6 Creepy Things You Never Knew About Your Nightmares
You wake in the night, rattled, heart pounding, with a vivid memory of a scary dream. Everyone has nightmares once in a while (if you have them frequently, it could be a sleep disorder), but adults tend to have them less than children.
What causes them? Was it that late snack of Nona's special meatballs? Maybe. Eating something spicy or rich before bed can induce nightmares in some people. So can watching a scary movie before turning out the lights. We don't really know; there's a great deal researchers just don't understand about nightmares. Theories abound about what function they serve, but there's no consensus. And it's hard to study them because they're so subjective, so personal and so fleeting. But for all we don't understand, there are some things we do know that might surprise you. (Looking to take back control of your health? Prevention has smart answers—get 2 FREE gifts when you subscribe today.)
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