Nightmares Only Become More Prevalent With Age: 3 Tips To Prevent Them 

Nightmares are no fun. They're scary, they wake you up, and according to new research published in Sleep Medicine, they become more prevalent later in life1. Here's what the research says, plus how to avoid nightmares going forward.

Additional research also indicates insomnia becomes more prevalent with age, too, highlighting the importance of sleep hygiene for older populations in particular.

While it might seem impossible to control the kinds of dreams you have while you're asleep, there are preventive measures you can take to sleep more soundly, and hopefully, avoid the nightmares:

According to physician Robert Rountree, M.D., "For those who fall asleep OK but awaken during the night, I recommend taking the magnesium immediately before getting into bed," to help support a steadier sleep.

Research shows that warmer temps in your bedroom can lead to fitful and nightmarish sleep. As holistic psychiatrist and sleep expert Ellen Vora, M.D., previously explained to mbg, "The optimal temperature for sleep is considered 65 degrees Fahrenheit."

And lastly, if you're a late-night snacker and find that you're experiencing nightmares, it might be time to ditch the habit. Research shows the foods we eat, particularly before bed, can influence our sleep quality4—and result in some weird dreams. Nightmares aside, eating before bed can lead to weight gain, indigestion while sleeping, and a myriad of other health issues.

No one wants to be woken up in the middle of the night by a bad dream. And not only that, but sleep is crucial to our overall well-being. Knowing that nightmares can become more persistent as we get older, it's important we take steps to set ourselves up for a good night's sleep, particularly as we age, so we can sleep through the night and give our bodies the deep rest they need.