What do your dreams say about your health?

DREAMS could provide clues about our health and could give early warning signs of conditions before any physical symptoms starts.

So, what do the scientists say about your dreams?

Nightmares: Having nightmares could be a result of being on pills such as beta blockers, having heart conditions or suffering from sleep deprivation. Nightmares can also be a warning of an impending migraine.

More dreams than usual: Getting too hot or cold in the night can lead us to having more dreams, according to Professor Jim Horne, a sleep expert from Loughborough University (UK). The fluctuation in a woman’s hormones can also cause result in more dreams and a few nights of poor sleep will lead to a night of vivid dreaming.

Dreams of being attacked: Acting out stressful dreams, such as when you’re being attacked or chased, can be an early sign of a brain or nerve disease like Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s, according to Dr Nicholas Oscroft, a sleep expert from Papworth Hospital in Cambridge (UK).

Dreams that wake you early:  Eating a fatty meal, being overweight, stressed or depressed can all lead to you suddenly waking up from a dream. This usually occurs in the first few hours after falling asleep.

Memorable or strange dreams: Often the result of drinking alcohol, a tipple or two can trigger memorable dreams, especially just before you wake up. Being on medication or under the weather can also cause a surreal half-sleep, half-awake state, triggering strange dreams.