Latest news with #prematureDeath
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
What Your Nightmares May Be Trying to Tell You About Your Health
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." New research suggests that there's a link between having regular nightmares and dying early. People who had weekly nightmares were three times as likely to die early as those who had them less often. Doctors say there are a few possible reasons for this. Nearly everyone has a nightmare here and there, but up to 6% of people struggle with frequent nightmares. Not only are those terrifying to experience, but new research suggests having regular nightmares could raise the risk of dying early. The study, which was presented at the European Academy of Neurology Congress 2025, analyzed data from nearly 2,500 children between the ages of 8 and 10, and 183,012 adults between the ages of 26 and 86. The researchers discovered that adults who said that they had weekly nightmares were more than three times more likely to die prematurely (which they defined as before the age of 70) compared to people who said they never or rarely had nightmares. The researchers discovered that having weekly nightmares was more strongly linked with premature death than other well-known risk factors like smoking, having obesity, following a poor diet, and being physically inactive. Meet the experts: W. Christopher Winter, M.D., a neurologist and sleep medicine physician with Charlottesville Neurology and Sleep Medicine and host of the Sleep Unplugged podcast; Thea Gallagher, Psy.D., clinical associate professor at NYU Langone Health and cohost of the Mind in View podcast If you have regular nightmares, it's understandable to be concerned. Here's what sleep specialists and a psychologist want you to keep in mind. There are a few reasons why someone may have nightmares. 'It can stem from stress and anxiety, along with depression,' says Thea Gallagher, Psy.D., clinical associate professor at NYU Langone Health and cohost of the Mind in View podcast. 'Sometimes people get nightmares if they have post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) or post-traumatic stress symptoms.' But there are other things that can be behind nightmares, says W. Christopher Winter, M.D., a neurologist and sleep medicine physician with Charlottesville Neurology and Sleep Medicine and host of the Sleep Unplugged podcast. 'While psychological factors probably play a role, there is emerging evidence that it can also relate to neurotransmitter imbalances—think, depression—or increased activity in the amygdala, a part of our brain responsible for emotional processing,' he says. Nightmares may even be caused by a 'simple sleep disruption of any source,' including sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, and noisy bedmates, Dr. Winter says. Substance use, eating late, and even certain medications may raise your risk of having nightmares, too, Gallagher says. The researchers didn't find one definitive reason why nightmares might raise the risk of early death, but there are some theories. One is that having regular nightmares leads to faster biological aging—that accounted for about 40% of the higher-than-usual mortality risk, according to the researchers. The reason for this is likely elevated levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which are usually released in the body when someone has a nightmare, the researchers explained. That speeds up the aging process of cells, raising the risk of early death. Lack of sleep that can come with nightmares or be the cause of nightmares may also raise the risk of early death, especially if someone is experiencing this often, Dr. Winter says. 'The link between sleep apnea alone and increased dreaming and nightmares is more than enough by itself to explain the findings in this study,' he says. Dr. Winter points out that nightmares may be a 'marker of sleep quality or health quality' in general. Meaning, the nightmares may not cause poor sleep, poor sleep may cause the nightmares. Gallagher agrees. 'Nightmares may be indicative of underlying mental health and/or medical issues, which we know can put you at risk for premature aging and death,' she says. Having nightmares may even make people want to sleep less, and lack of sleep raises the risk of early death, Dr. Winter points out. 'There is evidence to support the idea that frequent nightmares often put a significant amount of psychological stress on people—they avoid sleep and engage in other behaviors that put health at risk,' he says. Because nightmares have so many different potential causes, Dr. Winter says it can be helpful to work with a healthcare provider to try to pinpoint what's behind them. Some medications, like zolpidem (Ambien) and varenicline (Chantix) are linked to having vivid dreams and nightmares. If you're on one of these and nightmares are a concern, Gallagher says it can be helpful to talk to your prescribing doctor to see if there is another option to consider. Cognitive therapy may also help, especially if the nightmares seem to be related to trauma. 'We want to process the trauma,' Gallagher says. 'It will find a way to scare you in your sleep if you haven't processed it in the daytime.' That usually involves trying to make meaning of these thoughts and memories to try to make them feel less scary by facing them with the help of a mental health professional, Gallagher says. Beyond that, Gallagher suggests doing your best to practice good sleep hygiene, including keeping a consistent sleep and wake schedule, limiting the use of stimulants and alcohol before bed, and having a calming bedtime routine. Again, it's completely normal to have a nightmare here and there. But if these are a regular thing for you and it's disrupting your quality of life, it's time to talk to a healthcare provider about the next steps. You Might Also Like Can Apple Cider Vinegar Lead to Weight Loss? Bobbi Brown Shares Her Top Face-Transforming Makeup Tips for Women Over 50
