Nicosia, Cyprus. Sleep problems are widespread and increasingly treated as a public health concern, but specialists say many people still normalise poor sleep rather than seeking help. Clinicians warn that insufficient or poor-quality sleep can affect physical health, mental wellbeing, productivity and long-term disease risk.
Sleep problems often go unaddressed
Sleep disorders specialist Dr Andreas Zachariades said normalising poor sleep is a major barrier to improvement, with many people not seeking help from a sleep specialist. He said poor sleep is often accepted as inevitable or worn as a sign of productivity.
GP and certified Lifestyle Medicine Physician Dr Nicola Ioannou said sleep difficulties are common among her patients but are not always raised directly. She said sleep concerns may be the main reason for an appointment, but more often arise alongside other symptoms.
Data shows insomnia and poor sleep quality are common
A 2025 systematic analysis estimated that about 16 per cent of adults worldwide experience insomnia, with nearly 8 per cent suffering from severe forms. Other meta-analyses suggest that 36-56 per cent of adults report poor sleep quality globally, with women and older adults affected the most.
Health impacts linked to chronic poor sleep
Clinicians said sleep problems extend beyond duration and can affect daily functioning, mood and cognitive performance. Studies have linked chronic short and fragmented sleep patterns to metabolic and cardiovascular conditions such as obesity, hypertension, type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
Everyday habits and routines can disrupt sleep
Zachariades said poor sleep is often triggered by everyday habits rather than dramatic clinical causes, citing late dinners, evening screen use and warm nights as factors that can worsen sleep quality. He said stress and irregular routines can heighten these effects and lead to fragmented sleep over time.
He added that patients often focus on bedtime rather than the broader rhythm governing sleep, emphasising that wake-up time plays a key role in setting the body clock. He said this pattern can contribute to repeated awakenings and difficulty switching off mentally.
Ioannou said patients may present with fatigue, low mood, anxiety or mental fog before later describing repeated awakenings during the night. She said excessive evening screen use, irregular bed and wake times, and high stress levels with little time to unwind are major contributors, and that caffeine can play a bigger role than people realise.
Climate and culture can influence sleep patterns
Experts said geography and climate can shape sleep, particularly in Mediterranean regions where warmer evenings, late mealtimes and socialising after dark can delay bedtimes while work schedules remain unchanged. Research indicates high nighttime temperatures are linked to shorter and more fragmented sleep, especially in summer when the body struggles to cool itself for rest.
Experts advised that adapting routines, rather than fighting climate or culture, is often key to protecting sleep quality in warmer regions.
Do you treat poor sleep as normal, or would you consider seeking professional help to address it?