Creaking when you get out of bed? Twinges in your joints? Stiffness getting into or out of a chair? For most people over 60, these are part and parcel of the ageing process – after decades of wear and tear, it's not surprising that our bodies start to protest. But within the plethora of aches that we put down to ageing, are there some that might need to be taken more seriously? Three experts give us their verdict.

‘Some aches are important warning signs that the blood flow to the legs needs checking’

Mr Sanjay Patel, consultant vascular surgeon at UK Vein Clinic

As a vascular surgeon, I often tell people that the legs are one of the first places we notice the natural effects of ageing. Once we reach our 60s, it’s very common to feel new types of stiffness or mild aches, especially first thing in the morning or after sitting for a while. This is because the muscles gradually lose strength and the soft tissues around the joints become less flexible over time.

Circulation also changes with age. Arteries can become firmer and narrower, which means the muscles may not receive blood as efficiently during activity. Most of these changes are harmless and simply part of getting older, but some aches are important warning signs that the blood flow to the legs needs checking. Knowing which is which helps people stay active and avoid unnecessary worry.

Any ache in the calf, thigh or buttock that appears when walking and feels like cramping, tightness or heaviness should never be dismissed. These symptoms can be early signs of peripheral arterial disease (PAD), a circulation issue caused by narrowed arteries. Aches that are one‑sided, progressively worsening or accompanied by coldness, paleness or slow‑healing skin changes deserve prompt medical attention.

Aches caused by poor circulation follow a very predictable pattern. They appear during exertion, often at the same walking distance each time, and feel like a deep, squeezing or burning discomfort. They don't vary day to day and settle quickly once you stop.

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There are also specific, walking-related aches to take note of. When the leg muscles aren’t getting quite enough blood during activity, they can feel tired, tight or achy after a certain distance. This is known as intermittent claudication and it’s one of the more common circulation‑related symptoms we see in people over 60. The key pattern is that the discomfort comes on with walking and eases when you pause, often within a minute or two. Many people simply notice they’re slowing down slightly or that they need short breaks on longer walks. These changes don’t always mean something serious, but they are worth mentioning to a GP so your circulation can be checked.

What does it mean if pain improves when resting?

When leg discomfort settles quickly when you pause, it can be a sign that the muscles weren’t getting quite enough blood during activity. Once you stop, the muscles need less oxygen, so the ache naturally fades. This gentle ‘on with walking, off with rest’ pattern is very typical of circulation‑related discomfort. It’s quite different from joint or nerve pain, which usually lingers even when you’re sitting or resting. If you notice this stop‑start pattern, it’s sensible to mention it to your GP, not because it’s an emergency, but because it’s a helpful clue about how well the blood is flowing to your legs.

Which vascular aches are urgent and need same‑day assessment?

Some symptoms should prompt same‑day medical review, as they can signal a serious reduction in blood flow:

  • Sudden, severe leg pain that doesn’t improve with rest
  • Pain with numbness, coldness or colour change in the foot
  • A new inability to walk even short distances
  • Night‑time foot pain that improves when dangling the leg off the bed
  • Any ulcer, sore or patch of skin that isn’t healing
over 60s aches and pains
Anastasiia Bid//Getty Images

What about aching varicose veins?

As a vascular surgeon, I see a lot of people in their 60s and 70s who worry about varicose veins, but in many cases they’re simply a sign of age‑related changes. As we get older, the vein walls and valves become less efficient at pushing blood upwards, so blood can pool slightly and make the veins look more prominent. Most of the time, varicose veins are not dangerous. They can cause mild aching, heaviness or swelling, especially after standing for long periods, but these symptoms are usually manageable with simple measures like elevating the legs or wearing light compression socks.

You should mention them to your GP if you notice:

  • Sudden swelling or pain in one leg
  • Skin darkening around the ankle
  • Hard, tender lumps along a vein
  • Itching or eczema‑like skin changes

Although they’re usually harmless, varicose veins are well worth treating when they start causing discomfort. Modern options such as radiofrequency ablation and foam sclerotherapy, which are techniques used at UK Vein Clinic, are quick, minimally invasive and done under local anaesthetic.

And the ache you don’t need to worry about?

One very common and usually harmless discomfort is morning stiffness or mild muscular aching, especially after sitting for long periods or after a busy day. This happens because the muscles and soft tissues naturally tighten slightly with age and they take a little longer to warm up.

