Sleep apnea: What is it? Treatment, CPAP machines - all you need to know

US President Joe Biden has begun using a continuous positive airway pressure machine, or CPAP, to address a problem with sleep apnea, White House officials said on Wednesday. The White House did not provide additional details on what specific complaints or diagnosis prompted use of the machine, how the sleep apnea had been treated previously, or whether the president had undergone a sleep study.

Millions suffer from this sleep disorder. The sleep disorder forces people stop breathing for 10 seconds or more, reports said.

Biden's doctor, Kevin O'Connor, said in a 2019 report released by Biden's presidential campaign team that he looked into Biden having sleep apnea but that his symptoms improved after nasal passage and sinus surgeries.

Sleep Apnea:

Sleep apnea is a common disorder characterized by brief interruptions of breathing during sleep. Sleep apnea is thought to affect roughly 30 million Americans. With the ageing, people's muscle tone gets weaken and it includes neck and soft palate. This makes sleep apnea common feature among people aged over 50 years.

However, as per studies, sleep apnea has been found mild to moderate in elderly age and severe at younger ages.

American Academy of Sleep Medicine has claimed that if sleep apnea is not treated, there will be a risk of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, depression, and early death, as per reports.

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, as per a report.

FAQs

Q1. What is Sleep apnea?
A1. Sleep apnea is a common disorder characterized by brief interruptions of breathing during sleep. Sleep apnea is thought to affect roughly 30 million Americans. With the ageing, people's muscle tone gets weaken and it includes neck and soft palate.

Q2. Can someone die due to Sleep apnea?
A2. Sleep apnea, if untreated, 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.