What is a key symptom of Narcolepsy?

Excessive sleepiness is indeed a hallmark symptom of narcolepsy. This condition is characterized by an overwhelming and persistent desire to sleep during the day, even after having a full night of sleep. Individuals with narcolepsy may find it extremely challenging to stay awake during daily activities, which can lead to significant impairment in their social, academic, or occupational functioning.

Narcolepsy may also be accompanied by other symptoms, such as cataplexy (sudden loss of muscle tone often triggered by strong emotions), sleep paralysis, and hallucinations during the transition between sleep and wakefulness. However, it is the excessive daytime sleepiness that primarily defines the disorder and differentiates it from other sleep-related issues.

In contrast, insomnia is characterized by difficulty falling or staying asleep, which does not align with the experience of excessive sleepiness that individuals with narcolepsy report. Difficulty waking up can occur in various sleep disorders but is not specific to narcolepsy, while sleepwalking is a type of parasomnia unrelated to the core symptoms of narcolepsy. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for recognizing the unique features of this sleep disorder.