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 night. However, this is rarely the case. In fact, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, roughly 50 - 70 million adults in the U.S. each year report insufficient sleep or suffer from a sleep disorder.

With these new findings in mind, it was suggested that the AHA focus on sleep behavior through a public health campaign concerning proper sleep habits, as well as educating clinicians on how to screen for sleep disorders. Additionally, it was recommended that the impact of other sleep disorders, like restless legs syndrome and periodic limb movement , be tested for their relation with cardiometabolic risk.

To read more about the AHA's statement, check out this article featured on Cardiovascular Business.

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 Foundation, Zibby Crawford, the Foundation’s Marketing and Communications Coordinator is this individual. Zibby covers many areas of responsibility, from planning and coordinating the RLS Foundation's presence at meetings and conferences to compiling our eFriends mailing and managing our technological upgrades … It’s a good thing she is the ultimate multi-tasker! Her thirty years of marketing experience has enhanced our outreach.

Before the Foundation, Zibby worked in the high tech industry but fell in love with the nonprofit sector when she served as Board President for the National Charity League, Capital of Texas Chapter. Zibby's warm, bubbly and outgoing personality make her a joy to work with. She is always ready to teach a new skill or lend a hand. She has raised four kids, is waiting patiently on grandkids, but until then has a chihuahua rescue dog, Daisy.

Zibby’s motto is “Spread joy!” and she carries that spirit with her each and every day.

Meet Faith


When calls come in to the Foundation with questions, concerns or requests, they are answered with a positive, friendly voice ready to help. Faith Duncan is usually the first to greet callers, ready to help with any and all issues. Many times it's as simple as helping members log on to the Members Only section of our website. But, Faith has fielded any number of calls ranging from despair about this often debilitating disease, to requests from volunteers wanting to share knowledge with others in their community.

Faith put aside a career as an engineer to be a stay at home mom for many years. She became an active member of a non-profit where she served on the Board of Directors at the National Charity League, Inc., Capital of Texas Chapter, a mother-daughter service organization. Now, with her youngest in college, Faith has taken on her position as Member Services Coordinator and tackled some difficult software and processes with her very analytical, engineering approach and problem-solving abilities!

We are very fortunate to have her very sharp mind as well as her compassionate spirit - Faith has made such a difference here at the Foundation. We wish her a Happy Birthday this month, and hope you have the opportunity to experience her uplifting, positive attitude in the future ... you are not alone!

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 to prevent neuroleptic malignant syndrome, a potentially serious adverse reaction. Neuroleptic malignant syndrome symptoms include high fever, muscular rigidity, and autonomic dysfunction.

In the event of discontinuing Requip or augmentation, this update reflects important precautions in gradual reduction of dosage. For a highlight of prescribing information, click here.

Speak with your healthcare provider or pharmacist if you have questions regarding your medication. Do not make changes to your medication without the advise of your physician.

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 leaders organize meetings in their community to provide a safe haven for RLS sufferers to come together and share their stories, discuss coping strategies and learn about the latest treatments and information.

If there isn't a support group in your area, you can check to see if there is a contact nearby. Contacts are former group leaders who are available to offer support by phone or email to those in their area that are seeking RLS information, resources and support. They do not offer meetings but can assist in finding help where you live.

Another vital volunteer role with the RLS Foundation is our network of moderators who assist in managing the Foundation's discussion board. They are the virtual extension of our network that facilitates discussion and support regardless of your location or the time of day.

Check out the images below for a listing of our RLS Foundation volunteer family! You can also search for a support group or contact near you on our website.











We are always looking to expand our volunteer network, and to provide integral support and counsel to those in underserved areas. If you are interested in applying to become a support group leader, here are the steps:

1. Learn more about the role by viewing the support group leader description.  
2. Submit an application! 
3. The Foundation will send references a brief questionnaire.
4. Once reference questionnaires are returned, a volunteer manual is provided and a phone interview is scheduled.
5. You then plan your first meeting with the support from the Foundation!

Please send your completed application to:

Restless Legs Syndrome Foundation

Attn: Chiara Corey

3006 Bee Caves Road, Suite D206

Austin, Texas

78746

Or email Chiara@rls.org with your application form.

Our volunteer network is brimming with the enthusiasm of dedicated individuals - They continue to help The Foundation spread awareness and provide support to those facing RLS. Attend a support group meeting in your area or start one yourself! We want you to be a part of our team!

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 program that awards up to eight new pilot grants totaling $200,000. And it's barely August!

We invite you to join us!

Our community is growing... learn how the Foundation can help you find the medical and social support you may need. After all, we are here to serve you!

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 experience symptoms that doctors could not explain. Karla crossed the country looking for answers before finally finding a knowledgeable doctor, and shortly after, the RLS Foundation.

Eager for answers, Karla joined the Foundation’s Board of Directors in 2004 and served through 2009. As a board member, she encouraged pediatric RLS research, along with programs to increase awareness and education of RLS in the medical and school communities. Karla believes that much work has yet to be done in disseminating information about RLS to the public and the medical community, and that much more research into its cause and treatment is needed. Karla drives the mission of the Foundation with her leadership, and she is passionate about promoting research for better treatments and a cure.

Karla explains “The RLS Foundation serves as a beacon of hope, help and support for individuals and their families who deal with the daily impact that RLS has on their life. I want to thank each of our members for supporting the Foundation because you gave me and my family a life-line when we desperately needed one. With the help of the Foundation we were able to find the care my daughter needed and get back to living life.”

Karla has vast experience working with non-profits, including active participation for many years in Girl Scouts, Austin Children's Museum and three years serving on the Board of Directors for National Charity League, Inc., with one year as board president of the Capital of Texas Chapter. Karla, her husband, John, and their two daughters have recently welcomed a new Alaskan Klee-Kai puppy named Arrow into the family.

Karla is truly the Foundation’s #1 cheerleader. She always responds to difficult inquiries that come to the Foundation with genuine empathy, support and deep knowledge of RLS, drawn from her roles both as a family member impacted by the disease and as a nurse with over 30 years of medical knowledge and experience.

We recently received this note to Karla from someone with whom she was corresponding: “I also thank you for the empathetic warmth of your email. As you know, people in my situation feel very stressed and suffer from social isolation. It means a lot to feel contact with someone who understands. I think your organization is very blessed to have someone like you working in your position. I hope they appreciate you!”

Do we appreciate Karla? … Beyond measure!

• Recognition of RLS Quality Care Centers as leaders in the field and as specialty clinics for patients who are traveling or in search of knowledgeable healthcare providers
• Availability of RLS Quality Care Center staff as resources for referring primary care providers
• Patient educational offerings, print materials and connection with RLS Foundation local support groups