Restless Legs Syndrome Foundation Blog

2016: A Year in Review

Tuesday, December 27, 2016

Awareness and Education The RLS Foundation Surpasses Goals for the Year Nearly 25 years ago, the Foundation began as a tiny group of dedicated individuals meeting around a kitchen table in Raleigh, North Carolina. We grew to become a bustling organization located in Austin, Texas, with an expansive network of nearly 5,000 dedicated members. Since its inception, the...

One RLSF Gift Membership at a Time

Tuesday, December 20, 2016

Promoting Awareness – One Gift Membership at a Time By Barbara Faraone When long-time RLS Foundation member Barbara Faraone sees the need for education, she takes action! In the past several years, Barbara has purchased over 25 RLS Foundation gift memberships for physicians, nurses, pharmacists, hospital administrators and others to promote education and awareness about RLS. At the...

Traveling with RLS

Tuesday, December 13, 2016

Tips for Extended Journeys Strategies to Try for the Long Haul Sitting for long periods of time can exacerbate RLS symptoms, especially when traveling by plane or car. If you know that you are going to be traveling with little space or time to stretch your legs, try some of these helpful tips: Many RLS sufferers also avoid...

RLS Foundation's Discussion Board

Wednesday, December 07, 2016

You Are Not Alone An Online Community Available 24/7 With the stress that the holidays can bring, it's a comfort to know that you are not alone in your struggles with RLS. The RLS Foundation's discussion board provides an avenue for individuals to post anonymously about their symptoms, treatments and other coping strategies. It is a supportive, hopeful...

Healthy Sleep Habits

Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Helpful Links for RLS Sufferers who Want to Learn More Below is a presentation from the Foundation's 2016 educational webinar series, "Coping with RLS and What Sleep Deprivation Does to You." This webinar is presented by Dr. Jeffery Durmer, CMO of FusionHealth and member of the RLS Foundation Scientific and Medical Advisory Board. Visit www.rls.org for more information...

The Symbiotic Relationship of Sleep and Exercise

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

Important Tips to Help with Your Sleep Cycle For RLS sufferers, it is oftentimes nearly impossible to fall and stay asleep. Many have reported to the Foundation that they get as little as 2-4 hours of sleep per night. When the recommended amount of sleep is 7-9 hours each night, such little sleep can have debilitating effects on...

Migraines and RLS

Thursday, October 06, 2016

Both Conditions Have Serious Consequences on Sleep Cycles Like restless legs syndrome, migraines can be horribly debilitating. According to the Mayo Clinic , "a migraine can cause severe throbbing pain or a pulsing sensation, usually on just one side of the head. It's often accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and extreme sensitivity to light and...

RLS Awareness Day 2016 Winners Announced!

Wednesday, October 05, 2016

Three Individuals Harness Social Media to Have Their Voices Heard For RLS Awareness Day 2016, we at the Foundation were floored by the tremendous force of advocacy shown by our RLS family, especially through social media. For one of our Ten Ways to Spread RLS Awareness , we encouraged everyone to take to social media, change their profile...

Sleep Disorders and Their Adverse Health Effects

Friday, September 30, 2016

Insufficient Sleep Cited as Public Health Problem According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than one third of adults in the United States fail to get a sufficient amount of sleep on a regular basis. In fact, many of these people are actually suffering from sleep disorders. A sleep disorder is defined by any...

RLS Foundation Memberships expire 9/30

Thursday, September 29, 2016

We want to give a HUGE shout-out to YOU, our incredible members, for your ongoing support of the Restless Legs Syndrome Foundation! Thanks to your loyalty and generosity, we are nearly 4,500 members strong and growing every day! If you're not sure you've renewed yet for our 2017 fiscal year (starting October 1st), check your membership "expiration date"...

Thursday, September 22, 2016

Top 10 Ways to Celebrate RLS Awareness Day: Change your Facebook picture to our ‘RLS Awareness Day’ image (see RLS Foundation Facebook page) and tag us! You will be entered to win an RLS T-shirt and goodie bag! Win a Bravelet with the MOST LIKES on your post. Write a letter to the editor about your experience with...

New Statement from the American Heart Association

Wednesday, September 21, 2016

The Link Between Sleep Disorders and Cardiovascular Health On Sept. 19, the American Heart Association released a scientific statement confirming that sleep disorders, like obstructive sleep apnea and insomnia, are associated with negative cardiovascular health. The American Academy of Sleep Medicine and the Sleep Research Society recommend that adults get in at least seven hours of sleep every...

Celebrating our RLS Foundation Family

Tuesday, September 20, 2016

Zibby and Faith For the last two years, the Foundation has had the privilege of working with two exceptional employees - Faith and Zibby! Read more about these members of our RLS Foundation family below. Meet Zibby Every organization has one individual with a vast set of experiences that makes them a “jack of all trades.” At the...

Requip Labeling Update

Saturday, September 17, 2016

New Warnings and Dosing Information New warnings and dosing information have been added to Requip (ropinorole), a medication used to treat RLS and Parkinson’s disease. The makers of Requip, GlaxoSmithKline, implemented FDA approved changes in the packet insert which include updated dosage and warning information. The update indicates healthcare practitioners and patients to taper off of Requip slowly...

Wednesday, August 31, 2016

A Guide to Navigating The RLS Foundation's Support Group Network One of the most common questions we get at the Foundation is, "Where can I find support in my area?" Across the U.S. and Canada, the RLS Foundation has a network of more than 75 individuals that serve as support volunteers for those suffering from RLS. Support group...

Who we are

Wednesday, August 17, 2016

Who We Are and What We Do In 2017, the RLS Foundation will celebrate its 25th birthday! This year alone, we have certified three Quality Care Centers, created a multidisciplinary Scientific and Medical Advisory Board, developed an RLS Children's Booklet (copies available soon!), undergone a massive website redesign (to be unveiled next month!), and reinvigorated our research grant...

Wednesday, August 10, 2016

Meet Karla Dzienkowski, RN, BSN: Executive Director In January 2014, Karla accepted the position of executive director. In two and a half short years she has made a huge impact on this organization. Karla first learned about RLS in her dual roles as a mother and registered nurse when her daughter, then 11 1/2 years old, began to...

Scripps Clinic Viterbi Family Sleep Center Joins Quality Care Network

Friday, June 03, 2016

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Austin, TX June 3, 2016 – Scripps Clinic Viterbi Family Sleep Center in San Diego has been certified as a restless legssyndrome (RLS) Quality Care Center by the RLS Foundation. This certification recognizes Vanderbilt as a specialty center for treating RLS patients with a range of complexities and comorbidities. RLS (also known asWillis-Ekbom disease) is a chronic...