The Independent
24-06-2025
- Health
- The Independent
Research shows deadly impact of nightmares on your health
Frequent nightmares are linked to premature ageing and increase the risk of an early death, according to a new study. Adults who report weekly nightmares are more than three times likely to die before the age of 70 compared to those who rarely or never experience them, researchers found. The study found nightmares to be a 'stronger predictor of premature death' than smoking, obesity, poor diet, and low physical activity. The scientists warned the findings should be treated as a 'public health concern', but said people can reduce nightmares by managing stress. The team, led by Dr Abidemi Otaiku of the UK Dementia Research Institute, and Imperial College London, analysed data from 2,429 children aged eight to 10 and 183,012 adults aged 26 to 86 over a period of 19 years. The research, presented at the European Academy of Neurology (EAN) Congress this month, found that nightmares disrupt both sleep quality and duration, which impairs the body's overnight cellular restoration and repair ability. The combined impacts of chronic stress and disrupted sleep are likely to contribute to the accelerated ageing of our cells and bodies. Dr Otaiku said, 'Our sleeping brains cannot distinguish dreams from reality. That's why nightmares often wake us up sweating, gasping for breath, and with our hearts pounding – because our fight-or-flight response has been triggered. This stress reaction can be even more intense than anything we experience while awake.' He said: 'Nightmares lead to prolonged elevations of cortisol, a stress hormone closely linked to faster cellular ageing. For those who frequently experience nightmares, this cumulative stress may significantly impact the ageing process.' He added: 'Given how common and modifiable nightmares are, they should be taken far more seriously as a public health concern.' Researchers found that children and adults who had frequent nightmares also exhibited faster ageing. This accounted for approximately 40 per cent of those who had a higher risk of early death. Dr Otaiku said this was the first study to show nightmares can predict faster biological ageing and earlier mortality, even after accounting for other health issues. Even monthly nightmares were linked to faster ageing and increased mortality compared to those who had no nightmares. and the links were consistent across all ages, sexes, ethnicities, and mental health statuses. 'The good news is that nightmares can be prevented and treated,' said Dr Otaiku. Simple measures, such as maintaining good sleep hygiene, managing stress, seeking treatment for anxiety or depression and not watching scary films can be effective in reducing nightmares, he said.
Gizmodo
23-06-2025
- Health
- Gizmodo
Frequent Nightmares Linked to Faster Aging and Premature Death
If you often have nightmares, you may need to worry a bit more about your health. New research presented today at the European Academy of Neurology (EAN) Congress 2025 links frequent nightmares to faster biological aging and an over three times higher risk of premature death, even when taking into account other medical conditions. The researchers claim to be the first to demonstrate this association, which could have significant implications for how seriously one should consider persistent nightmares. 'Our sleeping brains cannot distinguish dreams from reality,' Abidemi Otaiku, a neuroscientist at Imperial College London and presumably an author of a forthcoming study, explained in an EAN press release. 'That's why nightmares often wake us up sweating, gasping for breath, and with our hearts pounding – because our fight-or-flight response has been triggered. This stress reaction can be even more intense than anything we experience while awake.' Simply put, researchers tracked the nightmare frequency of adults and children (whose nightmares were reported by their parents) for time periods of up to 19 years. Their results demonstrate that both children and adults who often have nightmares experience accelerated biological aging. Adults who suffered from weekly nightmares were also more than three times as likely to die before the age of 70 as those who rarely or never had nightmares, with the faster biological aging accounting for around 40% of that increased early mortality risk. 'Nightmares lead to prolonged elevations of cortisol, a stress hormone closely linked to faster cellular ageing,' Otaiku added. 'For those who frequently experience nightmares, this cumulative stress may significantly impact the ageing process. Additionally, nightmares disrupt both sleep quality and duration, impairing the body's essential overnight cellular restoration and repair. The combined effects of chronic stress and disrupted sleep likely contribute to the accelerated ageing of our cells and bodies.' Specifically, the link between chronic nightmares and faster aging was consistent in participants of all sexes, ages, mental health statuses, and ethnicities. Biological aging was measured by looking at people's telomeres, the protective end caps of chromosomes. Shorter telomeres are widely considered to be a sign of greater biological age. Furthermore, the research revealed weekly nightmares to more strongly predict early death than other widely known causes, including obesity, smoking, a bad diet, and low physical activity. Even less frequent nightmares, however, had their toll. Participants who reported having them monthly also experienced faster aging and increased premature mortality compared to those who reported rare or no nightmares. As if living through terrifying experiences at night wasn't bad enough, the associated health consequences highlighted in the new research carry important implications for how seriously we should take nightmares. And if we're being honest, the state of plastic pollution and human-driven accelerated geological processes are probably not helping in that category, either.
