Is there any nutritional deficiency that can cause constant nightmares?
William, you say that your girlfriend is under stress. Anxiety and stress are well known causes of nightmares. Stress management techniques might help. As far as nutrition is concerned, excess vitamin B6, hot spicy foods, foods that lead to acidity or heartburn, etc are thought to induce nightmares, whereas tryptophan, magnesium and several other things are thought to reduce the occurrences of nightmares. However there is really no scientific evidence in support of these notions! Apart from anxiety and stress, the following are some very common causes of nightmares: – * Abrupt alcohol withdrawal. * Breathing disorder in sleep (sleep apnea). * Death of a loved one (bereavement). * Excessive alcohol consumption. * Illness with a fever. * Recent withdrawal from a drug, such as sleeping pills. * Side effect of a drug (Propranolol or Inderal, Prozac, amphetamines, morphine, fentanyl, tramadol, opiates, etc). * Sleep disorder (for example, narcolepsy, parasomnia, or sleep terror disorder). *
