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