CALIFORNIA, USA — There are few things more important to your health than a good night's sleep and few experiences worse than waking up to a cold sweat.
About 5% of all adults experience nightmares at least once a week, according to a neurologist with the Mayo Clinic. It makes you wonder why sweet dreams can turn into nightmares.
Nightmares are any dreams we find frightening or disturbing. Nightmares usually happen during the REM stage of sleep when your brain is still active, and nightmares usually jar you awake.
Sleep experts say there are two kinds of nightmares. They could be post-traumatic, driven by memories of some past dramatic experience but most of us experience spontaneous nightmares, which are more difficult to explain.
Sleep medicine expert Dr. Jason Krahnke says nightmares can be therapeutic, as in it's the brain's attempt to resolve stress, emotional conflict or trauma.
Some medications can cause nightmares. Patients taking high doses of medications for Parkinson's Disease have reported vivid nightmares.
Some therapists suggest writing about your nightmares, or better yet, re-writing it to have a more pleasant ending.
Studies also show writing about worries and fears can help resolve them and lead to more peaceful, nightmare-free sleep.
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