Middle-aged women with restless legs syndrome are prone to high blood pressure, according to a large study this week in the journal Hypertension.

In 2005, researchers asked 97,642 women, average age 50.5, participating in the Nurses Health Study II about their symptoms of restless legs syndrome (RLS) and hypertension status. Specifically, they asked about unusual crawling sensations or pain combined with restlessness and an urge to move, and the frequency of the symptoms. A third of women with high blood pressure reported having RLS symptoms more than 15 times a month compared with 21 percent who had no RLS symptoms. Researchers found that the association between hypertension and RLS symptoms did not change after adjusting for age, body mass index (BMI), smoking status, and a history of heart attack or stroke.

Previous studies have suggested a link between the frequency of RLS symptoms and the prevalence of high blood pressure. The authors say that 80 percent of patients with RLS experience limb movements during sleep, and that such movements might elevate both heart rate and blood pressure. RLS might contribute to poor sleep quality which in turn can lead to high blood pressure.

Bottom line: We can’t say for sure that RLS increases your risk of hypertension, but this study has implications for identifying additional high blood pressure risk factors and presents a need to explore that possible link further. To keep your blood pressure numbers in the healthy range, consider lifestyle measures such as cutting back on sodium, exercising regularly, losing excess weight, and purchasing a home blood-pressure monitor. If lifestyle changes aren’t working, your doctor may need to prescribe medication.

Read about restless legs syndrome and treatments that can help you and your doctor manage it.

Source
Restless Legs Syndrome and Hypertension in Middle-Aged Women [Hypertension]