President Joe Biden, who is the oldest president in American history at 80 years old, has been placed on a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) respiratory device to treat his sleep apnea.
“Since 2008, the president has disclosed his history with sleep apnea in thorough medical reports,” White House deputy press secretary Andrew Bates said.
“He used a CPAP machine last night, which is common for people with that history.”
Biden first disclosed his recurring issue with sleep apnea in medical records in 2008.
According to Biden’s 2019 medical records, he had multiple sinus and nasal passages surgeries.
As CNN reported:
During Biden’s 2021 physical, the White House physician Dr. Kevin O’Connor singled out two areas of “observation”: an “increasing frequency and severity of ‘throat clearing’ and coughing during speaking engagements” and the president’s stiffer gait.
The confirmation that Joe Biden uses a CPAP respiratory device came after the president was seen with marks on the side of his face during events this week.
The CPAC machine “uses mild air pressure to keep breathing airways open while you sleep,” according to the National Institutes of Health.
Biden began using the CPAP machine in recent weeks to improve his sleep quality, a White House official said
As ABC noted:
“If a person is believed to be suffering from sleep apnea, their healthcare provider may refer them to a sleep disorder center to run tests and monitor patients overnight.
One test, known as nocturnal polysomnography, involves hooking a patient up to equipment that monitors heart, lung, and brain activity; blood oxygen levels; breathing patterns; and arm and leg movements during sleep, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Home sleep tests can also be performed, which involve measuring a patient’s heart rate, airflow, blood oxygen levels, and breathing patterns during sleep but at home rather than at a clinic.”
Complications of OSA include heart issues, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, or liver problems, while CSA can lead to cardiovascular complications, the Mayo Clinic said.
Both types of sleep apnea can cause daytime drowsiness or tiredness, leading to trouble focusing or concentrating.
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