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The Costs of Lost Sleep with RLS

Losing sleep because of restless leg syndrome (RLS) can be a lot more than just a nuisance. Sleep deprivation has serious consequences, with a big impact on quality of life.

There's no good answer to the question of how much sleep you really need to maintain good health and stay alert, but researchers say seven or eight hours is a good place to start; that's how long healthy adults tend to sleep during experiments when they are allowed to sleep without interruption.

A national commission of sleep researchers estimates that as many as 70 million Americans have some form of sleep disorder. The commission also estimates that the direct costs in health care from lack of sleep add up to almost 16 billion dollars each year. And the indirect costs are staggering—as much as 50 to 100 billion dollars more.

Sleep deprivation is one of the most common side effects of RLS. It's no wonder, since people with RLS often find they must get out of bed at night and walk around to alleviate the unpleasant sensations at the core of the condition. In fact, studies show RLS is one of the chief causes of sleep disorders.

In one study of people with sleep disorders, RLS or a similar condition called periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD) was the cause of waking in four percent of patients 20 to 40, 11 percent of people between 40 and 60 and 23 percent in people over 60 years of age.

Clearly, RLS is an increasingly significant cause of sleep disorders as people age. Since the American population is getting older, the problem will only grow. The National Center on Sleep Disorders Research estimates that by the year 2010, 80 million Americans will have sleep problems.

The most serious consequences of sleep deprivation are auto and workplace accidents. By one government estimate, sleep deprivation leads to 56,000 car crashes each year. Job performance can suffer as well. Attention and concentration falter, reducing quality of work. Students may have an impaired ability to learn. The National Institutes of Health reports sleep deprivation can be detrimental to memory; it can slow responses and lead to difficulty in controlling emotions.

The National Institute of Nursing Research points out that sleep deprivation can intensify symptoms from other conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, fibromyalgia and Parkinson's disease. These symptoms can include agitation and pain.

Teens and young adults suffering from lost sleep due to RLS are also at risk for depressed moods and problems in relationships with peers and adults.

The message is clear: don't take sleep problems lightly. Most cases of RLS are treatable, but only when people are proactive and seek treatment. Then, they can avoid many of the problems that arise when people try to function with too little sleep.