WED Foundation Reverts to Original Name

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Willis-Ekbom Disease Foundation Reverts to Original Name AUSTIN, Texas, May 1, 2015 – The Willis-Ekbom Disea...

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.
For more information, visit www.rls.org.

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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
Restless Legs Syndrome Foundation

512-366-9109

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