Nightmares can indicate serious illnesses

Scientific studies have found that intense or disturbing dreams can signal the onset of diseases even before signs of physical discomfort, reports the Daily Mail.

Scientists explain how the brain reacts to the first biological changes in the body during sleep. Vivid or strange dreams can serve as a kind of early warning about the state of health, instead of waiting for physical symptoms to appear.

What are prodromal dreams?

Psychologists have called these dreams “prodromal”. They occur when the brain senses subtle signals from the organs, indicating the possible onset of the disease. During the REM phase, when a person dreams, the brain actively processes information about health. Professor Patrick McNamara of Boston University notes that the brain constantly receives and analyzes signals from the organs to maintain physiological balance.

If the brain senses a potential threat, it can manifest itself in the form of symbolic or disturbing images in dreams—even before symptoms of the illness appear.

Scientific Observations

Research on neurological diseases has yielded significant results. For example, a 2017 study found that 73% of patients with REM sleep disorders were diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease or dementia 12 years later. Other studies suggest that unusual dreams can precede problems with the digestive system, lungs, joints, or gynecological diseases. In a 2015 study, 83% of women who were later diagnosed with breast cancer reported disturbing dreams even before their diagnosis.

In 2022, researchers analyzed nearly 2,900 dream descriptions from people who later tested positive for COVID-19, finding that in the days before they tested positive, they had dreams of maggots, snakes, and being attacked. Aggressive or dangerous motives were often encountered – metaphorical signs that indicate internal changes in the body.

Prospects and limitations

Scientists emphasize that the concept of prodromal dreams requires further research and cannot currently serve as a medical diagnostic tool. However, in the future, dream analysis may help detect diseases in their early stages and prevent mental crises. Some believe that disturbing dreams can occur weeks or even months before a suicide attempt in people with suicidal thoughts.

The effect of noise on sleep

Some studies indicate a negative effect of so-called pink noise on sleep. An experiment at the University of Pennsylvania, which involved 25 adults, showed that such background noise shortened the REM phase by 19 minutes, and the sounds of airplanes – by 23 minutes of deep sleep. The combined effect of these sounds can further worsen the quality of sleep, making it superficial.

Professor Matthias Basner warns that a lack of REM sleep can negatively affect memory and emotional state, especially in children, whose brains are actively developing. Scientists recommend using noise-canceling devices with caution, especially in children’s bedrooms.

Thus, vivid and disturbing dreams can be not only a consequence of stress, but also an indicator of internal changes in the body. Ensuring quality sleep remains a key factor for physical and emotional well-being.