breathing pauses at night
Biden uses a respirator while sleeping
06/29/2023, 10:18 p.m
During a question and answer session, reporters noticed distinctive imprints on Joe Biden’s face. On request, the White House reports that the US President wears a breathing mask in bed. The reason for this is breathing disorders during sleep.
US President Joe Biden wears a breathing mask at night because of sleep apnea. When asked by a reporter, White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre said he had started doing it in the past few weeks. The sleep apnea of the 80-year-old has been known for many years. On Wednesday, reporters noticed prints on the president’s face that indicated the breathing mask.
Biden is the oldest US president of all time and is aiming for re-election in 2024. At the beginning of a possible second term, he would be 82 years old. His age has long been the cause of heated debates, including in his own party. Republican rivals regularly use blunders and minor missteps to question his mental and physical fitness.
Biden’s longtime doctor, Kevin O’Connor, revealed in 2019 that the Democrat had multiple nose jobs to ease sinus problems. A White House official told the New York Times that these surgeries appear to have relieved, but not eliminated, sleep apnea symptoms.
Sleep apnea is the best-known sleep disorder and is often associated with heavy snoring. Due to more than 15 breathing pauses per hour at night, patients do not get the necessary deep sleep, during which the body recovers. In addition, they lack the dream sleep for mental relaxation. This lack of sleep is made up for during the day – those affected doze off against their will.
A nasal mask connected to a pressure generator can help. During sleep, it ensures that the tongue is pressed against the floor of the mouth and cannot close the larynx. Studies suggest that sleep apnea increases with age, but the condition can also occur in young adults. About 30 million Americans are said to be affected.