Sleep Awareness Week Emphasizes the Importance of a Few Good 'ZZZs'

Restless Legs Syndrome a Source of Sleeplessness for More Than 12 Million Americans

Rochester, MN - March 21, 2001

Sleep. Physicians recommend it, models swear by it and babies spend most of their time doing it. And while an adequate night's sleep is certainly one of the most important elements of a healthy lifestyle, most of us simply don't get enough of it. In fact, a good night's sleep is an increasingly rare event for the nearly two-thirds of Americans who suffer from some form of sleep disorder.

According to the National Sleep Foundation (NSF), sponsor of National Sleep Awareness Week (March 26-April 1), stress-related insomnia, snoring and sleep apnea are among the top reasons Americans are losing sleep. Recently, however, an increasing number of Americans are finding that Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) is the source of their sleeplessness. The Restless Legs Syndrome Foundation, sponsor of RLS Awareness Week (held during this same time period), estimates that more than 12 million adults and their partners are prevented from enjoying a night of uninterrupted rest as a result of RLS.

"Although not as well known as other conditions, RLS is far more common than previously thought and it can have a devastating impact on the quality of life for afflicted individuals and their bed partners," said David Rye, M.D., Ph.D. of Emory University School of Medicine.

Characterized by unpleasant leg sensations that usually occur while the affected individual is at rest, RLS is defined by patients as "an internal itch" or a "creeping or crawling" sensation.

Sheila Connolly, an RLS patient and member of the Board of Directors of the Restless Legs Foundation, describes the condition as an irresistible urge to move. "When I was actively engaged, I was without symptoms," Connolly explained. "But if I tried to watch television or sit through a church service, my whole body would react as if my nervous system was not in rhythm. At its worst, I was sleeping two to three hours per night," she said. "It affected my thought process and the quality of my work. I also experienced a heaviness in my chest and a fatigue in my heart that never went away."

The inability to get a sound night's sleep can result in both health and safety hazards. Researchers say that, deprived of the recommended eight hours of sleep, we are subjecting ourselves to bouts of irritability, attention deficits and a compromised immune system.

"Continued sleep deprivation over two nights or more can have an adverse effect on your overall mental and physical health, as well as on such conditions as diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure," said Dr. Rye. Fortunately, however, researchers say it is possible to "catch up" on lost sleep. With just a few extra hours of sleep per night, hormone levels will return to normal and your body will begin to restore itself to good health.

For those with a more serious sleep disorder such as RLS, it is important to consult a physician for accurate diagnosis and treatment. "Research shows there is a large disparity between the number of people experiencing sleep problems and those receiving treatment for them," said Dr. Rye. "Most Americans do not perceive sleeplessness as a big enough problem to seek professional help, but accurate diagnosis is critical to ensuring proper treatment and improved sleep."

Studies have revealed that the newer dopamine agonists used to treat Parkinson's disease, such as pramipexole dihydrochloride, are the most effective treatment options. Studies have shown that pramipexole has major therapeutic effects on sensory and motor manifestations of RLS and alleviates restlessness at bedtime and during the night. Pramipexole is a second-generation dopamine agonist, currently indicated for the treatment of early and late stage idiopathic Parkinson's disease. The Food & Drug Administration approved the medication (Mirapex®, pramipexole dihydrochloride tablets) for use in Parkinson's disease in 1997.

National Sleep Awareness Week is a public education campaign designed to show the value of a good night's sleep and how to get it, and the RLS Foundation is taking this opportunity to raise awareness of the devastating impact of RLS on our nation's sleep.

The National Sleep Foundation is an independent nonprofit organization that promotes public understanding of sleep disorders and supports sleep-related education, research and advocacy to improve public health and safety.

The Restless Legs Syndrome Foundation, headquartered in Rochester, MN, is a nonprofit 501(C)(3) agency that provides information about RLS, publishes a quarterly newsletter known as NightWalkers, develops support groups and funds research to find better treatments and, eventually, a definitive cure.

For more information about Restless Legs Syndrome, please call the patient hotline at 1-877-INFO RLS or visit the foundation's Website at www.rls.org.