'Having nightmares regularly has a more negative effect than being overweight and smoking'

Every now and then (so to speak) waking up screaming because you have a nightmare. One where you keep falling, for example. That is almost harmless, but some people have a nightmare every week. That brings health risks with it, according to new research.

And according to scientist Abidemi Otaiku of the UK Dementia Research Institute and Imperial College London, these are not just any risks. His extensive research shows that having nightmares on a very regular basis is more damaging than being overweight , having an unhealthy diet , not exercising enough and even smoking.

The findings of Otaiku and his team show that having frequent nightmares speeds up your biological clock. As a result, your chance of premature death increases. The scientists analyzed data from 183,000 adults (26-86 years) and almost 2,500 children between the ages of 8 and 10. The recording covered a period of nineteen years.

In London, researchers found that adults who had a nightmare every week were three times more likely to die before the age of 70 than those who were much more peaceful in their dreams. “Nightmares are a strong predictor of premature death,” Otaiku told Independent UK .

The research was recently presented at the European Academy of Neurology (EAN) congress. A nightmare disrupts sleep quality and also sleep duration, the congress was told. This hinders the body's ability to repair cells at night. According to Otaiku, a combination of chronic stress and disrupted sleep contributes to accelerated aging of cells in our body.

The scientist told Independent UK : “Our sleeping brains can’t distinguish dreams from reality. That’s why we often wake up in a sweat, with a pounding heart and gasping for breath during a nightmare. Our fight-or-flight response is activated. The stress response during sleep can be even more intense than what we experience as humans when we’re awake.”

Otaiku continued: “Nightmares lead to long-term elevations of cortisol, a stress hormone closely linked to accelerated cell aging. A nightmare should be taken much more seriously as a public health problem.”

It is now also clear that even a monthly nightmare contributes to faster aging and a higher mortality rate. “The good news,” Otaiku adds immediately, “is that nightmares can be prevented and they can be treated.” He is talking about simple measures such as stress management and seeking treatment for anxiety and depression. “Even not watching scary movies can be effective.”

Hope is essential for a meaningful life, research shows

Professor warns how excess sugar makes us sick: 'Sugar had an evolutionary function for humans'