Your sleeping habits have a lot to say about your health

It is common knowledge that physical activity and nutrition are key to a healthy life. But, what is not hammered on as much as these two is the quality sleep. Medics advise that paying attention to your sleep habits should be included in your primary care routine. Here are some common sleep-related habits that could be a sign that something is amiss, health-wise.

Nightmares and risk of dementia

A recent study shows that middle age people who have bad dreams frequently may experience a faster rate of cognitive decline and be at higher risk of dementia as they get older. Approximately 5% of adults experience nightmares at least once a week. The researchers at the University of Birmingham say these findings could help develop new ways of screening for dementia. Dr Abidemi Otaiku, of the University of Birmingham’s Centre for Human Brain Health, said:

While more work needs to be done to confirm these links, we believe bad dreams could be a useful way to identify individuals at high risk of developing dementia, and put in place strategies to slow down the onset of disease.

Snoring and cardiovascular diseases

Snoring is often the sign of a condition called obstructive sleep apnoea, which increases the risk for diabetes, obesity, hypertension, stroke, heart attack and other cardiovascular problems, an article on Michigan Health states. People with obstructive sleep apnoea stop breathing for 10 to 20 seconds while they sleep; this can occur from a few to hundreds of times a night.

Frequent night urination

The older you get, the higher the number of times you wake up at night to urinate. Other common causes of nocturia include chronic urinary tract infections, drinking excess fluids before bed, bacterial infection in the bladder, and medications that encourage urination, according to Healthline.

In some cases, nighttime urination is a symptom of an underlying medical condition. Disease and conditions associated with frequent urination include chronic kidney failure, congestive heart failure, diabetes, and enlarged prostate.

Sources used:

Healthline: Everything You Need to Know About Nighttime Urination

Michigan Health: How Chronic Snoring Can Cause Heart Disease

University of Birmingham: Nightmares in middle age linked to dementia risk