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A recent study in the UK reveals that individuals who frequently experience nightmares are at a significantly higher risk of early death compared to those who do not. Conducted by Imperial College London and the UK Dementia Research Institute, the research indicates that individuals who experience nightmares weekly may face an increased likelihood of dying ten years earlier than their counterparts who do not experience such disturbances.

The study involved a long-term follow-up of 2,429 children aged 8 to 10 and 183,012 adults aged 26 to 86, observing them over a 19-year period. Adults reported their own nightmare frequency at the beginning of the study, while children's instances were reported by their parents.

The findings revealed that the impact of nightmares on health is more severe than previously understood. Those experiencing nightmares on a weekly basis are three times more likely to die before the age of 70 compared to those who have never had nightmares. This frequency of nightmares is a more direct predictor of early death compared to traditional risk factors such as smoking, obesity, poor diet, or lack of exercise.

Moreover, the study also found that not only adults but also children aged 8 to 10 who frequently experience nightmares exhibit significant signs of accelerated biological aging. This physiological change can increase the risk of early death by approximately 40%. Even if individuals only experience nightmares once a month, their risk is still greater than those who do not experience nightmares at all.

Dr. Abidemi Otaiku explains that nightmares evoke intense stress responses that can lead to prolonged elevations of the stress hormone cortisol, which is closely associated with accelerated cellular aging. Furthermore, nightmares significantly disrupt sleep quality, preventing the body from adequately repairing and regenerating cells during the night.

Dr. Otaiku also provides several practical measures to prevent nightmares. He suggests avoiding terrifying content, maintaining good sleep hygiene, managing stress, and treating issues related to anxiety or depression. Additionally, he recommends a psychological treatment known as Imagery Rehearsal Therapy, where individuals can reimagine their nightmares into more peaceful scenarios and practice them repeatedly to alleviate nighttime distress.

For those severely affected by nightmares, Dr. Otaiku advises seeking assistance from sleep specialists and considering Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I), a therapy designed to correct erroneous sleep perceptions and behaviors, which can help reduce the frequency of nightmares and slow down brain aging.

Besides nightmares, another recent sleep-related study has indicated that habitual napping during the day may also be associated with a heightened risk of early death. Following the sleep habits of over 86,000 healthy middle-aged adults, it was found that those who regularly nap, especially in the afternoon, have an increased risk of early death by as much as 20% compared to those who do not nap.

Professor James Rowley from Rush University Medical Center emphasizes that these findings are significant for clinicians, stating, "It is crucial for doctors to inquire about patients' sleep habits as well as whether they take naps during the day to help identify other potential sleep health risks."