President Joe Biden has begun using a machine to address a problem with sleep apnea, White House officials disclosed on Wednesday.
Gatekeepers News reports that the White House said the President is using a continuous positive airway pressure machine, or CPAP, to address a problem with sleep apnea.
White House spokesperson Andrew Bates said, “He used a CPAP machine last night, which is common for people with that history.”
A White House official who chose to remain anonymous said Biden had begun using the CPAP machine in recent weeks to improve his sleep quality.
The White House provided no additional details on what specific complaints or diagnosis prompted the use of the machine, how the sleep apnea had been treated previously, or whether the president had undergone a sleep study.
It added that it is transparent about the president’s health but did not say why it had not disclosed the machine’s use when it started.
In a 2019 report released by Biden’s presidential campaign team, his doctor, Kevin O’Connor said he looked into Biden having sleep apnea but that his symptoms improved after nasal passage and sinus surgeries.
80-year-old Biden is the oldest person to serve as U.S. president, and both his age and health have been a focus of voters as he seeks a second, four-year term in the 2024 election. Age is one of several factors that increase the risk of developing sleep apnea.
Sleep apnea is a common disorder characterized by brief interruptions of breathing during sleep.
Untreated, it can cause forgetfulness, fatigue and sleepiness, and can ultimately lead to cardiovascular disease because of the significant strain it can put on the heart, studies have shown.
