3 min readNew DelhiMay 1, 2024 01:01 PM IST
First published on: Apr 22, 2024 at 02:32 PM IST
During a hilarious appearance on The Great Indian Kapil Show, actor Sunny Kaushal revealed a childhood quirk of his brother, Vicky Kaushal, also his co-guest. Vicky used to talk in his sleep – and not just mumble a few words. Sunny described it as a full-blown performance! This would leave Sunny confused, unsure if Vicky was awake or dreaming.
One night, Sunny recalls going to bed after Vicky, who was already fast asleep. Suddenly, Vicky threw off his blanket and declared, “Check it!” A bewildered Sunny asked, “What?” Vicky, still seemingly asleep, responded, “I’m done with my paper, check it!”
The sleep-talking wasn’t limited to Sunny. Vicky, who is married to actor Katrina Kaif, himself shared an incident where he spoke in his sleep in front of their mother. While asleep, he blurted out, “He snatched your purse!” Their mother, unaware of Vicky’s condition, simply asked, “Who?”
This unusual phenomenon, known as nocturnal lagophthalmos, affects a surprising number of people. But is it something to worry about? Dr Rahul Agarwal, Consultant Internal Medicine at CARE Hospitals, Hitech City, Hyderabad, sheds light on this condition and other peculiar sleep behaviours.
Nocturnal lagophthalmos prevents the eyelids from fully closing during sleep. This can be caused by various factors, such as genetics, weak eyelid muscles, or even underlying medical conditions. While the exposed eyes may seem vulnerable to light and dryness, some individuals, like Kaushal, adapt to this sleep pattern without significant issues, explained Dr Agarwal.
However, the impact on sleep quality varies. Some may sleep soundly despite open eyelids, while others may experience disrupted sleep cycles. If you suspect you have nocturnal lagophthalmos, consulting a doctor is recommended.
Another sleep behaviour, somniloquy, or simply talking in your sleep, is quite common, including with Vicky Kaushal. This phenomenon primarily occurs during REM (rapid eye movement) sleep, the stage associated with vivid dreaming. Stress, anxiety, and sleep deprivation can all trigger somniloquy. Essentially, it’s a spillover from the dream world into reality, where people might speak coherently or incoherently while still dreaming, explained Dr Agarwal.
Do you need to fix it?
Whether to address unusual sleep habits like open-eye sleeping or talking in your sleep depends on their impact. If they don’t disrupt your sleep or cause health problems, intervention might not be necessary, said Dr Agarwal. However, if they cause discomfort, disrupt sleep cycles, or affect your daytime functioning, seeking professional help is advisable. A doctor can rule out underlying sleep disorders and suggest strategies to minimise these occurrences.
The Great Indian Kapil Show has aired four episodes so far. (Photo: Kapil Sharma/Instagram) 
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