RESTLESS LEGS SYNDROME: Several RLS Resources Come Together this Week for Atlanta Sufferers Tired of Kicking the Night Away

April 1998

Media Contact: Lorri Preston, 404/727-5692- lpresto@emory.edu
http://www.emory.edu/WHSC/




This week the following resources related to RESTLESS LEGS SYNDROME (RLS) are coming together in Atlanta, making this a particularly opportune time to consider featuring this frustrating sleep disorder. RLS is a little discussed but increasingly common neurologic movement disorder. It can affect women during pregnancy, can be brought on by certain antidepressants, can be misdiagnosed in children as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and disproportionately affects older adults.

NATIONAL SLEEP AWARENESS WEEK

March 30-April 5 has been designated National Sleep Awareness Week by the National Sleep Foundation and April 2 has been named National Sleep Day.

RECENT SLEEP SURVEY FINDINGS RELEASED

The National Sleep Foundation issued just last week (March 25) results of its 1998 Omnibus Sleep In America Poll, a national survey of sleep patterns and sleep disorders among Americans. Complete findings are available at the Sleep Foundation's website: www.sleepfoundation.org. Here are a few pertinent findings:

  • "Three percent of adults have been told by a doctor that they have restless legs syndrome (RLS), a syndrome of involuntary leg movement frequently accompanied by leg pain or discomfort that occurs when lying down."
  • "Unpleasant feelings in their legs (such as creepy, crawly or tingly feelings) at least a few nights a week were reported by 15 percent of adults. Of those who reported such RLS symptoms, 50 percent said that the leg pain kept them from getting a good night's sleep."
    • "Although many sleep disorders are related to respiratory or neurological problems, the majority of adults believe that worrying or psychological problems cause most sleep disorders (64 percent)."
  • -- "Eighty-six percent of the adult population failed the Sleep IQ Test."


  • ATLANTA CHOSEN AS RLS DRUG STUDY SITE

    Emory University expects to begin recruiting Atlanta patients for one of the nation's first studies evaluating a medication for RLS. Investigators anticipate study recruitment may begin within a few weeks for the SmithKline -Beecham study evaluating the Parkinson's drug known as Requip (ropinirole hydrochloride). The neurologic research nurse coordinating study recruitment, Carol Ingram, R.N., will also be the attending the Saturday, April 4, Support Group meeting and will be available to discuss the trial.

    SUPPORT GROUP MEETS THIS WEEK

    The Atlanta Restless Legs Syndrome Support Group will meet this Saturday, April 4

    at 11 a.m., at Westin Atlanta North Hotel at Perimeter, 7 Concourse Parkway, Dunwoody. Several patients will be available for interviews. The Support Group is sponsored by the Northside Hospital Sleep Disorders Center. Support group leaders are patients Suzanne Bassett at 404/843-9728 and Dick Hawkins at 770/938-4709.

    (The group's next meeting will be June 27 at 1 p.m.; Emory medical graduate Kathryn Herndon, M.D., will discuss alternative approaches to RLS).

    EMORY PHYSICIAN CONTACT

    Some of the Atlanta physicians who treat RLS patients are available for interviews, including the following:

    • Neurologist Ray Watts, M.D., principal investigator of the Emory component of the national RLS study, and neurologist David Rye, M.D., medical director of the Emory Sleep Disorders Center at Wesley Woods (contact Lorri Preston at Emory Health Sciences Communications at 404/727-5692).


    WEB RESOURCES FOR RLS BACKGROUND

    • National Restless Leg Syndrome Foundation: www.rls.org
  • National Sleep Foundation: www.sleepfoundation.org

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