‘Certain headaches in older adults should never be ignored’

Dr Dipa Jayaseelan, consultant neurologist at HCA Healthcare UK The Wellington Hospital

There are certain headaches in older adults that should never be ignored. The most concerning is what neurologists call a thunderclap headache: an abrupt, severe pain that reaches maximum intensity within seconds and is often described as ‘the worst headache of my life’. Regardless of age, a sudden explosive headache like this warrants immediate medical attention, as it can indicate bleeding around the brain.

A new headache that appears out of the blue after the age of 60 is also a red flag. People who have never experienced headaches before and suddenly develop one should speak to a doctor promptly, as this is unusual and may signal an underlying issue.

Then there are head or facial aches that can indicate neurological problems. A specific type of headache that affects the temples, often accompanied by jaw pain when chewing, can be a sign of giant cell arteritis, an inflammatory condition of the arteries that occurs almost exclusively in people over 50. If this pain is persistent, present daily and accompanied by visual symptoms such as blurred or reduced vision, urgent assessment is essential.

Headaches linked with neurological symptoms such as weakness, numbness, facial drooping, difficulty speaking or trouble moving an arm or leg are also concerning. If these symptoms occur on one side of the body, emergency care is needed, as they may indicate a stroke.

For people with a long history of headaches, a flare‑up that feels like a worse version of their usual pattern is generally less worrying. However, a headache that feels completely different from anything experienced before, especially if it’s persistent, worsening or unresponsive to painkillers, should be checked.

A new daily headache that doesn’t improve with rest or medication is another reason to seek medical advice, and headaches that worsen when coughing, sneezing, or straining can sometimes indicate raised pressure in the brain and should be assessed.

When is a headache just a headache?

If someone has a long‑standing history of headaches and the pattern is familiar, even if the pain is unpleasant it’s usually not an emergency. Most headaches improve with rest and sleep. A headache that is painful but resolves with usual measures, and doesn’t come with new symptoms, is less likely to be serious.

Professor Neil Ruparelia is a consultant cardiologist at HCA Healthcare UK The Wellington Hospital

As a cardiologist, I often remind people that the heart and blood vessels undergo gradual, natural changes as we move into our 60s and beyond. The heart muscle can become slightly less efficient at pumping and the arteries supplying it may stiffen or narrow over time. These changes are part of ageing and many people remain completely well, but certain aches or sensations can be important clues that the heart isn’t getting quite enough blood during activity. Knowing which symptoms matter helps older adults stay active without unnecessary worry.

Any discomfort in the chest, upper back, jaw, neck or arm that appears during exertion such as walking uphill, climbing stairs or carrying shopping should never be dismissed. These sensations don’t always feel like ‘pain’ – they can present as pressure, tightness, heaviness or a dull ache.

Symptoms that are one‑sided, consistently triggered by activity or accompanied by breathlessness, nausea or light‑headedness deserve prompt medical attention, as they may indicate angina or reduced blood flow to the heart.

How can people recognise aches linked to the heart?

Heart‑related discomfort follows a very predictable pattern. It appears with exertion, often at the same level of activity each time and feels like a pressure, squeezing or heaviness, rather than a sharp pain. Over time, exercise tolerance may reduce, with symptoms occurring at lower workloads.

When the heart muscle isn’t receiving quite enough blood during activity, people may feel:

  • Tightness or pressure in the chest
  • Aching in the jaw, neck or left arm
  • Upper‑back discomfort between the shoulder blades
  • Breathlessness that arrives suddenly or feels disproportionate to the activity

This pattern is typical of stable angina, a common circulation‑related symptom in people over 60. It doesn’t always mean something serious, but it’s worth mentioning to a GP so your heart health can be checked.

If chest or upper‑body discomfort fades within a minute or two of stopping, it’s a sign that the heart was working harder than usual and may not have been receiving enough oxygen during exertion. This ‘on with activity, off with rest’ pattern is very characteristic of heart‑related symptoms. It’s quite different from joint or muscular pain, which usually lingers even when you’re sitting or resting.

Some symptoms should prompt urgent medical review, as they may indicate a significant reduction in blood flow to the heart:

  • Chest pain that doesn’t improve with rest
  • Pain spreading to the jaw, arm or back
  • Sudden breathlessness at rest
  • A feeling of pressure or heaviness that lasts more than a few minutes
  • Fainting, severe dizziness or palpitations with chest discomfort

And the ache you don’t need to worry about?

One very common and usually harmless discomfort is brief, sharp, seconds‑long chest pain that occurs at rest. These ‘stabbing’ sensations are typically musculoskeletal or nerve‑related and not linked to the heart. These patterns point to normal age‑related changes in the chest wall, not a heart problem.

Consult your GP about any specific concerns and before following medical advice on this page