COMMON HEALTH HABIT 'AS SERIOUS AS DIET AND EXERCISE' FOR PEOPLE IN 50S AND 60S
A widespread issue that you might ignore could heighten your chances of developing heart disease and diabetes, especially as you get older. This prevalent problem is just as crucial as diet and exercise, experts claim.
Health experts have called on people in their 50s and 60s, as well as others, to ensure they regularly get quality sleep. Lisa Artis, deputy CEO of The Sleep Charity and sleep expert for bedding provider Simba, explained this is a vital element in your overall wellbeing. She explained: "Midlife is a key period for sleep because it is often when the risk of long-term health conditions starts to rise. For people in their 50s and 60s, poor sleep should not be dismissed as a normal part of ageing.
"Regularly sleeping badly has been linked with a higher risk of high blood pressure, heart disease, type 2 diabetes, weight gain, low mood and anxiety. It can also make existing health conditions harder to manage."
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This comes as research by Simba reveals just how widespread it is for people to struggle with getting adequate sleep. A survey found 69 per cent of Brits have problems sleeping.
This included 80 per cent of people aged 16 to 24 battling to get proper rest, alongside 77 per cent of those aged 35 to 44. The results suggested that stress, financial pressures, work demands and social anxieties were among the primary causes.
'As seriously as diet and exercise'
Ms Artis said: "Sleep deserves to be treated as seriously as diet and exercise, especially later in life. One poor night is not the issue, but repeatedly losing out on good-quality sleep can put extra pressure on the body and affect how well people recover, regulate stress and manage their health."
She warned that inadequate sleep can have serious repercussions, as it's during sleep that the body and brain rest, repair themselves and reset. Insufficient sleep can exacerbate existing health problems as it impacts your energy levels, focus, appetite, stress levels and emotional resilience.
Ms Artis said: "Even losing a small amount of quality sleep regularly can build up over time. People may not notice the effect straight away, but repeated poor sleep can gradually affect how well the body and mind cope day to day."
She said this as a particular concern for those getting on in years. The expert explained: "As people move through midlife and later life, they may be more likely to be dealing with other factors that affect sleep, such as menopause symptoms, long-term pain, stress, caring responsibilities, medication or existing health conditions.
"If sleep is poor on top of that, it can make daily life harder. It can reduce resilience, affect mood and concentration, and make it harder to keep up with healthy routines such as regular movement, balanced meals and managing stress."
Improving your sleep
Some advice to enhance your sleep includes maintaining a regular schedule, with the same bedtime and wake time, even at weekends if possible. It's also beneficial to cut down on caffeine later in the day and to limit any alcohol near your bedtime.
Ensuring your bedroom is cool, dark and comfortable, and that you get natural daylight in the mornings is also worthwhile. Ms Artis said: "These small habits repeated consistently are usually more effective than one big change and easy to make to your daily routine bit by bit."
2026-06-13T12:22:37Z
