How Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) Hinders Healing During Winter Illnesses

Winter is the season of cosy nights in, hot drinks, and - unfortunately - an increased risk of colds, flu, and other seasonal bugs. For most people, a few days of rest is enough to bounce back. But if you have Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS), your body’s recovery may be harder and slower than it should be.¹

RLS is a neurological condition that causes uncomfortable sensations in the legs - often described as tingling, crawling, aching, or pulling - that usually strike when you’re resting or trying to sleep.² The urge to move your legs can be overwhelming, and while moving offers relief, it’s often temporary. This cycle can repeat throughout the night, disrupting your sleep and leaving you feeling exhausted by morning.¹

Why Sleep Matters So Much for Immunity

Sleep isn’t just “time off” for your body - it’s an active process that plays a vital role in immune function.³ While you sleep, your body produces and releases infection-fighting cells and proteins, including cytokines, which help target inflammation and combat viruses or bacteria.³ Your immune system also creates memory cells during sleep, so it can recognise and respond more effectively to pathogens you’ve encountered before.³

When sleep is cut short or constantly interrupted, these protective processes are weakened.³ Your body produces fewer infection-fighting cells, inflammation control becomes less effective, and your overall ability to defend against illness drops.³ You’re not only more likely to catch seasonal viruses - you’re also likely to take longer to recover when you do get sick.³

The RLS-Winter Connection

In winter, your immune system is already under more pressure.⁴ Shorter days, colder temperatures, and increased indoor time can all make you more vulnerable to infection. Add the broken sleep caused by RLS, and it’s a perfect storm for feeling run down.⁴

If RLS keeps you awake for hours or wakes you repeatedly during the night, your body misses out on the deep, restorative sleep stages it needs most. This can leave you feeling fatigued, less motivated to maintain healthy routines, and slower to bounce back from illnesses that might otherwise have been short-lived.

Taking Steps to Protect Your Sleep - and Your Health

If you suspect RLS is affecting your rest, it’s worth taking it seriously - especially during winter. Simple strategies like stretching before bed, reducing caffeine, and keeping a consistent bedtime can help.² But for many people, professional advice is needed to uncover possible causes such as iron deficiency or medication side effects, and to explore targeted treatments.¹

Bottom line: Your immune system depends on good sleep to defend, repair, and recover. If restless legs are robbing you of rest, you could be giving winter illnesses a head start. Talk to your doctor about ways to manage RLS so you can sleep deeply, stay healthier, and recover faster when sickness strikes.

How Sove CPAP Clinic Can Help

Founded in 2008, Sove CPAP Clinic has grown to become a leading provider of respiratory and sleep services and products in Australia, with over 60 clinics nationwide. Our comprehensive clinical team includes Respiratory & Sleep Specialists, Sleep Technologists, and CPAP Consultants, ensuring that you receive comprehensive and personalised care. All medical procedures, including sleep studies and lung function testing, are bulk billed to all Australians, with minimal wait time.

If you would like to speak to a Respiratory & Sleep Physician, book a bulk-billed sleep study, or seek advice for your sleep apnea, you can reach us at 1300 76 29 39 or info@thecpapclinic.com.au.

ALWAYS FOLLOW THE DIRECTIONS FOR USE. CPAP is used for Obstructive Sleep Apnea treatment. When considering whether a sleep study or CPAP is right for you, speak to your doctor. Medicare criteria and T&Cs apply.

References

1. “Can Restless Legs Syndrome Lower Your Immunity?” Www.canadianpharmacyworld.com, www.canadianpharmacyworld.com/blog/can-restless-legs-syndrome-lower-your-immunity.
2. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. “Restless Legs Syndrome | National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.” Www.ninds.nih.gov, 28 Nov. 2023, www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/restless-legs-syndrome.
3. Suni, Eric, and Kimberly Truong. “How Sleep Affects Immunity.” Sleep Foundation, 15 Aug. 2023, www.sleepfoundation.org/physical-health/how-sleep-affects-immunity.
4. Medicine, Northwestern. “Can Winter Make You Sick?” Northwestern Medicine, Sept. 2022, www.nm.org/healthbeat/healthy-tips/can-winter-make-you-sick.