Disease or Syndrome
restless legs syndrome
rest·less legs syn·drome [ rehst-lehs sin-drome ]
Subclass of:
Sleep Disorders, Intrinsic;
nervous system disorder;
Parasomnia
Also called:
RLS
Definitions related to restless legs syndrome:
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(restless legs) A feeling of uneasiness and restlessness in the legs after going to bed (sometimes causing insomnia).Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO)The Human Phenotype Ontology Project, 2021
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(restless legs) Restless legs syndrome (RLS) causes a powerful urge to move your legs. Your legs become uncomfortable when you are lying down or sitting. Some people describe it as a creeping, crawling, tingling, or burning sensation. Moving makes your legs feel better, but not for long. RLS can make it hard to fall asleep and stay asleep. In most cases, there is no known cause for RLS. In other cases, RLS is caused by a disease or condition, such as anemia or pregnancy. Some medicines can also cause temporary RLS. Caffeine, tobacco, and alcohol may make symptoms worse. Lifestyle changes, such as regular sleep habits, relaxation techniques, and moderate exercise during the day can help. If those don't work, medicines may reduce the symptoms of RLS. Most people with RLS also have a condition called periodic limb movement disorder (PLMD). PLMD is a condition in which a person's legs twitch or jerk uncontrollably, usually during sleep. PLMD and RLS can also affect the arms. NIH: National Heart, Lung, and Blood InstituteMedlinePlusU.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
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A condition that occurs while resting or lying in bed; it is characterized by an irresistible urgency to move the legs to obtain relief from a strange and uncomfortable sensation in the legs.NCI ThesaurusU.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
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Uncomfortable or painful sensation associated with an irresistible urge to move the limbs, usually triggered by relaxation or lying down.NICHD Pediatric TerminologyU.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
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A condition in which a person has a strong urge to move his or her legs in order to stop uncomfortable sensations. These include burning, itching, creeping, tugging, crawling, or pain. These feelings usually happen when a person is lying or sitting down, and are worse at night. They can also occur in other parts of the body.NCI Dictionary of Cancer TermsU.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
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A disorder characterized by aching or burning sensations in the lower and rarely the upper extremities that occur prior to sleep or may awaken the patient from sleep.NLM Medical Subject HeadingsU.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
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Achy or unpleasant feelings in the legs associated with a need to move. Most prominent at night, making it hard to fall asleep or stay asleep.Harvard Dictionary of Health TermsHarvard Medical Publishing, 2011
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Neurological disorder characterized by unpleasant sensations of the legs and an urge to move them for relief; usually occurs during or just prior to sleep, causing difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep.CRISP ThesaurusNational Institutes of Health, 2006
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Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a neurologic movement disorder of the limbs that is often associated with a sleep complaint. Patients with RLS have a characteristic difficulty in trying to depict their symptoms.WebMD, 2019
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Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a condition that causes an uncontrollable urge to move your legs, usually because of an uncomfortable sensation. It typically happens in the evening or nighttime hours when you're sitting or lying down. Moving eases the unpleasant feeling temporarily.Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research
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Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a neurological condition that causes an irresistible urge to move the legs. The movement is triggered by strange or uncomfortable feelings, which occur mostly while the affected person is sitting or lying down and are worse at night. Movement (i.e. kicking, stretching, rubbing, or pacing) makes the...National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences
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Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is an urge to move the legs accompanied by symptoms of dysesthesias, such as creeping, crawling, tingling, cramping, or aching of the extremities, primarily in the lower extremities. The dysesthesias occur more often at rest and in the evening, and are temporarily improved with movement. This can cause...Athenahealth, Inc., 2019
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Restless legs syndrome, condition characterized by an uncontrollable urge to move the legs that usually appears during periods of rest, especially while sitting or lying down. Many experience symptoms immediately before the onset of sleep. A person with restless legs syndrome experiences various...Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., 2020
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