Struggling With Metabolic Issues? Your Sleep Might Be to Blame

If you’ve been dealing with weight gain, sluggishness, elevated blood sugar, or difficulty maintaining your energy throughout the day, your metabolism may not be the only thing to blame. More and more research shows that poor sleep, especially sleep apnea, can significantly disrupt metabolic health.

The frustrating part? Many people don’t even realize their sleep is being interrupted.

At Zadeh Dentistry, our dentist in Beverly Hills often works with patients who come in searching for answers about their health. Once we take a closer look at their nighttime breathing patterns, we usually uncover something they never expected: undiagnosed sleep apnea. If you’ve been looking for sleep apnea in Beverly Hills, this article will help you understand why your sleep matters more than ever.

The Overlooked Link Between Sleep and Metabolism

Most people naturally associate metabolism with diet, hormones, or activity level. While these are certainly important, sleep is the body’s reset button, and it plays a major role in how efficiently you process and store energy.

When you sleep well:

• Your hormones remain balanced
• Your appetite is regulated
• Your blood sugar stays controlled
• Your cells repair and regenerate properly

But when your airways collapse at night, as they do with sleep apnea, your body goes into repeated cycles of stress, oxygen deprivation, and hormonal imbalance. This takes a toll on your metabolism, even if you’re eating well or staying active.

How Sleep Apnea Disrupts the Body

Sleep apnea causes you to stop breathing briefly, sometimes dozens or even hundreds of times throughout the night. Each breathing pause can lead to:

• A drop in oxygen
• A rush of stress hormones
• A quick jolt awakens the brain
• Increased inflammation throughout the body

Over time, these nightly interruptions can fuel metabolic issues such as:

1. Insulin Resistance

When the body doesn’t get enough oxygen, it becomes harder for cells to respond to insulin properly. This means blood sugar rises more easily, putting you at higher risk for:

• Prediabetes
• Type 2 diabetes
• Blood sugar instability

2. Weight Gain and Increased Appetite

Sleep apnea disrupts the balance of two important hunger hormones:

• Leptin, which tells your brain you’re full
• Ghrelin, which increases hunger

Decreased oxygen levels and interrupted sleep may decrease leptin levels and increase ghrelin levels, resulting in increased weight, increased cravings, and difficulty losing weight.

3. Increased Cortisol

Cortisol is your stress hormone. If sleep is continually interrupted, cortisol remains elevated. High cortisol levels are associated with:

• Storing fat in your belly
• Fatigue
• High blood pressure
• Difficulty managing your metabolism

4. Slowed Metabolic Rate

Without consistent deep sleep, your body cannot perform the restorative functions needed to keep metabolism efficient.

This is why many patients come to us saying, “I’m doing everything right, but I still can’t lose weight.” Sleep apnea may be the missing piece.

Common Signs You Might Have Sleep Apnea (Even If You Don’t Snore)

Snoring is a common sign of sleep apnea, but many people never snore at all. Instead, they may experience symptoms like:

• Dry mouth in the morning
• Fatigue despite a full night in bed
• Irritability or mood changes
• Morning headaches
• Trouble focusing or concentrating
• Memory problems
• Waking up gasping or feeling short of breath
• Frequent nighttime bathroom trips

If these symptoms feel familiar, it might be time to get evaluated by a dentist near you who understands airway-focused dentistry.

Why a Dentist Is the Right Place to Start

Dentists are trained to evaluate the airway and identify issues with the mouth and jaw that contribute to nighttime breathing problems. At Zadeh Dentistry, we take an airway-centered approach to understanding your sleep quality.

During your visit, we may assess:

• The position of your jaw
• The size of your airway
• Tongue placement
• Mouth breathing habits
• Teeth grinding patterns
• The shape of your palate

If we suspect sleep apnea, we guide you through the proper screening, including home sleep testing or a referral for a full sleep study when needed.

Comfortable, Customized Sleep Apnea Treatment

Many people assume CPAP is the only treatment for sleep apnea, but that’s not always the case. At Zadeh Dentistry, we create custom oral appliances that help maintain an open airway while you sleep.

These devices:

• They are relatively small and comfortable
• Help to reposition your jaw slightly forward
• Increase your airflow
• Reduce or stop snoring
• Reduce your apnea episodes
• Contribute to a deeper, more restorative night’s sleep

This is a great option for patients who cannot tolerate CPAPs or want something simpler. If you have been looking for sleep apnea treatment near you, our Beverly Hills team is providing our patients with personalized, comfortable and effective solutions.

How Treating Your Sleep Apnea Can Improve Your Metabolic Health

Most often, once sleep apnea is controlled, patients report remarkable improvements in their metabolic wellness:

• More stable blood sugar
• Better weight management
• Higher daily energy
• Reduced cravings
• Improved blood pressure
• Better mental clarity
• Reduced inflammation
• More motivation to exercise

Quality sleep supports every system in the body—including metabolism.

Take Control of Your Sleep. Take Control of Your Health.

If metabolic issues have been frustrating you or you suspect your sleep is affecting your overall health, now is the perfect time to take action.

At Zadeh Dentistry, our caring team is here to help you understand what’s really happening at night and what you can do to feel better. Schedule your consultation today and start your journey to better sleep and a healthier life.