You probably already know that sleep affects your mood and energy. But what you might not realize is that poor sleep speeds up the aging process, both inside and out.
At Howard Health & Wellness in Naples, Florida (and virtually in Park City, Utah), Dr. Corey Howard looks closely at how sleep affects longevity. He’s board-certified in internal and functional medicine, and his goal is to help you stay sharp, strong, and energized, no matter your age.
Sleep Helps Your Body Repair and Slow Cellular Aging
Sleep is when your body enters repair mode. During deep sleep, your brain clears out waste, your cells perform maintenance, and hormones help regulate inflammation and tissue recovery.
If your sleep is short, shallow, or broken, your cells don’t get the time they need to recover. That may lead to faster aging at the cellular level, a connection now being studied in longevity and geroscience research.
Poor Sleep Disrupts Hormones and Cognitive Function
Your hormones rely on a natural rhythm to function properly, and sleep plays a major role in keeping that rhythm steady. When your sleep is off, your hormone levels can shift in ways that leave you feeling foggy, tired, or emotionally off. It can also make it harder to maintain a healthy weight.
Over time, poor sleep may begin to affect your strength, your immune health, and even your bone density, especially as you get into your 40s and 50s.
Sleep and Metabolic Health Go Hand in Hand
Lack of quality sleep can also lead to insulin resistance and chronic inflammation, both of which raise your risk for age-related diseases like heart disease and type 2 diabetes. If you’re trying to improve your metabolic health or slow your biological clock, sleep has to be part of the conversation.
What to Do If You’re Not Sleeping Well
Start with the basics: set a consistent sleep schedule, reduce screen time in the evening, and create a calm wind-down routine. But if your sleep still feels off, it’s time to look deeper.
Dr. Howard uses advanced testing to evaluate hormone levels, inflammation markers, and biological age. In some cases, treatment plans may include hormone therapy, stress management strategies, or peptide-based therapies for recovery support.
Want to sleep better and age smarter? Call 239-331-2285 to schedule a consultation with Dr. Corey Howard at Howard Health & Wellness.
