1. Don't Ignore Insomnia
Not getting enough rest can do more harm than you might think. Insomniacs are twice as likely to suffer a stroke as people who don't have trouble sleeping. Researchers believe that as a person's sleep deficit rises, so does her blood pressure, which over time can lead to inflammation of vascular walls. For sounder slumber, try pink noise (a blend of sound frequencies, like falling raindrops)—a small study found that it can lead to 23 percent more restful sleep.
From the
January 2015 issue of
O, The Oprah Magazine
