Does Restless Leg Syndrome Lead to Hypertension?

Restless leg syndrome (RLS), defined by the Restless Legs Foundation as "a neurological condition that is characterized by the irresistible urge to move the legs," has been found to cause hypertension (high blood pressure) and associated diseases.

Study's Findings

• Research conducted at Harvard Medical School, showed that RLS patients are twice as likely to suffer hypertension-related diseases such as stroke and heart disease.

Why RLS May Lead to Hypertension and Disease

• Author of the study, Dr. John W. Winkleman, noted although the study does not necessarily prove a causal relationship, there are a number of reasons why RLS would cause circulatory, hypertension-related problems.

High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) and Heart Rate

• According to Winkleman, people with RLS typically have 200 to 300 leg movements per night, each causing "substantial, acute increases in both blood pressure and heart rate." Over the long term, Winkleman notes that these disturbances may lead to cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disease.

Sleep Deprivation

• Winkleman's team also hypothesized that the interrupted sleep pattern of RLS patients may also be a contributing factor to heart disease.

Study Limitations

• Although an RLS diagnosis is based solely on individual patient report rather than clinical evidence, the Harvard study confirms earlier, smaller studies, and was supported by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, and was originally published in the January 1, 2008 issue of "Neurology," the journal of the American Academy of Neurology.