restless legs syndrome

noun

: a nervous disorder characterized by aching, crawling, or creeping sensations of the legs that occur especially at night usually when lying down (as before sleep) and cause a compelling urge to move the legs

called also restless legs, restless leg syndrome

Examples of restless legs syndrome in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Symptoms can include dark and foamy urine, an increase in urination, pain in the lower back, fatigue, loss of appetite, restless leg syndrome, nausea, vomiting, muscle cramps, changes to skin color, and more. —Sean Mowbray, Discover Magazine, 16 Oct. 2024

Iron deficiency has been tied to restless leg syndrome, fatigue, hair loss, heart failure and other adverse outcomes, including anemia, in which the blood doesn’t have enough healthy red blood cells and hemoglobin to carry oxygen to the body’s tissues. —Jacqueline Howard, CNN, 27 Sep. 2024

That link is mostly relevant to folks who deal with nighttime leg cramps or restless leg syndrome (RLS), which is a condition involving an irresistible urge to move your legs in bed that can leave you struggling to doze off. —Erica Sloan, SELF, 26 Sep. 2024

In addition to physical symptoms such as lightheadedness and shortness of breath, women with iron deficiency can struggle with anxiety, depression, and restless leg syndrome, Weyand said. —Lourdes Medrano, NPR, 15 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1976, in the meaning defined above

Medical Definition

restless legs syndrome

noun

: a neurological disorder of uncertain pathophysiology that is characterized by aching, burning, crawling, or creeping sensations of the legs that occur especially at night usually when lying down (as before sleep) and cause a compelling urge to move the legs and that is often accompanied by difficulty in falling or staying asleep and by involuntary twitching of the legs during sleep

called also restless legs