What do dreams say about your health?

The act of sleeping represents a physiological process of utmost importance in a person’s life, so much so that it is recommended to dedicate at least a third of your time to this restorative rest.

During sleep, not only the body and mind are restored, but vital processes also occur, such as the regulation of the defense system and immunity, which are influenced by the different stages of sleep. Therefore, good quality sleep makes a person less likely to get sick.

Sleeping well plays a crucial role in regulating processes related to eating. The hormones that control appetite and satiety are closely linked to the sleep cycle, so a lack of sleep can increase hunger and delay feelings of satiety.

Regarding neurodevelopment and brain maturation, sleep plays a fundamental role, especially in children and adolescents, since during this period growth hormone is released, essential for physical and cognitive development.

How many hours of sleep are enough for good health?

In an interview with EL UNIVERSAL, Dr. Guadalupe Terán, an expert in the area of ​​sleep, pointed out that the recommended number of hours varies depending on age. Therefore, elementary school-aged children should sleep between 9 and 11 hours per night, while teenagers need between 8 and 10 hours, and adults should aim for between 7 and 9 hours of sleep each day.

It is crucial to keep these guidelines in mind to ensure adequate rest and promote good physical and mental health throughout life.

ALSO READ The hormone that controls sleep and prevents obesity

A sleep disorder can affect overall health, safety, and quality of life.

Do dreams talk about a person’s thoughts and emotions?

According to Dr. Terán, dreams are a reflection of a person’s daily life, since they reflect their thoughts and emotions. For example, stress and worries can manifest within them, becoming warning signs.

“When we sleep, all the information we process during the day is organized and that helps us solve problems. But if you, for example, are suffering some type of abuse, at work, some type of bullying or have a very strong problem, That will cause you to be anxious all night, which can generate some nightmares,” he said.

In addition, he noted that dreams can also offer clues about a person’s state of health, as those who suffer from depression tend to have deeper rest, but more intense dreams that can leave them feeling fatigued.

Likewise, breathing problems during rest, such as sleep apnea, can trigger dreams of suffocation or persecution.

Bruxism, or teeth grinding, can be reflected in dreams where the teeth fall out or the person bites themselves.

“It’s not like there are general interpretations, but from a scientific perspective, knowing what type of dreams you have can help you know if there is a health problem,” he mentioned.

ALSO READ What is the ideal side to sleep, according to science

Paying attention to it avoids discomfort and improves rest

How can a person improve the quality of their sleep?

According to the doctor, it is essential to preserve a person’s biological rhythm. Sleeping more or less than you should is associated with a higher risk of disease and even shortens life expectancy, so maintaining a regular schedule for sleeping and waking up is essential to regulate the biological clock.

In addition, he stressed that it is important to take care of certain habits, which is why he recommended avoiding coffee consumption after 6:00 p.m. and disconnecting electronic devices at least 30 minutes before going to bed. In addition to this, he added that exercising in the morning can improve the quality of sleep, as can eating dinner at least two hours before bed with a balanced meal, rich in protein and fiber.

Other important aspects that he emphasized were taking time before going to bed to relax and disconnect from daily activities, whether listening to music, taking a bath or reading.

Is there a relationship between dreams and déjà vu?

There is some curiosity regarding the connection between dreams and déjà vu, which is why the doctor stressed that it is important to highlight that they are two completely different phenomena.

Déjà vu is a neurological event in which the brain interprets a situation as familiar, as if it had already been experienced before, although this is not necessarily real, and dreams, whether recurring or related, are experiences that we believe we have not experienced. , but our brain already knew it.

During sleep, the mind may create situations, places, or people that we do not recognize as part of our conscious experience. These dreams can be a product of imagination, subconscious processes, or even forgotten memories that emerge in the mind during the dream state.

“They are completely different things. In fact, déjà vu does occur recurrently, it is important to do a neurological evaluation to see why my brain is having these failures to identify things as if they had already happened,” he emphasized.