White House officials revealed on Wednesday that President Joe Biden uses a CPAP because he has sleep apnea.
Biden, 80, "had indentations across both sides of his face from having worn the device, known as a continuous positive airway pressure machine," The New York Times reported.
White House spokesman Andrew Bates explained that "since 2008, the president has disclosed his history with sleep apnea in thorough medical reports" and that Biden "used a CPAP machine last night, which is common for people with that history."
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Correspondent Michael Shear noted that "CPAP machines are among the most widely used treatments for sleep apnea. The machines deliver a continuous stream of air into masks worn during sleep, helping to keep breathing passages open and ensuring that people receive the oxygen they need."
Shear pointed out that "sleep apnea is thought to affect roughly 30 million Americans, and it can bring with it a range of consequences: Not only can a lack of oxygen disrupt sleep, but it can also raise the risk of high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke."
Although Biden's condition has been public knowledge since 2008, Shear recalled that "his presidential doctor did not mention the condition in either of the two letters assessing his health in 2021 and 2023."
Biden, Shear added, has also "undergone several nasal passage surgeries to help sinus symptoms."
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Shear's full report continues at this link (subscription required).