What Health Conditions Are Linked to Restless Legs Syndrome?

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a common sleep disorder that causes uncomfortable sensations in the legs. In some cases, RLS symptoms can also affect the thighs, feet, and even the arms. These sensations may feel like aching, throbbing, itching, pulling, burning, or tingling.¹

While these symptoms alone are challenging to live with, many people with RLS often manage other health conditions alongside their sleep disorder. Results from our Sleep Disorders In America Survey show that 99 percent of respondents with RLS also live with other health conditions. Most commonly, those conditions include insomnia, depression, and allergies. Sometimes, the treatments for these conditions affect RLS symptoms.

Allergies

Allergies are 1 of the most common health conditions people have in addition to RLS. According to our survey, 58 percent of respondents with RLS also suffer from allergies. Managing allergies can be hard for people with RLS. This is because many common allergy drugs can worsen RLS symptoms.²

Many people treat allergy symptoms with sedating antihistamines, such as Benadryl. These tend to worsen RLS symptoms, especially at night. It can be frustrating to take a sleeping pill that ends up not helping you sleep.²

However, non-sedating antihistamines do not worsen RLS symptoms as much. Talk to your doctor about the best allergy relief options for you. If you notice you feel hyper after taking a sedating antihistamine, you may have undiagnosed RLS.²

Depressive and anxiety disorders

Research shows that there is a link between RLS and anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions. The connection between these conditions is complex and involves factors like sleep deprivation, poor nutrition, and lack of exercise.^3,4

More than half – 54 percent – of our survey respondents with RLS said they also experience depression. Plus, 23 percent reported that they feel their RLS has negatively impacted their mental health.

Mental health conditions make it harder to manage RLS for a few reasons. They may make it harder to diagnose because of overlapping symptoms. For example, fatigue and sleep disturbance are common symptoms of RLS and depression.^3,4

Also, most antidepressant drugs worsen RLS symptoms. If you have symptoms of anxiety or depression and live with RLS, talk to your doctor about what medicines are right for you. They may suggest medicines called dopamine agonists. These are RLS treatments that may also work as antidepressants.^3,4

Insomnia

According to our survey, 40 percent of respondents with RLS also experience insomnia. Research shows that RLS is a leading cause of insomnia, and sleep disturbance is a main reason people with RLS go to the doctor. Insomnia also seems to worsen the impact of RLS on quality of life.⁴

It is important for people with insomnia to know whether RLS is an underlying cause. This is because some people with insomnia use over-the-counter antihistamines as sleep medicines. However, these drugs can worsen RLS symptoms.⁴

Cardiovascular disease

Many studies have also found a link between RLS and many cardiovascular conditions. Among our survey respondents with RLS:

• 49 percent also experience obesity
• 45 percent also have high blood pressure (hypertension)
• 40 percent also have high cholesterol

Other studies have also shown that people with RLS have a higher risk of heart disease. While scientists have found this risk, they are still working to understand why these conditions are linked.⁴

Other conditions

There are a range of other health conditions that are common among people living with RLS. For example, results from our RLS respondents show that:

• 48 percent also have arthritis
• 42 percent also have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• 26 percent have also been diagnosed with cancer

Other studies have found that people with RLS have a higher risk for these conditions. The links between them are complex, but doctors think they may involve factors such as age, lack of sleep, and inflammation. Further research on RLS and its connections to other health conditions will help doctors better understand and treat RLS in more people.^4-7

The 2020 Sleep Disorder In America survey was conducted online from March through July 2020. Of the 2,198 people who completed the survey, 434 identified that they have restless legs syndrome.