Nightmares are a common occurrence for many people but recent scientific findings suggest that they could signal something more serious, the onset of autoimmune diseases.
Autoimmune diseases occur when the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks healthy cells. A study conducted in the UK has revealed that terrifying dreams may be one of the earliest indicators of such conditions.
Researchers at the University of Cambridge studied 676 patients diagnosed with lupus, one of the most common autoimmune diseases. It was found that a quarter of these patients reported experiencing frightening dreams up to a year before other symptoms of the disease appeared.
The study’s findings suggest a link between dreams and the body’s immune system. While it’s well-known that changes in personality observed in dreams are often rooted in physical, neurological and mental health, it’s less known that they can be early signs of an illness.
According to the researchers, this is the first evidence indicating that frightening dreams may help in monitoring serious autoimmune diseases such as lupus. Lupus is a chronic autoimmune disease that primarily affects young women between the ages of 15 and 45 leading to a lifetime of challenges.
Diagnosis and treatment of lupus pose significant challenges and individuals often hesitate to discuss symptoms such as terrifying dreams or hallucinations.
The study also revealed that terrifying dreams can indicate other autoimmune diseases that affect the joints further highlighting their potential as early warning signs of illness.
Researchers also noted that unusual symptoms like these may indicate worsening severity of the disease and the need for treatment. Lupus affects multiple organs including the brain leading to inflammation and pain in various parts of the body.
The findings of this study published in the journal EClinical Medicine provide valuable insights that could assist doctors in diagnosing the disease earlier and providing timely intervention.
While nightmares are often dismissed as ordinary occurrences, they could hold valuable clues about our health. Paying attention to changes in our dreams and discussing them with healthcare providers could lead to earlier detection and treatment of serious illnesses like lupus.
