Study: Treating Sleep Apnea May Result In Better Looks

ANN ARBOR, MI (CBS) – Treat your sleep apnea and you might also improve your looks.

That's according to a new study out of the University of Michigan and published in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine.

The study rated 20 middle-aged Americans on their looks before and after a treatment called continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), which keeps the airway open by providing air through a mask.

Following the treatment, study participants found the patients' faces more attractive than they did before. Not only did the patients appear more alert and youthful, but respondents also saw less forehead puffiness and facial redness.

Sleep apnea, which affects millions of adults in the United States, is characterized by breathing issues, shallow breaths and snoring. It often goes undiagnosed and can be potentially serious.