KYW Newsradio's Medical Reports are sponsored by Independence Blue Cross.
By Dr. Brian McDonough, Medical Editor
PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — For those who deal with restless leg syndrome on a regular basis, this nighttime twitching may be more than an annoyance.
We also have learned that in some people, it could be a sign of hidden heart problems. Several years ago, the Mayo Clinic discovered that people with very frequent leg movements during sleep are more likely to have "thick hearts," a condition that makes them more prone to cardiac problems.
They weren't able to figure out why, but work is ongoing.
Another key point is that over time, most health experts have undervalued the role of proper consistent sleep. But with what we have learned from restless leg syndrome, sleep apnea, shift work and other variables that impact our sleep, there can be serious health effects to not having consistent sleep.
