President Joe Biden recently began using a CPAP machine to treat sleep apnea, CNN reported on Wednesday. It’s a common disorder that affects an estimated 30 million U.S. Adults, according to a Feb. 2023 report by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.
“Since 2008, the president has disclosed his history with sleep apnea in thorough medical reports,” White House spokesman Andrew Bates said, after reporters asked about the mask marks on Biden’s face. “He used a CPAP machine last night, which is common for people with that history.”
CPAP machines utilize air pressure applied through a mask to ensure a sleeper’s throat remains open during the night. Weight loss, surgery and positional therapy are also often prescribed to those who suffer from sleep apnea. But approximately 80% of sleep apnea cases in American go undiagnosed, leaving sleepers to suffer the symptoms of the disorder.
