RLS, or restless legs syndrome, is a neurological and sleep disorder that affects millions of people in the US. Involuntary twitches or jerking movements of the legs, mostly at night, cause sufferers to awaken repeatedly. This interferes with normal sleep patterns and is known to cause fatigue, memory and concentration problems during the day. To date, there are no really effective medications to relieve the symptoms.

Now a new study conducted at the University of Montreal reveals that RLS also raises blood pressure, which is involved with increased risks of heart disease. Researchers found increases in blood pressure, especially among older people, comparable to those caused by moderate degrees of sleep apnea, another common sleep disorder that causes individuals to stop breathing frequently during the night. Sleep apnea, associated with excessive snoring, is a known heart disease risk factor.

Findings of the study, reported in the medical journal Neurology, included an average increase of 22 points in the systolic pressure (the top number in a blood pressure reading) and 11 points in the diastolic pressure (bottom number). Over time, some scientists believe, this kind of increase could cause long-term damage to the heart and circulatory system.

The participants in the study were chosen from a population that did not include those suffering from heart disease or hypertension, or taking drugs to lower blood pressure. It is thought that these individuals are likely to be even more susceptible to cardiovascular damage. However, others point out that this initial study was small in scale, and did not follow patients to see if they actually did have more heart attacks than average.

SOURCE: WebMD Medical News