A new study being presented today has found that there is a significant relationship between [tag]Restless Leg Syndrome[/tag] (RLS) and an increased risk for [tag]high blood pressure[/tag].

The study was conducted by an international team of researchers ledy by Dr. David Rye, Professor of Neurology at Emory University. Nine hundred Icelanders provided clinical information and the number of [tag]periodic leg movements of sleep[/tag] (PLMs) they experienced per hour of sleep over a period of two to five nights.

Researchers found that the likelihood of hypertension increased with PLMs severity by 50 percent in participants who experienced more than 30 PLMs per hour of sleep.

According to Dr. Rye:

Of greatest import, these findings suggest that the clinical significance of PLMs extends beyond [tag]sleep disruption[/tag] and [tag]sleepiness[/tag] … Our findings indicate that in addition to treating RLS symptoms, effective treatments may also need to target PLMs, particularly in patients at high-risk for cardiovascular disease (e.g., those with strong family histories of premature cardiovascular disease, smoking, etc.)

Source: Researchers discover link between common sleep disorder and high blood pressure