What characterizes hypersomnia?

What characterizes hypersomnia?

• A. Inability to fall asleep at night
• B. Abnormally excessive sleep
• C. Sudden loss of consciousness
• D. Frequent nightmares

Answer: (B)

Hypersomnia is characterized by abnormally excessive sleep. This condition can involve prolonged sleep episodes during the night or excessive daytime sleepiness, where individuals may struggle to stay awake or feel tired despite getting a seemingly adequate amount of sleep. This definition aligns with the characteristics of hypersomnia, distinguishing it from other sleep disorders. While some might confuse it with insomnia, which involves difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, hypersomnia is specifically about oversleeping. It can also be distinct from sudden loss of consciousness, which may indicate conditions like narcolepsy or seizures, and from nightmares, which are associated with disturbances in sleep quality and emotional processing during sleep. Thus, the defining feature of hypersomnia is the excessive sleep itself, making it the correct characteristic.

Hypersomnia is characterized by abnormally excessive sleep. This condition can involve prolonged sleep episodes during the night or excessive daytime sleepiness, where individuals may struggle to stay awake or feel tired despite getting a seemingly adequate amount of sleep.

This definition aligns with the characteristics of hypersomnia, distinguishing it from other sleep disorders. While some might confuse it with insomnia, which involves difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, hypersomnia is specifically about oversleeping. It can also be distinct from sudden loss of consciousness, which may indicate conditions like narcolepsy or seizures, and from nightmares, which are associated with disturbances in sleep quality and emotional processing during sleep. Thus, the defining feature of hypersomnia is the excessive sleep itself, making it the correct characteristic.