The Independent
23-06-2025
- Health
- The Independent
The real-life danger of frequent nightmares revealed in new study
New research indicates that adults who experience weekly nightmares are over three times more likely to die before the age of 70. The study identified frequent nightmares as a stronger predictor of premature death compared to lifestyle factors such as smoking, obesity, and poor diet. Scientists suggest that nightmares contribute to accelerated cellular ageing by disrupting sleep quality and duration, and by elevating stress hormones like cortisol. Dr Abidemi Otaiku, who led the research, emphasised that nightmares should be considered a serious public health concern due to their link with faster biological ageing and earlier mortality. The good news is that nightmares can be prevented and treated through measures like stress management, good sleep hygiene, and addressing anxiety or depression. Why nightmares could make you age faster and die sooner
The Sun
23-06-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Weekly nightmares ‘triple the risk of an early death' as scientists reveal what to do NOW
PEOPLE who suffer from weekly nightmares could be at higher risk of early death, researchers have warned. Adults who reported weekly nightmares were over three times more likely to die before the age of 70, compared to those who rarely or never had them, they found. 1 Researchers said night terrors were a 'stronger predictor of premature death' than other established risk factors, such as smoking, obesity, unhealthy diets and lack of exercise. They also linked frequent nightmares to accelerated biological ageing. Off the back of their findings, researchers shared "simple measures" to prevent nightmares - including "avoiding scary movies", setting up a good bedtime routine and keeping stress under control. The team - led by Dr Abidemi Otaiku of the UK Dementia Research Institute, and Imperial College London - analysed data from 2,429 children aged eight to 10 and 183,012 adults aged 26 to 86 over a period of 19 years. Adults were asked to report how often they experienced nightmares at the start of the study, while the parents of child participants reported how often their little ones suffered night terrors. Meanwhile, participants' biological age was assessed by measuring the length of their telomeres – small DNA sequences that serve as indicators of cellular ageing. The research, which was presented at the European Academy of Neurology (EAN) Congress this month, found that nightmares disrupt both sleep quality and duration. This impairs the body's ability to repair itself and restore cells throughout the night. Dr Otaiku said: 'Our sleeping brains cannot distinguish dreams from reality. 'That's why nightmares often wake us up sweating, gasping for breath, and with our hearts pounding – because our fight-or-flight response has been triggered. "This stress reaction can be even more intense than anything we experience while awake.' The combination of chronic stress and disrupted sleep likely speed up the ageing of our cells and bodies, study authors said. Results showed that adults who reported weekly nightmares were more than three times as likely to die prematurely - which researchers described as before the of age 70 - compared to those who rarely or never experienced nightmares. Children and adults with more frequent nightmares also exhibited faster biological ageing, which accounted for approximately 40 per cent of their heightened risk of death. Dr Otaiku added: 'Nightmares lead to prolonged elevations of cortisol, a stress hormone closely linked to faster cellular ageing. For those who frequently experience nightmares, this cumulative stress may significantly impact the ageing process. "Additionally, nightmares disrupt both sleep quality and duration, impairing the body's essential overnight cellular restoration and repair. "The combined effects of chronic stress and disrupted sleep likely contribute to the accelerated ageing of our cells and bodies.' Even monthly nightmares were linked to faster ageing and increased mortality compared to rare or no nightmares, study authors found. Tips to combat stress The Stress Management Society says . . . STAY CONNECTED. Look after your social wellbeing by staying in touch with others. Pick up the phone, talk, and ask for help. GET ENOUGH SLEEP. Set up a good bedtime routine and make your bedroom a tech-free zone. This will force you to switch off in this 'always on' world. PRIORITISE AND ORGANISE. Even if you work from home, try to keep work and personal space separate, create boundaries and prioritise the most important tasks for the start of the day. EAT HEALTHILY. Reduce sugar consumption to avoid energy crashes, avoid relying on stimulants such as caffeine and nicotine, and drink plenty of water to stay hydrated. SELF-CARE. Make time for things you enjoy and leave you feeling relaxed, whether it's mindfulness, reading, a walk, sport or watching TV. See The link between frequent nightmares and accelerated ageing was observed across all ages, sexes, ethnicities, and mental health conditions, which researchers said indicates a universal effect. The findings highlight the importance of reducing nightmare frequency across the population. 'The good news is that nightmares can be prevented and treated', Dr Otaiku said. 'Simple measures like avoiding scary movies, maintaining good sleep hygiene, managing stress, and seeking treatment for anxiety or depression can be effective. 'Those experiencing frequent nightmares that disrupt their quality of life may benefit from seeing a sleep specialist. "Effective psychological treatments, such as image rehearsal therapy, can be practised at home. "Recent research also suggests that therapies like CBT-I, which reduce nightmares, may significantly slow the ageing process', he added. Reflecting on the broader public health significance of these findings, Dr Otaiku stated: 'Given how common and modifiable nightmares are, they should be taken far more seriously as a public health concern. 'If further studies confirm the causal impact of nightmares on ageing and brain health, then preventing and treating them could become one of the simplest, most cost-effective strategies to slow ageing at a population level. "This would not only improve individual well-being but also help achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal of reducing premature death worldwide and promoting health for all.'
