Can Sleep Apnea Really Affect a Patient's Metabolism?

One of the major risk factors for developing sleep apnea is weight gain, and the two appear to be interconnected. According to a study from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, sleep apnea contributes to an increase in blood pressure, stress hormones, and glucose levels. Individuals who suffer from sleep apnea tend to have more fatty acids in their blood which lead to a slower metabolic rate (Basically, the pancreas can’t keep up with the excess amount of sugar). This situation combined with fatigue, subsequently, leads them to crave sugary snacks right around the middle of the afternoon or early in the evening. A lack of intervention for this cycle, either by a combination of exercise and diet and treatment for the sleep disorder, the metabolism is bound to slow down even more, which leads to other health issues such as heart disease and diabetes.