How Dehydration Can Induce Nightmares ?

By Vanshika Gaur
09 Jun 2025, 16:30 IST

Dehydration not only causes dizziness, headaches, or thirst; however, it can also induce nightmares by disrupting brain function and more. Here are a few reasons why dehydration can lead to nightmares. Tap to know !

Brain Dehydration

When we are dehydrated, our brain cells shrink, causing dopamine and serotonin imbalance, which can lead to disturbed sleep and nightmares.

Electrolyte Imbalance

Electrolytes are essential for normal brain function; however, dehydration can cause an electrolyte imbalance, disrupting sleep and causing nightmares.

Night Sweats

Dehydration can also cause night sweats, leading to discomfort and potentially contributing to nightmares.

Increased Heart Rate

When our body is severely dehydrated, it increases our heart rate and stimulates the nervous system, leading to nightmares.

Overheating Of Body

Sometimes dehydration can cause the body to overheat, which can disrupt sleep, cause night sweats, and lead to nightmares.

High Cortisol

Dehydration can also increase cortisol (stress hormone) levels in the body, negatively impacting dreams, causing nightmares.

Information Credits

According to PubMed, dehydration can cause nightmares due to poor sleep quality, high cortisol, and more. It is advisable to consult a healthcare professional for personalised suggestions.