Sleep Disorders 101: Restless Leg Syndrome

Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS), also called Willis-Ekbom disease (WED), is a neurological disorder that impacts seven to eight percent of the US population—across all ages. Sufferers of RLS are overcome by an urge to move the legs (and sometimes other body parts) oftentimes due to a “creeping, tugging, or pulling” sensation.

Symptoms of RLS usually occur in the evening, disrupting sleep, which is why many sleep physicians are well-versed in RLS and its implications on sleep health. In fact, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine shares that those with severe RLS generally get less than five hours of sleep a night. Individuals with milder RLS may get an adequate amount of sleep, but the quality of that sleep tends to be poor.