Restless Legs Syndrome Glossary of Terms

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Acute: Of abrupt onset, in reference to a disease. Acute often also connotes an illness th...

Aging: The process of becoming older, a process that is genetically determined and environ...

Alprazolam: A benzodiazepine sedative that causes dose-related depression of the central n...

Amitriptyline: An antidepressant medication. In some patients with depression, abnormal l...

Amyloidosis: A group of diseases that result from the abnormal deposition of a protein, ca...

Anemia: The condition of having a lower-than-normal number of red blood cells or quantity ...

Anticonvulsant: A medication used to control (prevent) seizures (convulsions) or stop an o...

Antidepressant: Anything, and especially a drug, used to prevent or treat depression.

Arms: An appendage in anatomy and in clinical trials. See: Arm.

Arthritis: Inflammation of a joint. When joints are inflamed they can develop stiffness, w...

Benzodiazepines: A class of drugs that act as tranquilizers and are commonly used in the t...

Brain: The portion of the central nervous system that is located within the skull. It func...

Brain stem: The stem-like part of the base of the brain that is connected to the spinal co...

Caffeine: A stimulant compound found naturally in coffee, tea, cocoa (chocolate), and kola...

Cell: The basic structural and functional unit of any living thing. Each cell is a small c...

Cholesterol: The most common type of steroid in the body. Cholesterol has a reputation for...

Chronic: In medicine, lasting a long time. A chronic condition is one that lasts 3 months ...

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: COPD. Any disorder that persistently obstructs bron...

COPD: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Any disorder that persistently obstructs bron...

Cure: 1. To heal, to make well, to restore to good health. 2. A time withou...

Diabetes: Refers to diabetes mellitus or, less often, to diabetes insipidus. Diabetes mell...

Diagnosis: 1 The nature of a disease; the identification of an illness. 2 A ...

Dialysis: The process of cleansing the blood by passing it through a special machine. Dial...

Dopamine: An important neurotransmitter (messenger) in the brain.

Eskalith: See: Lithium.

Fatigue: A condition characterized by a lessened capacity for work and reduced efficiency ...

Fibromyalgia: A disease characterized by chronic pain, stiffness, and tenderness of muscle...

Hemoglobin: The oxygen-carrying pigment and predominant protein in the red blood cells. He...

Hormone: A chemical substance produced in the body that controls and regulates the activit...

Hypothyroid: Deficiency of thyroid hormone which is normally made by the thyroid gland wh...

Idiopathic: Of unknown cause. Any disease that is of uncertain or unknown origin may be te...

Inflammation: A localized reaction that produces redness, warmth, swelling, and pain as a ...

Injury: Harm or hurt. To harm, hurt, or wound. The word injure may be in physical or emot...

Insomnia: The perception or complaint of inadequate or poor-quality sleep due to a number ...

Involuntary: Done other than in accordance with the conscious will of the individual. The ...

Iron: An essential mineral. Iron is necessary for the transport of oxygen (via hemoglobin ...

Iron deficiency anemia: A common form of nutritional disorder, iron deficiency results in...

Itching: An uncomfortable sensation in the skin that feels as if something is crawling on ...

Kidney: One of a pair of organs located in the right and left side of the abdomen. The kid...

Lab test: A test that is done in the laboratory where the appropriate equipment, supplies,...

Leg: In popular usage, the part of the body from the top of the thigh down to the foot, an...

Limb: An arm or a leg.

Lithium: A naturally occurring salt that, in purified form, is used to treat certain psych...

Lyme disease: An inflammatory disease that is caused by the bacterium Borrelia burgdorferi...

Magnesium: A mineral involved in many processes in the body including nerve signaling, the...

Magnesium deficiency: Can occur due to inadequate intake or impaired intestinal absorption...

Metabolic: Relating to metabolism, the whole range of biochemical processes that occur wit...

Methadone: A synthetic opiate. The most common medical use for methadone is as a legal sub...

Muscle: Muscle is the tissue of the body which primarily functions as a source of power. T...

Myelitis: Inflammation of the spinal cord, such as from infection or immune inflammation.

Nerve: A bundle of fibers that uses electrical and chemical signals to transmit sensory an...

Neuropathy: Any disease or malfunction of the nerves.

Neurotransmitter: A chemical that is released from a nerve cell which thereby transmits an...

Nicotine: An alkaloid (a nitrogen-containing chemical) made by the tobacco plant or produc...

Organ: A relatively independent part of the body that carries out one or more special func...

Oxycodone: Oxycodone is the active ingredient in OxyContin. Oxycodone is an opioid, a clos...

Oxygen: The odorless gas that is present in the air and necessary to maintain life. Oxygen...

Pain: An unpleasant sensation that can range from mild, localized discomfort to agony. Pa...

Peripheral: Situated away from the center, as opposed to centrally located.

Peripheral neuropathy: A problem with the functioning of the nerves outside the spinal cor...

Physical therapy: A branch of rehabilitative health that uses specially designed exercises...

Polysomnography: Continuous recording of specific physiologic variables during sleep. Poly...

Porphyria: One of a variety of hereditary diseases that are characterized by abnormalities...

Pregnant: The state of carrying a developing fetus within the body.

Prescription: A physician's order for the preparation and administration of a drug or dev...

Prognosis: The forecast of the probable outcome or course of a disease; the patient's chan...

Psychiatric: Pertaining to or within the purview of psychiatry, the medical specialty conc...

Pulmonary: Having to do with the lungs.

Rehabilitation: The process of helping a person who has suffered an illness or injury rest...

Remission: Disappearance of the signs and symptoms of cancer or other disease. A remission...

Restless legs: See: Restless leg syndrome.

Rheumatoid arthritis: An autoimmune disease characterized by chronic inflammation of joint...

Sensation: In medicine and physiology, sensation refers to the registration of an incoming...

Sjogren syndrome: An autoimmune disease that classically combines dry eyes, dry mouth, and...

Sleep: The body's rest cycle.

Sleep disorders: Any disorder that affects, disrupts, or involves sleep. The most common...

Spinal cord: The major column of nerve tissue that is connected to the brain and lies with...

Spinal cord injury: Trauma or damage to the spinal cord, the major column of nerve tissue ...

Stomach: The digestive organ that is located in the upper abdomen, under the ribs. The upp...

Stress: In a medical or biological context stress is a physical, mental, or emotional fact...

Substance: 1. Material with particular features.
2. The material that...

Surgery: The branch of medicine that employs operations in the treatment of disease or inj...

Syndrome: A combination of symptoms and signs that together represent a disease process.

Therapy: The treatment of disease. Therapy is synonymous with treatment.

Thyroid: 1. The thyroid gland. Also, pertaining to the thyroid gland. 2. A p...

Thyroid hormone: A chemical substance made by the thyroid gland for export into the bloods...

Uremia: The presence of excessive amounts of urea in the blood, which may be a sign of ki...

Varicose veins: See: Varicose vein.

Xanax: See: Alprazolam.