Your provider will recommend treatment, if needed based on the results of your exam and tests. When allergies cause you to get nasally congested, your airflow can become restricted. As a result, you could yawn more in an attempt to breathe more easily. A lot of us have been told that the reason we yawn is because we’re not getting enough oxygen. But actually research suggests that this isn’t entirely accurate.
Stress Management
If you find you are yawning excessively, it may be best to schedule an appointment with a doctor to determine the cause. In some cases, the excessive yawning may resolve once you treat the underlying cause. As common as it is, the purpose of yawning is still undetermined. Humans begin yawning in the womb and usually continue yawning for the rest of their lives. Yawning is an involuntary action, usually driven by boredom or drowsiness. During a yawn, a person’s mouth opens as far as possible while they inhale deeply and then slowly exhale.
If it becomes persistent or is accompanied by concerning symptoms, it is important to consult a healthcare professional for further evaluation. Excessive yawning is frequently linked to poor sleep quality or disruption of the natural sleep-wake cycle. When the body does not receive adequate rest, it compensates by increasing behaviors like yawning to stay alert. We all yawn, usually when we are tired, bored, or winding down after a long day. But when yawning becomes excessive or occurs frequently throughout the day, it can raise questions and even cause concern.
Understanding Sleep Problems
It’s common to yawn several times a day, typically when you wake up and head to bed. Yawning is the body’s response to feeling sleepy or even bored. It can also be prompted involuntarily when you witness other people yawn, often referred to as “contagious” yawning. There’s little evidence to suggest that excessive yawning is caused directly by a vitamin deficiency.
What neurological disorders cause yawning?
More rarely, excessive yawning can be a symptom of a brain tumor, asthma, heart issues, or stroke. Excessive yawning is typically due to tiredness, sleep deprivation, or certain medications used to treat depression and anxiety, such as SSRIs. Sometimes excessive yawning can be a symptom of more serious conditions, such as heart problems or certain tumors. Frequent yawning is often caused by sleep deprivation, boredom, or emotional stress. In some cases, it may be related to conditions like sleep apnea, narcolepsy, neurological disorders, or the side effects of certain medications.
The Calm app puts the tools to feel better in your back pocket, with personalized content to manage stress and anxiety, get better sleep, and feel more present in your life. But to be on the safe side, consider reaching out to your doctor if your frequent yawning continues. When you sit in the same position without moving for a period of time, you may start to feel drowsy.
Is frequent yawning caused by dehydration?
Other circumstances and medical conditions are also linked to excessive yawning, though more rarely. Yawning could then serve as a natural cooling system, helping to restore alertness and mental clarity. This has shown that people usually yawn more in warm environments or during periods of intense mental effort, both of which can increase brain temperature. Certain medications, particularly those with sedative or neurological effects, can disrupt the body’s alertness and contribute to excessive yawning as a side effect. Researchers think when you yawn, you may be communicating how you feel, whether you’re tired, bored, or under mild stress. Some researchers also think that yawning is an empathetic and social skill where we show that we connect with others.
When you yawn, it’s sometimes followed by a larger stretch, which flexes your muscles and stretches your joints. You’ll also feel more awake as your lungs stretch and your heart rate increases. Contagious yawning is believed to have evolved as a way to stay alert and in sync in a group.
- Other tests or specialist visits may be recommended, too, if the results are inconclusive.
- To identify the cause of excessive yawning, a doctor may first ask you about any medications you take as well as your sleep habits.
- A.D.A.M. is among the first to achieve this important distinction for online health information and services.
- Some cultures consider yawning to be rude, which can also negatively impact your life.
- It’s a good idea to check with a healthcare provider if you’re constantly feeling fatigued or sleepy during the day because you may not realize you have a sleep disorder.
- Certain medications, particularly those with sedative or neurological effects, can disrupt the body’s alertness and contribute to excessive yawning as a side effect.
- Yawning doesn’t mean you lack oxygen or your body is trying to get more oxygen.
- A lot of us have been told that the reason we yawn is because we’re not getting enough oxygen.
Seeing or hearing other people yawn can also cause you to yawn. Excessive yawning may simply mean that you’re tired, drowsy, or fatigued. However, it can also be a sign of a medical condition, such as sleep apnea, narcolepsy, or a reaction to a medication. Managing excessive yawning often begins with lifestyle improvements that support better sleep, reduce stress, and promote overall well-being. In many cases, small daily changes can make a meaningful difference.
Yawning is a natural, involuntary reflex involving opening your mouth wide, taking a deep breath, and then exhaling slowly. Nearly everyone experiences it, often linked to feeling tired, bored, or just waking up. While it may seem like a simple act, yawning plays a bigger role in regulating our body’s functions than we often realize. Additionally, anxiety can affect the respiratory system, heart, and energy levels, leading to yawning or shortness of breath.
symptoms of anxiety (and how to mindfully treat them)
If a prescription medication may be to blame, it is best to speak with your health care provider before discontinuing the use of any medication. Your doctor may be able to prescribe a comparable drug that does not cause yawning as a side effect. When a doctor suspects that a neurological illness is causing excessive yawning, they may suggest other tests to diagnose or rule out certain conditions. It is normal for healthy people to yawn several times throughout the day, but yawning more than 30 times a day is generally considered excessive. One of the leading theories is the Brain excessive yawning causes Cooling Hypothesis, which suggests that yawning helps regulate brain temperature. According to this idea, yawning increases blood flow and draws in cooler air, which may help lower the temperature of the brain.
This test uses powerful magnets and radio waves to produce detailed images of the body, which can help doctors visualize and assess bodily structures.
Once again, researchers don’t know for sure why this happens. But they think it’s related to empathy — our ability to understand and share the feelings of another. It’s natural to yawn late in the day as you get tired, or perhaps when you’re bored. However, other factors or health conditions may cause excessive yawning.