Table of Contents
The brain ‘overheats’, dreams become crazy
Different from ordinary nightmares
Can it be prevented?
1. Rest early
2. Use a humidifier
3. Consume light foods
4. Create a quiet room
Jakarta, goldensamoyed Indonesia
—
When
fever
, the body usually feels weak, the head is heavy, and sleep is no longer relaxing.
But the strangest thing is, many people claim to experience strange, tense and even frightening dreams when their bodies are hit by high heat.This phenomenon is known as a fever dream.
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Verywell Mind
, for some people, this dream feels so real and repetitive, as if they are trapped in the same story loop.
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“Fever dreams are usually more intense, emotional, and often have a negative tone,” says Chelsie Rohrscheib, a neurologist and sleep expert at Wesper.
So, what actually happens to the brain during a fever so that dreams can turn into nightmares?
The brain ‘overheats’, dreams become crazy
Fever dreams arise because an increase in body temperature affects how the brain works, especially the part that regulates emotions and body temperature, namely the hypothalamus.
When the body has a fever, the nervous system works extra to fight infection, and this can ‘mess up’ the normal sleep process, especially in the REM (Rapid Eye Movement) phase of sleep where dreams most often occur.
According to research in 2016 involving 62 participants, almost 94 percent of fever dreams had negative nuances and were “wilder” than ordinary dreams.Some people report seeing distorted images, such as shifting walls, strange creatures, or situations that induce feelings of fear and helplessness.
“Temperature changes in the brain can affect the emotional center and activate the fight or flight response, so the dreams that appear tend to be scary,” added Rohrscheib.
Different from ordinary nightmares
Although both unpleasant, fever dreams are different from ordinary nightmares.
Nightmares can appear at any time, triggered by stress, lack of sleep, or trauma.Meanwhile, fever dreams only occur when body temperature increases significantly, usually above 38 degrees Celsius.
Interestingly, fever dreams are often easier to remember.Because the body often wakes up due to discomfort, fragments of the strange dream stick firmly in the memory after waking up.
Once the fever subsides, the dreams usually disappear.
Can it be prevented?
Unfortunately, there is no definite way to prevent fever dreams.However, improving the quality of sleep when sick can help.
Some simple tips you can try include:
1. Rest early
Avoid looking at the screen for too long so that the brain is not too active before bed.
2. Use a humidifier
Humid air helps make breathing more comfortable when your nose is blocked.
3. Consume light foods
Choose warm soup or toast so that digestion is not disturbed.
4. Create a quiet room
Minimize light and sound to sleep better.
Even though they sound scary, fever dreams are actually part of the body’s way of reacting to infections.The brain is working hard, the body is fighting against disease, and dreams are just a “side effect” of that biological battle.
So, if one night during a fever you dream of being chased by a strange shadow or trapped in an endless maze, don’t worry, it’s just your brain trying to fight the virus while resting.
(tis/tis)
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