Restless Legs Awareness Day

Categories:: Health
Tags:: Awareness Diseases
Where:: International
Date change rule:: Every September 23
Holiday emoji:: 🦵

Restless Legs Awareness Day is observed every September 23 to shine a light on Willis-Ekbom Disease, a neurological condition affecting millions. Join the conversation, share your story, and support research efforts.

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Expected Restless Legs Awareness Day Deals

For Restless Legs Awareness Day, the focus shifts from commercial deals to crucial fundraising and advocacy. Organizations like the Restless Legs Syndrome Foundation often partner with healthcare providers and pharmaceutical companies to host educational webinars, patient support groups, and research funding drives. Look for opportunities to donate to research, participate in awareness walks, or engage with online campaigns. Many sleep clinics and neurological centers may offer free screenings or informational sessions. We will update this page with confirmed awareness campaigns and support initiatives as September 23 approaches.

Platform Guide for Restless Legs Awareness Day

X/Twitter

Mention @NatlToday and use #RLSAwarenessDay. Share facts, personal stories, and links to support resources.

Facebook

Mention National Today (facebook.com/nationaltoday) and use #RestlessLegsAwareness. Join community groups and share educational content.

Instagram

Tag @nationaltoday_ and use #RLS. Create infographics or short videos explaining RLS symptoms and management.

Restless Legs Awareness Day Hero

Karl-Axel Ekbom

Karl-Axel Ekbom was a Swedish neurologist who extensively studied and described Restless Legs Syndrome in the 1940s, building upon earlier observations by Thomas Willis. His detailed clinical descriptions were crucial in establishing RLS as a recognized medical condition, leading to its alternative name, Willis-Ekbom Disease.

History of Restless Legs Awareness Day

Restless leg Awareness Day is observed every year on September 23 to raise public awareness about this neurologic and sleep-related movement disorder. On September 23, 2012, the first Restless Legs Syndrome Awareness Day was observed. This is the birthday of Professor Karl-Axel Ekborn, a Swedish neurologist who described this disease in detail in his doctoral thesis in 1945. Sir Thomas Willis was the first to describe RLS in 1672. As a result, restless legs syndrome is known as Willis-Ekbom Disease.

Although it is unclear what causes RLS, particular gene variations, low levels of iron in the brain, alterations in the dopamine system, and certain underlying illnesses such as essential tremor and Parkinson’s disease are thought to be involved.

Although there is no cure, several FDA-approved drugs to treat RLS include Ropinirole, marketed as Requip by GlaxoSmithKline; Mirapex, created by Boehringer Ingelheim; Horizant, produced by GlaxoSmithKline and XenoPort Inc; and Neupro, developed by Schwarz Pharma.

Restless Legs Awareness Day timeline

1672

First Discovery

Sir Thomas Willis is the first to describe restless legs syndrome.

1763

Found in French Literature

More interesting accounts of possible RLS are discovered in old French literature by Boissier de Sauvages, who wrote about ‘Anxietas tibiarum’ and argued that the description met the current RLS criteria.

1945

First Detailed Description

Swedish neurologist Karl-Axel Ekbom describes this disease in detail in his doctoral thesis.

2013

Observation Day Proclaimed

North Carolina declares that Restless Legs Awareness Day be observed by all citizens.

Restless Legs Awareness Day FAQs

When is Restless Legs Awareness Day?

Restless Legs Awareness Day 2026 falls on Wednesday, September 23. This annual observance aims to educate the public about Willis-Ekbom Disease.

How many people are affected by Restless Legs Syndrome?

According to the National Institutes of Health, Restless Legs Syndrome affects approximately 12 million people in the United States. It’s a condition that can significantly impact sleep and quality of life.

What causes Restless Legs Syndrome?

The exact cause of RLS is often unknown, but it’s believed to involve an imbalance of dopamine in the brain, which controls muscle movement. Genetics also play a significant role, as it often runs in families.

Is Restless Legs Syndrome a serious condition?

While not life-threatening, Restless Legs Syndrome can be a serious condition due to its chronic nature and significant impact on sleep quality and mental health. It can lead to severe fatigue, anxiety, and depression.

How To Observe Restless Legs Awareness Day

Research and learn more about restless legs syndrome
You can start your day by knowing more about restless legs syndrome so that you can help raise awareness. You may even be able to assist someone who has it but is unaware that it is a real sickness with a real name.
Donate
Another fantastic way to commemorate this day is to consider giving to assist in finding a treatment, as there is currently no known working cure for the illness. (Please conduct your own research before donating!).
Visit a doctor
Consult a doctor if restless legs syndrome is interfering with your daily life. Share the therapies that have proven to be the most effective for you. You can also utilize the day to get a leg massage or do some light exercise.

5 Surprising Facts About Restless Legs Syndrome You Never Knew

It can be linked to iron deficiency
The relationship between low iron and restless legs has been extensively researched. According to research, persons who suffer from restless legs have lower-than-normal iron levels.
Your veins may be to blame
Many patients' restless legs have been traced back to underlying venous problems, according to their doctors. Fortunately, a recent study indicated that non-surgical vein therapy helped 98 percent of individuals suffering from varicose veins.
Its risk can be increased by pregnancy
Restless leg syndrome affects about one-third of pregnant women, and symptoms are most likely to emerge during the last three months of pregnancy. Although the precise reason is unknown, doctors suspect it is related to low folate and iron levels.
Genetics plays a factor
Restless legs syndrome is a syndrome that frequently runs in families, with 40 to 90 percent of people affected having at least one close family member with the same condition. The early-onset variant (before the age of 45) is more typically hereditary than the late-onset version (symptoms after age 45).
It can be caused by nerve damage
A nerve system illness known as peripheral neuropathy can contribute to the development of restless leg syndrome. The disorder is frequently caused by nerve damage caused by an injury, infection, illness, or diabetes.

Why Restless Legs Awareness Day is Important

Start young
The majority of advance care planning research involves persons over the age of 65. There is now a tendency toward involving and training much younger individuals in order to better prepare them to deal with difficulties in their homes and communities.
Help to understand family history
If both parents have restless legs, their children are more likely to have them as well: According to new research, family history is a substantial risk factor for the condition. This is encouraging news because a child's family history can assist pave the way to a correct diagnosis. Furthermore, researchers are revealing genetic risk factors for restless legs syndrome, which could pave the way for future study and treatment.
To create early awareness for early treatments
The day has been designated to educate the general public about this neurologic and sleep-related movement disease. This is to raise people's awareness so that they can seek medical attention as soon as possible.