Taft Had Sleep Apnea?
William Taft was the 27th president of the United States and later the Chief Justice (the only president to hold both these titles). While Taft was not formally diagnosed, it is widely believed that he suffered from severe obstructive sleep apnea. Here are three of the telltale symptoms Taft exhibited:
1. Obesity: During his presidency, Taft weighed over 300 pounds.
2. Snoring: Although his wife Nellie didn’t explicitly recount her husband snoring loudly, they slept in separate bedrooms, suggesting that his snoring disturbed her sleep. Other witnesses claim Taft snored while sitting up, which likely meant he was a loud snorer while lying down.
3. Daytime fatigue: It isn’t uncommon for people with sleep apnea to fall asleep with ease and feel the effects of poor quality sleep during the daytime. While Taft claimed he slept “very well” at night, he was known to fall asleep in practically any situation—during conversations, in church, at the theater, while eating, even at a funeral. Taft could even fall asleep while standing up!
How Sleep Problems Affected Taft
Because of Taft’s untreated sleep apnea, he wasn’t able to serve to his fullest ability as president. Without a proper night’s sleep, one isn’t able to achieve their highest levels of productivity.
Sleep apnea greatly reduced Taft’s mental capacity and ability to focus on his presidential tasks, and he dozed off during meetings and while signing documents.
Taft made so many political errors that he was called “Taft the Blunderer” and described as “thinking with only half of his normal clarity.” This ultimately led to him losing his reelection.
What Taft Needed: An Auto CPAP
While CPAPs weren’t around during the time, Taft would have greatly benefited from today’s advanced technology. Newer CPAP machines are auto-titrating, meaning they adjust to your needs breath-by-breath to give the most effective pressure all night. We recommend auto CPAPs to anyone looking for the best sleep possible because they:
- Increase the comfort of your therapy: Pressure won’t be too low or high, cause discomfort, or interrupt your sleep
- Simplify your nighttime routine: Never worry about setting the pressure of your machine again!
- Save money: You can cut out the need for additional (and costly) testing
- Increase the comfort of your therapy: Pressure won’t be too low or high, cause discomfort, or interrupt your sleep
- Simplify your nighttime routine: Never worry about setting the pressure of your machine again!
- Save money: You can cut out the need for additional (and costly) testing
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Source: “Taft’s Story.” Apneos Corporation. 2004.
Image credit: Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
