Frequent Nightmares? Study Finds Link To The Risk Of Young Death

Illustration of women having nightmares (Photo: Freepik/jcomp)

JAKARTA - Nightmares may sound trivial, but recent research has found experiencing them can be a sign of danger to long-term health. This was revealed from research presented at the European Academy of Neurology Congress in June.

Research says adults who report having nightmares every week have a threefold risk of dying before the age of 70 compared to those who rarely or never experience it.

In addition, sufferers with nightmares also show signs of faster biological aging. This is measured through the length of the telomer, which is a small part of DNA that is an indicator of cell aging and through epigenetic clocks. Epigenetic clocks are molecular markers that show how fast the body ages.

"Public nightmare frequency is a stronger predictor of early death than smoking, obesity, poor diet, or inactive lifestyle," said study lead author Dr. Abidem Otaiku, a neurologist from Imperial College London, quoted from the TODAY page.

If nightmares are so dangerous, why does our bodies actually have a mechanism that can harm health? Dr. Otaiku said there was no agreement on the reason someone could dream, let alone have a nightmare.

"Dreams are very disturbing or cause emotional pressure," he said.

Sleeping brain cannot distinguish between dreams and realities, so nightmares can trigger a 'fight-or-flight' (against or run) response and increase levels of cortisol, a stress hormone related to accelerating cell aging.

The physical effects of nightmares are very real. The effects of feeling are the heart of the fast beat, the breath of the breath, the body sweating until some people wake up crying.

"For those who often have nightmares, this cumulative stress can have a major impact on the aging process," explained Dr. Otaiku.

"In addition, nightmares interfere with quality and duration of sleep. This is an important thing for the recovery process and repair of body cells," he added.

The toxic combination of chronic stress and sleep shortage is believed to be the main cause of faster aging. According to the American Psychological Association, nightmares can also increase anxiety, lower moods, and increase the risk of suicide.

This latest study involved more than 183,000 adults who were tracked down to 19 years, based on how often they had nightmares. More than 2,400 children also participated, and the results showed children who often dreamed of getting worse also experienced faster biological aging.

According to the National Library of Medicine, nightmares can be triggered by various factors, such as traumatic events, stress, certain drugs, excessive alcohol consumption, disease, and depression.

Eating habits before bed, for example eating cheese for people who are intolerant of lactose can also be the cause.

The most common nightmare is like being chased by someone, experiencing physical violence, falling from a height, or the death of a loved one.

"Both nightmares and erotic dreams are actually universal, everyone must have experienced them," said Dr. Rahul Jandial, a brain surgeon and neurologist.

In children, nightmares usually decrease with age. But in adults, if a nightmare occurs often and continuously, it can be a sign of warning.

"If a nightmare often appears and feels new, it can be considered like pain that never goes away, meaning there is something that needs to be checked," Jandial said in an interview with TODAY in 2024.

He added that this could be a symptom of physical illness such as Parkinson's or lupus.

Some scientists argue that although normal dreams are beneficial, they help regulate emotions or solve problems. But nightmares are a form of the process and have no clear purpose.

However, another theory suggests that nightmares may serve as simulations of a dangerous world, where humans train to face threats safely.

"This may provide a survival advantage for our ancestors who live in dangerous environments," said Dr. Otaiku.

"But in a relatively safe modern world, the long-term cost of a nightmare seems to outweigh the benefits," he added.

Nightmares can be prevented and treated. Dr. Otaiku suggested the following steps:

1. Avoid watching scary movies before bed.

Apply good sleep habits, such as staying away from the screen before bed, not eating or drinking too close to bedtime, and keeping room temperature cool.

2. Manage stress.

It is better to learn to manage stress if you experience anxiety or depression. For people who still have nightmares and feel that their quality of life is disturbed, it is advisable to consult a sleep specialist.

Dr. Otaiku added that routine health checks should also include questions about the frequency of nightmares.

"Because research has shown that treating nightmares can improve sleep quality and mental health and most likely also have a positive impact on physical health," he said.

One of the psychological methods that has proven effective is the Imagery Rehearsal Therapy (IRT), where patients are taught to rewrite their nightmares and imagine a new version of the dream during the day.

"It's interesting because dreams come from our imaginations, and the treatment also uses imagination, but is directed in a more positive direction," concluded Jandial.