What causes nightmares?
Disease description:
I don't know what's going on this month, but I've been having nightmares almost every other night, and they're all different. This has left me very tired and listless during the day. I'd like to know what might be causing this?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Lv Zhiqin
The main causes of nightmares include the following:
1. Psychological factors: Negative events in life, anxiety, tension, stress, and other emotions can all trigger nightmares. Experiencing frightening or stressful events makes it more likely for them to reoccur in dreams.
2. Environmental factors: Sudden changes in the sleep environment, noise, and excessive light may affect sleep quality and lead to nightmares.
3. Physical factors: Certain physical illnesses, such as anemia and respiratory diseases, may cause nightmares by affecting brain function. In addition, chronic insomnia and medication use can also trigger nightmares.
4. Lifestyle habits: Poor pre-sleep habits, such as watching horror movies or reading scary books, or improper sleeping posture, may also contribute to nightmares.
5. Sleep disorders: Conditions such as sleep apnea and restless leg syndrome can lead to decreased sleep quality and increase the occurrence of nightmares.
If nightmares occur frequently or persistently affect daily life, it is recommended to seek medical evaluation promptly.
