President Joe Biden’s annual physical revealed “no new concerns” but shed more light on several of the 81-year-old’s health issues.
Dr. Kevin O’Connor said the “most notable” change over the past year involved Biden’s sleep apnea – a condition the president has had for 16 years and which comes with an increased risk of dementia.
The White House doctor said Biden began using a mask last spring that puts pressurized air into the nose and mouth to ensure he breathes properly when he sleeps.
“We revisited the issue last spring and conducted a formal sleep study,” Dr. O’Connor wrote in his summary. “This study confirmed my suspicion that the President would benefit from optimizing his sleep efficiency with PAP (breathing apparatus).”
It has been well documented since 2008 that the president suffers from the condition, but the notes show there are signs it could get worse.
Last year, Biden was pictured with marks on his face, which the White House later said were from a CPAP machine used to manage his condition.
More than 30 million Americans are diagnosed with sleep apnea, in which patients snore, choke and gasp for breath 20 to 30 times per hour during the night.
And the older a person is, the more serious the consequences of the condition can be.
A 2022 study found that patients with sleep apnea had a 43 percent increased risk of developing any type of neurocognitive disorder, a 28 percent increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease and a 54 percent increased risk of Parkinson’s disease.
Doctors say the link to dementia was likely caused by the brain not getting enough oxygen during sleep, which can damage blood vessels and disrupt the balance of an enzyme that helps regulate the protein that causes plaque.
Dr. O’Connor said the White House medical team experimented with different types of masks before finding one comfortable enough for Biden to wear all night.
“Most people experience some difficulty getting used to falling asleep while wearing a mask on their face, as well as keeping it on all night,” the notes said.
‘This is reasonably to be expected and should actually be expected. The president had a similar experience. But by trying different masks we have been able to identify some products that fit him very comfortably and effectively.”
Dr. O’Connor wrote in his medical summary that the president’s sleep apnea condition is “stable” and that he has “demonstrated an excellent response to PAP and is closely following therapy.”
The doctor added: “He remains fit for duty and is fully carrying out all his responsibilities without any waivers or accommodations.”
Another major health development over the past year, Dr. O’Connor wrote, was a dental emergency the president faced that required him to undergo emergency root canal treatment in June.
The doctor said there were no complications and Biden – who is known for his love of ice cream – recovered well.
Biden’s routine physical activities included consultations with doctors specializing in optometry, dentistry, orthopedics, neurology, physical therapy, cardiology and dermatology.
The White House confirmed that the president has not undergone any cognitive testing.
However, he did undergo “a highly detailed neurological examination” that ruled out “stroke, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s or ascending lateral sclerosis.”
Neurological examinations include CT scans and MRIs of the brain, conduction studies to test nerves, and electroencephalography (EEG) or electromyography (EMG) to measure brain activity and nerve function.
Cognitive tests measure cognition and brain function and processing. Examples include: number and word memory tests, drawing tests, tests that measure attention, language and reasoning and questionnaires.
Biden was photographed last year with a mark on his face that was later revealed to have been caused by wearing a mask to treat his sleep apnea
Marine One is seen landing at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland, as President Joe Biden arrived for his physical Wednesday
DailyMail.com revealed earlier this month which cognitive test Biden could undergo if his doctor deemed it necessary.
In addition to sleep apnea, the physically revealed Biden has an irregular heartbeat, or atrial fibrillation, which causes an irregular and often unusually fast heartbeat and dramatically increases the risk of stroke.
The president has suffered from the condition since 2003. He uses the blood thinner apixaban, brand name Eliquis, to treat the heart condition.
Cardiac arrhythmias can cause a variety of serious heart health complications, including blood clots.
If a blood clot breaks loose, it can travel directly from the heart to the brain, causing a stroke. Therefore, people with an irregular heartbeat are up to five times more likely to have a stroke.
Biden also has high cholesterol, which is treated with statin medications that should prevent the problem from developing into hardened arteries or something more serious.
The other conditions listed in his physical condition have all been previously documented. They include acid reflux, seasonal allergies, a stiff gait and nerve damage in his feet.
Dr. O’Connor noted that these were all ‘stable’ and there was no change from the last study.
For his various ailments, the president takes the blood thinner Apixaban, Rosuvastatin to lower cholesterol, nasal sprays for allergies, famotidine for his acid reflux and esomeprazole for heartburn.
These medications can lead to adverse side effects, including confusion, dizziness, headache, anxiety, agitation, and drowsiness.