Talking in your sleep: Here's what it could mean for your health

There could be very good reasons why you can't sleep well at night. In some cases not feeling rested could be a symptom of serious health ailments, while in other cases, it could just be the full moon!

People also have a wide range of sleep habits, including talking in their sleep. If you are one of these sleep-talkers, and have been wondering why your body does that, here is what Livestrong has to say about it.

Is sleep talking normal?

Talking while sleeping is called somniloquy. This is very common behaviour as per American Academy of Sleep Medicine.

Livestrong quotes Kelly Glazer Baron, clinical psychologist and director of the behavioural sleep medicine program, University of Utah, who explains that occasional sleep talk is normal and usually nothing to worry about. She says,

If your [sleep] talking is occasional and happens without any other sleep issues, it's most likely not a concern

Reasons you sleep talk

However, sleep talking could also imply that something's not totally right with your body. Here's what it could mean as per Cleveland Clinic,

• Factors such as stress or alcohol could affect your body by disrupting sleep, leading to you sleep talking. This can be addressed by having regular sleep schedule and instilling habits such as limiting alcohol consumption, limiting screen-time before bed, avoiding caffeine and exercise.
• Obstructive sleep apnea: Sleep apnea is a condition where you stop breathing for brief periods while asleep. This could lead you to be woken up multiple times through the night, causing disruptive sleep, and sleep talking.
• REM sleep behaviour disorder: This is a disorder where people tend to act out, even vocalise (e.g., talk, swear, laugh, shout) or do movements (e.g., punching, kicking, grabbing) in reaction to a violent dream.
• Post-traumatic stress disorder: Your mental health could also be impacting your sleep and sleep quality.

These factors are by no means exhaustive. In case sleep talking disrupts your life and health in a substantial way, do visit a medical professional asap.

Read more:

⋙ These sleep habits are unknowingly ageing you

⋙ Shoulder pain from sleeping: This is what your body might be trying to tell you

⋙ The side of the bed you sleep on can can say a lot about your personality

Sources used:

Livestrong: ' Talking in Your Sleep? Here's What Your Body's Trying to Tell You'

Cleveland Clinic: ' Talking In Your Sleep? Here’s What That Could Mean'