Announcements
Name Change
Press Release
Restless Legs Syndrome
RLS
WED Foundation Reverts to Original Name
Friday, May 01, 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Willis-Ekbom
Disease Foundation Reverts to Original Name
AUSTIN, Texas, May 1, 2015 – The Willis-Ekbom Disease Foundation is reverting
to its original name: Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) Foundation, effective today. The patient organization serves healthcare providers, researchers and about seven
million patients in the U.S. and Canada who have restless legs syndrome (RLS).
After adopting the term Willis-Ekbom disease in 2013, the
Foundation is reclaiming the name restless
legs syndrome to better support its mission of improving the lives of people with RLS by increasing
awareness, improving treatments and through research, finding a cure.
Karla Dzienkowski is executive director of the RLS Foundation: “We
have heard from countless Foundation members, healthcare providers and
researchers that restless legs syndrome is
their preferred term. It is descriptive and easy to use. And it is the name
almost universally used in medical and scientific circles, including the daily
conversations that our members have with their doctors and families. The
familiarity and name recognition of restless
legs syndrome will best support the Foundation’s fundraising, membership
and education efforts going forward.”
About restless legs syndrome (RLS)
An estimated 7–10 percent of
adults worldwide have restless legs
syndrome (RLS), a serious but treatable disease that can have a devastating
impact on quality of life.
RLS is a chronic
neurological disorder that causes an irresistible urge to move the legs or
other parts of the body, often accompanied by unusual or unpleasant sensations.
These sensations tend to get worse when
individuals are at rest—for example, when going to sleep at night or sitting
for long periods of time. Because symptoms
usually intensify in the evening, they can severely disrupt sleep and reduce
quality of life.
Several genes have been identified
with an increased risk for developing the disease. Other factors under study
include iron metabolism and neurotransmitter dysfunctions involving dopamine
and glutamate.
There is currently no cure for RLS.
Mild symptoms can often be successfully managed with lifestyle changes, such as
increased exercise and better sleep hygiene. In moderate and more severe cases,
prescription medications can offer some relief of symptoms, and several drugs
are approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for treating the
disease.
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About the RLS Foundation
The RLS Foundation is
dedicated to improving the lives of men, women and children who live with RLS
by increasing awareness, improving treatments and through research, finding a
cure. The Foundation serves healthcare providers, researchers, nearly 4,000
members and an estimated seven million individuals in the U.S. and Canada who
have the disease. The Foundation’s Research Grant Program has awarded over $1.4
million to medical research on causes and treatments. For more information,
visit www.rls.org.
CONTACT:
Karla Dzienkowski
Executive Director
512-366-9109
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