Archive for May, 2007

Early research suggests a possible link between restless legs syndrome and heart disease. Periodic leg movement during sleep, which is a characteristic of restless legs syndrome (RLS), led to increased blood pressure among patients participating in a newly reported study from the University of Montreal.

Blood pressure increases were greatest among older patients with RLS, suggesting that these patients may be particularly vulnerable, says cardiologist Paola Lanfranchi, MD, MSc, one of the researchers in the study.

Lanfranchi says the blood pressure elevations recorded during the sleep study were similar to those seen in patients with moderate sleep apnea, which is a known risk factor for heart disease.

We are learning more and more about the important role of sleep disturbances in heart disease, she tells WebMD. We have seen this with other sleep disorders. This study shows that we need to look closer at restless leg.