hypersomnia
Excessive daytime sleepiness or prolonged nighttime sleep that significantly impairs daily functioning despite adequate sleep opportunity.
Full Definition
Hypersomnia refers to excessive sleepiness that manifests as either prolonged nocturnal sleep episodes, difficulty maintaining wakefulness during the day, or both, occurring despite adequate sleep opportunity and duration. Unlike normal tiredness, hypersomnia represents a pathological level of sleepiness that significantly impairs social, occupational, or other important areas of functioning. Primary hypersomnia disorders include narcolepsy, idiopathic hypersomnia, and Kleine-Levin syndrome, while secondary hypersomnia may result from sleep disorders, medical conditions, medications, or insufficient sleep. Diagnosis typically requires objective documentation through sleep studies and multiple sleep latency testing, along with subjective reports of excessive sleepiness lasting at least three months.
In Context
- "The patient's hypersomnia persisted despite 10 hours of nightly sleep and optimal sleep hygiene." — Sleep disorder consultation
- "Central hypersomnia was diagnosed following comprehensive sleep testing and exclusion of sleep apnea." — Clinical diagnosis note