Orignal image ref: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/biden-using-cpap-machine-sleep-apnea-officials-say-2023-06-28/
Wednesday (6/28/2023) morning, President Joe Biden was seen with apparent imprint lines on his face when he left the White House for a speech in Chicago. These lines came from a CPAP mask. Biden has begun using a CPAP machine at night to deal with sleep apnea, a breathing disorder that causes those affected to pause in breathing during sleep.
“Since 2008, the president has disclosed his history with sleep apnea in thorough medical reports,” said White House spokesman Andrew Bates. “He used a CPAP machine last night, which is common for people with that history.”
Naturally, many Americans are wondering: What is sleep apnea? What are CPAP machines and how can they help people with sleep apnea? And, is Biden’s sleep apnea something to worry about? We hope to address those concerns in this blog article.
What is sleep apnea?
According to the American Medical Association, sleep apnea is a common disorder said to affect roughly 30 million Americans. Sleep apnea causes those affected to repeatedly pause in breathing during sleep.
There has also been recent news that sleep apnea is linked to cognitive problems in otherwise healthy men. A small new study found that sleep apnea harms the brain, giving new urgency to recognizing and treating the disorder.
Some common signs of sleep apnea are snoring loudly, having headaches in the morning, and feeling tired even after a full night’s sleep. Risk factors include being overweight, having high blood pressure, having chronic congestion, having a narrowed airway, having diabetes, and having asthma. Medical experts recommend contacting a healthcare provider if any such symptoms or risk factors are present.
What is a CPAP Machine?
CPAP stands for Continuous Positive Airway Pressure. A CPAP machine is a medical device designed to treat sleep apnea. They work by delivering streams of air to patients through a mask or nosepiece.
With the right settings, CPAP machines can greatly improve sleep quality and reduce the risk of other complications caused by sleep apnea.
Manufacturers estimate that roughly 8 million people in the U.S. use CPAP machines.
Which CPAP Is President Biden Using?
Obviously Secret Service won’t allow to disclose this information but due to the Philips DreamStation recall, it is very likely President Biden is using a ResMed AirSense 11 machine, and we believe its remote data reading service is disabled due to security concerns.
Which CPAP Mask is President Biden Using?
The imprint was just next to his mouth. we believe President Biden’s mouth was covered while he was using a CPAP machine. That implies he is a mouth breather and was probably using a full face CPAP mask, which covers the nose and mouth (not eyes!). Unfortunately it is very hard to know which particular mask model he used.
How can I prevent imprint lines from wearing a CPAP mask?
Fabric wraps can be wrapped around a frame’s cheek tubes to prevent morning imprints.
Is Biden’s sleep apnea something to worry about?
At 80 years old, Biden is the nation’s oldest president. Biden’s physicals have all indicated he is fit to serve as president.
While sleep apnea is a potentially serious disorder, CPAP machines greatly reduce the risk of health problems and other complications.
If you suspect that you may have sleep apnea, talk to your healthcare provider. If you have sleep apnea, Respshop offers a wide variety of CPAP machines, masks, and other supplies. We have a readily available team of medical staff who can answer your CPAP questions and provide recommendations.
