Nightmares Could Actually Be an Early Warning Sign of These Diseases
Nightmares could be a sign you’ve got a lot on your plate during your waking hours, but what if dreams were a symptom of something more? Well, that’s what a new study from University of Cambridge public health researchers suggests, pointing to bad dreams being an early indicator of an autoimmune disease.
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00:00 (clock ticking)
00:02 Nightmares could be a sign you've got a lot on your plate
00:06 during your waking hours.
00:08 But what if dreams were a symptom of something more?
00:10 Well, that's what a new study from University
00:12 of Cambridge Public Health researchers suggests,
00:14 pointing to bad dreams being an early indicator
00:17 of an autoimmune disease.
00:18 The study included a survey of some 676 patients
00:22 who have been diagnosed with lupus,
00:24 which includes symptoms of joint pain, fever,
00:26 chest pain, fatigue, and hair loss.
00:28 The cause of lupus is unknown.
00:30 However, this study points to an early warning sign
00:32 before diagnosis, nightmares.
00:35 The study's author and neurologist, Guy Leichtziner,
00:37 says that we have long been aware
00:39 that alterations in dreaming may signify changes
00:41 in physical, neurological, and mental health,
00:44 and can sometimes be early indicators of disease.
00:47 However, he adds that this is the first evidence
00:49 that nightmares may also help us monitor
00:51 such serious autoimmune conditions like lupus,
00:53 and that monitoring sleep symptoms
00:55 could be a helpful early warning sign
00:57 of a relapse in autoimmune symptoms.
00:59 Recent studies have also revealed
01:01 that Parkinson's patients may also experience bad dreams
01:03 in the years leading up to a diagnosis,
01:05 with the same being true of those
01:07 who go on to develop dementia as well.
01:10 (gentle music)
01:13 (upbeat music)