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Study: Sleep Apnea Treatment Improves Golf Performance

By Sean Lee
WWJ Health Reporter

DETROIT (WWJ) - Golfers are always looking for a way to improve their game — but this one also has some serious health benefits.

A new study suggests treating obstructive sleep apnea with continuous positive airway pressure, or CPAP therapy, improves golf performance in middle-aged men.

Up to six months of CPAP treatment was associated with significant improvements in excessive daytime sleepiness and sleep-related quality of life.

CPAP patients experienced less daytime sleepiness, better quality of life and a significant drop of 11 percent in their average handicap index, with six months of treatment or less.

Among the more skilled golfers who had a baseline handicap of 12 or less, the average handicap dropped by about 31 percent.

Patients attributed their enhanced performance to factors like improved concentration, endurance and decision making.

[Learn more HERE].

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