After reporters noticed marks on the president's face Wednesday morning, the White House disclosed that the president started using a CPAP machine a few weeks ago.
Philips is trying to fix or replace 5 million of the devices because foam in them can deteriorate into harmful particles. But the process is taking years, forcing some patients to risk their health.
Doctors say the machine that helps some people with sleep apnea keep their airway open at night won't be enough to help an ill COVID-19 patient breathe and could spread the coronavirus to bystanders.
Millions of sleep apnea patients rely on CPAP breathing machines to get a good night's rest. Health insurers use a variety of tactics, including surveillance, to make patients bear the costs.