Restless Leg Syndrome May Increase Risk of Heart Disease

Restless Leg Syndrome ( RLS ) is a condition associated with a feeling of discomfort and painful sensation in the legs, urging the legs to be moved constantly. It is a peculiar condition where the uncanny and painful feeling soars when the legs are at rest. It brings a strong urge for the legs to be kept in motion, without any rest.

The diseased condition of RLS has been found to affect the human heart. Research has revealed that RLS can wreak real havoc in the life of any individual by causing an increased chance of heart attack and stroke. Several US researchers have observed that RLS can actually lead to some severe issues with the human heart - it has a huge impact on the heart, nearly doubling the chance of many heart ailments.

The study at the Harvard Medical School in Boston conducted a practical survey on 3,433 people aged around 68, with RLS, to reveal that they are at a higher risk of heart disease than their contemporaries without RLS.

The entire procedure of surveying and observation was conducted through a list of questionnaires presented to the participants. Several questions were asked on the history of their health like whether they had been affected by cardiovascular disease or not, prior to having RLS.

The research finally inferred that the participants inflicted with RLS had a rapid deterioration of their cardiovascular organ. Researchers further confirm that the observation has remained the same for participants of all ages, sex and body mass index.

Dr. John W. Winkelman, a study author specializing in RLS study confirmed that the risk of stroke and heart ailments is higher in patients who get more than 16 RLS attacks a month. However, he also confirmed that RLS does not directly cause heart disease but only aggravates the condition if the patient has any pre-existing cardiovascular ailments.

RLS is also suspected of affecting the heart adversely as it is associated with sleeplessness. Sleep disturbance is the primary clinical complaint with RLS patients and over 60% of patients with clinically significant RLS report at least 3 awakenings per night.