An individual has an uncontrollable tendency to fall asleep inappropriately during the day, despite sufficient sleep the prior night. What medical condition manifests in this way?

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Quizplus · Accepted Answer

This symptom is characteristic of narcolepsy, which is a neurological disorder that affects a person's ability to regulate sleep-wake cycles. People with narcolepsy experience excessive daytime sleepiness, sleep attacks, and sudden loss of muscle control (cataplexy). Sleep apnea is a condition in which a person's breathing is repeatedly interrupted during sleep, leading to disrupted sleep and daytime fatigue. Hypertension is high blood pressure, and syncope is a temporary loss of consciousness due to a drop in blood pressure or insufficient blood flow to the brain. Neither of these conditions typically presents with daytime sleepiness as a primary symptom.

An Individual Has an Uncontrollable Tendency to Fall Asleep Inappropriately