President Biden adopts CPAP machine for sleep apnea treatment

PRESIDENT BIDEN UTILIZING CPAP MACHINE FOR SLEEP APNEA CONDITION

WASHINGTON >> President Joe Biden has started using a CPAP machine at night to assist with his sleep apnea, according to the White House. This information was disclosed after visible indents from the mask were observed on the president’s face when he left the White House. Sleep apnea is a common condition where breathing can repeatedly start and stop during the night. The machine was used by President Biden on Tuesday night and the imprints on his face were noticeable on Wednesday morning before he departed for a speech in Chicago.

A CPAP machine is a motorized device that delivers air through a mask to open the airway of a sleeping individual. Approximately 5 million Americans have tried CPAP machines to alleviate their sleep apnea.

The president’s history with sleep apnea has been known since 2008, but it was not discussed during his most recent physical examination in February. When he was vice president, doctors identified an irregular heartbeat likely linked to apnea.

As an 80-year-old running for reelection, President Biden is the oldest person to hold the highest office in the nation.

It is believed that around 30 million people in the U.S. have sleep apnea, yet only approximately 6 million have been diagnosed, according to the American Medical Association. This condition causes the throat and tongue muscles to relax, obstructing the airway during sleep. Factors such as obesity, aging, and facial structure contribute to its development.

Individuals with sleep apnea experience interrupted breathing that can last up to a minute and occur hundreds of times throughout the night. They often wake up with loud gasps and snoring, preventing them from achieving restorative sleep. Untreated sleep apnea can lead to dangerous drowsiness and an increased risk of heart attack. The condition is more prevalent in men than in women.