When we are asleep, our bodies get shut down to refresh or revivify it. But our minds never stop working. Images, sensations, feelings and ideas keep running through our brains consistently. At a certain stage of sleep called the REM (Rapid Eye Movement), the body is almost completely hibernated while brain activity is said to have peaked at a very high point. This is when we start dreaming. Although a dream can also occur at any stage in our sleep but dream researchers say dreams that occur out of the REM stage are far less vivid and memorable.


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Sometimes we may be so carried away in our dream to the point that our bodies begin to sense and act as if what we are going through is real. And we wake up panting profusely or feeling our heart pump faster. This leads us to the question "can a nightmare trigger a heart attack?"

Dr Robert Aronson a sleep Medicine specialist answers a "Yes". Dr. Aronson says a nightmare has the potential to trigger a heart attack, especially in the morning hours. But he explains further that it is a very rare occurrence. Saying, "Healthy people's hearts are usually more than able to handle the stress of even the most frightening dream.”

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In essence, a bad dream can induce a heart attack for someone who is already prone to one. Especially at the REM stage when a dream can feel so real like we are awake. But we can draw a line between the dream world and reality. You can actually determine in your sleep if you are dreaming or not.

DO A REALITY CHECK

1. Ask yourself the question, "am I dreaming?"

This helps quite a lot. If you keep asking yourself this question at times when you are awake, then you would very likely ask same in a dream. It awakes you to the consciousness that you might actually be dreaming thus making you to start looking for other signs or proofs. If everything seems consistent and in real time, then you are not dreaming. But if you notice any distortions or inconsistencies, then it's probably a dream.

2. Check for distortions

Our eyes, ears and other senses constantly pick up inputs from our environment and relays to the brain. The brain in turn interprets and keeps all records. This makes us feel a lot more conscious of the real world that we have become so used to. But in a dream, everything seems strangely different. There is this feeling like you are in a strange, fragile, dangerous and unstable world. Everywhere you go, there are too many distortions like words changing on a page, inconsistency of time on a clock or extraordinary magical things happening around. Do a careful check, if there are too many inconsistencies, then you may just be dreaming.

3. Check for an item you always have on you

There is always that one item that you carry most of the time on you or keep close within your reach. It can be anything, a phone, wallet, necklace, bracelet or finger ring. Check for it. If this item is not close and you have no idea where it would be, then there is a high chance that you are dreaming.


CAN YOU RECALL HOW IT ALL STARTED?

Dreams have no beginning, they might have an end but it's rare. The story starts in the middle. You cannot recall how you got to the point you were when it all started. But reality is very deeply connected. The events taking place at present connects to the past and to the future. This is the best and easiest way you can tell if it is a dream. Ask yourself this question from time to time, "How did I get here?". If you cannot recall in clear details how you found yourself at that point, then start checking for other signs, you may be living in the dream world.Dreams have no beginning, they might have an end but it's rare. The story starts in the middle. You cannot recall how you got to the point you were when it all started. But reality is very deeply connected. The events taking place at present connects to the past and to the future. This is the best and easiest way you can tell if it is a dream. Ask yourself this question from time to time, "How did I get here?". If you cannot recall in clear details how you found yourself at that point, then start checking for other signs, you may be living in the dream world.


ARE YOU FEELING THESE SIGNS?

1. Weakness/Drowsiness, you feel like you are partly asleep but yet awake.

2. Fear without reason, you just have this tension built up in you but cannot really understand where it's coming from.

4. Cynicism, you just feel so critical of the motives of others. You are overtly suspicious and afraid of everything and everyone.

5. You feel like you are floating, flying like a bird, walking or crawling on a wall.

6. You are chased by a monster, you cannot run fast enough yet it never catches you.

7. Paralysis, you are in danger and your mind feels like fleeing but your legs feel like you are paralysed.

8. Unexplainable stuffs happening around like it's morning and time for work yet everywhere is still dark or the stairs seem disconnected at some point you have to jump to the other end.

If you keep seeing these signs, then it is most likely that you are dreaming.

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