Health alert for people in 50s and 60s not to ignore common condition | Personal Finance | Finance
People have been urged not to ignore a common health issue (Image: Getty)
A common issue which you may overlook can increase your risk of heart disease and diabetes, particular as you age. This common problem is as important as diet and exercise, according to experts.
Health experts have urged people in their 50s and 60s and others to make sure they consistently get good sleep. Lisa Artis, deputy CEO of The Sleep Charity and sleep expert for bedding provider Simba, said this is an important factor in your overall health.
She said: “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.”
This comes as research by Simba shows just how common it is for people to have issues with getting enough sleep. A survey found 69 per cent of Brits have issues sleeping. This included 80 per cent of people aged 16 to 24 struggling to get proper rest, as well as 77 per cent of those aged 35 to 44.
‘As serious as diet and exercise’
The findings indicated that stress, financial pressures, work demands and social anxieties were some of the biggest drivers. Ms Artis urged: “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 said poor sleep can have major consequences, as sleep is when the body and brain rests, repairs itself and resets.
Not getting enough sleep can make it harder to manage existing health issues as it impacts your energy, concentration, appetite, stress levels and emotional resilience.
‘Builds up over time’
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 can be a particular issue for people advancing in years. The expert said: “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.”
Some tips to improve your sleep are to stay consistent, with the same bedtime and wake time, even at weekends if you can. It’s also good to reduce your caffeine intake later in the dat and to limit any alcohol close to your bedtime.
It’s worth making sure your bedroom is cool, dark and comfortable, and that you get natural daylight in the mornings. 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.”
