Key points from article :
8,000 UK civil servants reported how many hours of sleep they have on an average weeknight.
Then followed-up for two decades to check for chronic conditions, including diabetes, cancer and heart disease.
Those sleeping five hours or less around the age of 50 had a 30% greater risk of multiple ailments than those who slept seven hours.
GPs now rarely prescribe sleeping pills, which can have serious side-effects and cause dependency.
Research by University College London and Paris Cité University published in PLoS Medicine.
