Discover possible health conditions dreams can tap into
Low Blood Sugar
If youre a diabetic having vivid dreams may indicate a sudden drop in blood sugar known as hypoglycemia A medication switch or a mistake in insulin dosage can cause hypoglycemia and contribute to these ultra lifelike dreams
To help prevent low blood sugar focus on filling up with protein in the hours before bed rather than sugary foods that may cause a crash
An Oncoming Cold or Illness
If you find yourself waking up from a nightmare in a cold sweat it could be a sign that you have a cold or an illness coming on feverish dreams can serve as the warning to the rest of your body
Heres how it works Your immune system regularly goes through a system check and if it notices something amiss it sounds an alarm That alarm causes biochemical materials called pyrogens to flow through your bloodstream and eventually reach the temperature regulation zone in your brain In REM sleep your body may have difficulty regulating temperature
Vivid dreams during REM sleep combined with the increase in pre illness pyrogens result in a sweat inducing dream experience
Sleep Apnea
If youve gone months without remembering a dream it could signal that something is interrupting your sleep cycle Because most dreaming takes place in REM sleep a lack of dreaming indicates that your REM sleep has been disrupted
One possible cause Sleep apnea a condition in which breathing is briefly and frequently interrupted causing the brain to wake up the body in order to restart breathing
People with sleep apnea may not even realize theyre waking up several times throughout the night but its important to address the issue since the condition is linked to other physical issues like heart disease Speak to your doctor or sleep specialist if you suspect you have sleep apnea
Stress and Anxiety
Stress or anxiety can also play a role in dreams If youre stressed you might have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep which can lead to less REM sleep and therefore less dreaming
Similarly recurring stress related dreams can mirror stressful real life situations Common stress dream topics include falling teeth falling out and being naked in public among others
A sleep specialist right here at Alaska Sleep Clinic can help you determine the underlying causes of your stress so you can adopt practices that will improve your sleep quality and quality of life
Call us today to Improve Your Sleep Improve Your Life>
