by btrupp
13. October 2011 11:02
Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a sleep disorder characterized by an uncontrollable urge to move the legs in response to unpleasant "creepy-crawly" sensations. RLS occurs in about 15% of the population. However, new findings suggest that middle-aged women with RLS may experience something even more unpleasant - heart failure or stroke resulting from elevated blood pressure.
A study, published in the journal Hypertension, asked 65,000 nurses if they experienced any common symptoms of RLS, as well as inquiring about their blood pressure. The researchers found that 33 percent of women who experienced frequent (more than 15 times per month) RLS episodes had high blood pressure, compared to only 21 percent of women who had no RLS symptoms.
"We cannot say from this study that restless legs syndrome causes blood pressure to rise," study co-author Dr. Salma Batool-Anwar, a sleep researcher at Harvard Medical School. "But we did see a significant relationship between the severity of RLS symptoms and prevalence of hypertension."
"What this study suggests is that if you have RLS, make sure your healthcare provider pays extra attention to your blood pressure,"says Robin Trupp, RN, PhD, ARNP at Starlight Medical Group. "Sleep is a natural way for the body to lower blood pressure, but if you can't fully fall asleep because your legs are twitching all night long, then the blood pressure lowering effects are reduced." Blood pressure levels typically drop 20-25% during the sleep.
That also suggests that reducing hypertension can reduce the symptoms of RLS. Hypertension can be treated with a healthy diet, weight loss, dietary salt reduction and exercise as well as medications.