If you’ve ever woken up in a cold sweat from a nightmare, this might make your heart race even more. According to a chilling new study out of England, your nightmares might not just mess with your sleep — they could actually shorten your life.
Researchers tracked people over nearly two decades and discovered something wild: those who reported having at least one nightmare a week were three times more likely to die before the age of 70. Let that sink in for a second.
But it gets creepier. The study also found that people who frequently have nightmares tend to age faster — meaning these bad dreams might not only kill you, but they’ll make you look older on the way out. Think of it like a horror movie playing on repeat in your sleep, but with real-life consequences.
So what’s causing this nightmare-fueled decline? Scientists say it’s tied to cortisol — the infamous stress hormone. When you have a nightmare, your body reacts the same way it would to real-life trauma, causing cortisol levels to spike. And over time, those spikes are linked to faster cellular aging and increased risk of death.
The study was published by the European Academy of Neurology, so yes — this isn’t just some internet conspiracy theory or clickbait headline (although it kinda sounds like one).
So next time someone tells you, “it’s just a dream” — remind them it could be deadly.
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