research does indeed | | | | do know that the patients are grateful |
| suggest a spill-over effect on the | | | | that the restless legs is diminished and |
| cardiovascular system. | | | | that is what we are treating, we are |
| Helen Catlin is a nurse who can tell you | | | | making the patients feel better, their |
| first hand what being a patient with | | | | quality of life improves." |
| restless legs syndrome is like. | | | | And, by treating the restless legs, the |
| Patients with RLS may report an almost | | | | blood pressure issue presumably would go |
| irresistible urge to move the legs. | | | | away. |
| The sensations usually are worse during | | | | Helen's blood pressure typically runs in |
| inactivity. | | | | the low range, so she's not at risk; but |
| "It would bother me at night, sometimes | | | | the medications have changed her life in |
| I would have trouble going to sleep or | | | | the more obvious way. "I get a good |
| sometimes it would wake me up at night, | | | | night sleep, on the medication I am |
| it would be a sensation of not pain, but | | | | relieved of the symptoms totally. I |
| enough discomfort that you would have to | | | | wouldn't know what I would do without |
| move, an ache a real ache that would | | | | it." |
| only be relieved by moving your legs, " | | | | Dr. Maker points out this was studied in |
| says Helen. "As it progressed I | | | | only ten patients, so, a bigger study is |
| realized I was waking up because my legs | | | | required. |
| were bothering me." | | | | That shouldn't be hard to do, because |
| And those frequent awakenings, common | | | | RLS is very common as we mentioned. |
| for those with RLS, appear to create a | | | | Affecting about 10-15% of the general |
| cardiovascular risk. | | | | population, with men and women affected |
| "You actually wake up a little bit when | | | | equally. It is often unrecognized or |
| they do sleep studies and during that | | | | misdiagnosed. |
| period of awakening or almost awaking | | | | Many patients are not diagnosed until |
| the blood pressure goes up and then it | | | | 10-20 years after symptom onset. |