A new long-term study has raised serious concerns about the potential health impact of frequent nightmares.
Researchers found that people who experience nightmares every week face a much higher risk of premature death, highlighting sleep disturbances as a possible warning sign for overall health.
A recent study has found that people who suffer from nightmares on a weekly basis have a nearly three-fold higher risk of dying before the age of 75 compared to those who rarely experience them.
The findings are based on combined data from four large-scale, long-term studies conducted in the United States. Together, these studies closely followed the health outcomes of more than 4,000 individuals aged between 26 and 74.
At the start of the research, participants were asked how often nightmares disrupted their sleep. This self-reported data formed the baseline for the analysis.
Researchers then tracked participants over the next 18 years to monitor premature deaths. During this period, a total of 227 participants died before reaching the age of 75.
Results remain strong after adjustments
Even after accounting for common risk factors such as age, sex, mental health conditions, smoking habits, and body weight, the link remained strong.
According to the findings, people who experienced nightmares every week still had nearly three times the risk of premature death. Researchers noted that this level of risk is comparable to the health impact associated with heavy smoking.
The research team also examined epigenetic clocks, which are chemical markers on DNA used to estimate a person’s biological age.
After analysing all three epigenetic clocks, the researchers found that individuals with frequent nightmares appeared biologically older than their actual age. This suggests that recurring nightmares may be linked to accelerated biological ageing.
Waking up suddenly from a nightmare can sharply increase heart rate and stress levels. The study suggests that repeated nighttime stress responses could have long-term effects on the body.
However, researchers cautioned that the findings have not yet been reviewed by independent experts, and further evaluation is needed.
