In this article, researchers evaluated links between playing golf and the risk of stroke, heart attack, or death.
Golfing at least once a month may lower a person's risk of early
death, according to new research presented on Wednesday at the
American Stroke Association's International Stroke Conference
2020.
The sport, a favorite of presidents from Woodrow Wilson and Calvin
Coolidge to Barack Obama, and Donald Trump is a gentle activity,
with very few opportunities for high-intensity exercise.
But the study, by researchers at the University of Missouri, found
any activity that gets older adults active and socializing monthly,
weekly or daily is enough to reduce the risk of stroke and heart
attack.
Researchers analyzed 10 years of data on 5,900 over-65-year-olds
between 1989 and 1999, all of whom visited a clinic every six
months.
They found that just 8.1% of the 384 golfers (people who golfed at
least once a month) had strokes over the 10 years, compared to
15.1% of the non-golfers. Also, 9.8% of the golfers had heart
attacks, compared to 24.6% of the non-golfers.
The results, the researchers said, are significant — but added it
is also significant that golf is a sport that attracts wealthy
people, who tend to have better healthcare and lower risks of
strokes and heart attacks.
Some 25 million Americans play golf, which can reduce stress and
offer an opportunity for regular exercise.
But that's not enough to satisfy the US Department of Health that
they're getting real exercise: it is not on the government's list
of sports that qualify as legitimate ways to work out.
Golf burns more calories than fishing or canoeing, but that is only
for people playing without carts or caddies. It can even be played
with a broken leg, as Tiger Woods did in 2009.
As such, golf has inspired fierce debates over whether it qualifies
as a sport. Golf was even removed from the Olympic games for 112
years between 1904 and 2016.
"Golf isn't a sport; it's a skill much like bowling," lawyer Larry
Atkins wrote in a controversial op-ed for The Chicago Tribune in
2002 after Tiger Woods won his third Masters. "It's an activity
that older people take up when their knees go bad and they can't
play real sports like basketball, baseball and football
anymore."
For lead study author Adnan Qureshi, professor of neurology at the
University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri, the findings clearly
show goal is beneficial.
"The US Department of Health and Human Services Physical Activity
Guidelines for Americans does not yet include golf in the list of
recommended physical activities," Qureshi said. "Therefore, we are
hopeful our research findings could help to expand the options for
adults to include golf."
1. Calculate a 95% CI for the difference of proportions for a) heart attacks and b) strokes (3 points)
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