The National Sleep Foundation (NSF) has teamed up with the Restless Legs Syndrome Foundation to create a new national initiative addressing the disorder. The initiative, featuring an educational Web site and the first-ever public service announcements, is intended to raise awareness and understanding of the condition.

“RLS can dramatically impact sleep, and lack of sleep greatly affects health, safety, productivity, mood, and overall well-being. We hope that the public service announcements and whatisRLS.org will raise the much needed awareness about RLS and encourage those who suffer from it to speak to a health care professional,” says David Cloud, chief executive officer of NSF.

The Web site, whatisRLS.org, features people who live with RLS, describing how their daily activities and overall quality of life are negatively affected by the condition. Additionally, the Web site includes a symptom diary to track RLS symptoms, and a search tool to help visitors find local health care professionals who specialize in RLS and related conditions. The public service announcements will appear on television and radio, and in newspapers and magazines.

“The RLS Foundation and National Sleep Foundation are proud of their partnership to bring a face, and a voice, to RLS, a real, yet manageable medical condition. It is crucial that people realize RLS seriously impacts the lives of those who have it,” says Georgianna Bell, executive director of the RLS Foundation.

Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc is sponsoring the initiative.

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