Sleep talking has long been considered a harmless, even amusing habit. But new research indicates that the disorder should be taken more seriously, as it could be an early sign of severe underlying health issues.

The study, led by researchers at Fudan University in Shanghai, found that individuals who frequently talk in their sleep are at a significantly higher risk of experiencing cardiovascular problems including strokes.

Regular sleep talkers are 30% more likely to suffer a stroke than the rest of the population, and the risk is even higher for those who talk for long periods while they are unconscious, according to the study, which was published in the Journal of the American Heart Association at the end of last month.

The odds of experiencing a stroke soar to a staggering 93% for individuals who exhibit both sleep talking and rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder, which is characterized by physically acting out dreams to varying degrees.

The study, released on the heels of World Stroke Day, which falls on Oct. 29 each year, was designed to analyze the risks and influencing factors associated with heart disease and related cerebrovascular conditions.

The research team conducted an initial survey of 8,001 participants from the city of Tangshan in northern China’s Hebei province, to gather data on their sleeping patterns. Over an eight-year follow-up period, 333 strokes were documented among those participants, who had an average age of 54 at the time of the initial survey.

Demographically, sleep talkers were more likely to be men, blue-collar workers, smokers, alcohol drinkers, and those with lower education and physical activity levels, according to the report.

Abnormal sleep parameters, such as daytime sleepiness, use of sleeping pills, and snoring, were also strongly linked with higher odds of experiencing sleep talking.

“Sleep talking involves complex brain activity, leading to increased heart rate and blood flow. This may be the underlying neurological reason (it can lead to a stroke),” Gao Xiang, a member of the research team and a professor at Fudan University’s School of Public Health, told local media.

In addition, sleep talking is associated with sleep disruption and poor sleep quality, both of which are known risk factors for heart disease and strokes, he added.

Sleep disorders, including sleep talking, have become increasingly prevalent in China over recent years due to issues including longer working hours and online addiction. Studies indicate that more than 80% of individuals experience some form of sleep disorder.

Strokes have also emerged as a severe health problem in the country, where it ranks as among the highest causes of death. Around 3.3 million people in China suffer a stroke each year, while the disease causes over 1.5 million deaths annually in the country, according to official data.

The rising prevalence of strokes is partly linked to China’s rapidly aging population, but the condition is also increasingly affecting younger people in the country, with health experts blaming lifestyle changes and rising levels of high blood pressure and diabetes.

The Chinese government has made combatting strokes a national priority in recent years, adding stroke prevention and treatment to its flagship “Healthy China 2030” strategy. Clinics across the country have rolled out screening programs to identify patients at a high risk of experiencing a stroke and help them manage their condition.

The latest research linking strokes to sleep talking is likely to lead to a renewed effort to address the growing problem of poor sleep quality in China, which already has a vast “sleep economy” worth tens of billions of dollars covering everything from smart devices to melatonin gummies.

(Header image: VCG)