While the occasional yawn is harmless, constant yawning at inappropriate times can be both frustrating and distracting. Antihistamines, decongestants, or other medications can help reduce your allergies and help you yawn less. If your frequent yawning continues even after taking medication, consider talking to a doctor to rule out other causes. If you’ve recently started a new medication and noticed that all of a sudden you’re yawning all the time, maybe consider talking to your doctor.
Oxygen and Blood Flow Theory
Adults need seven to nine hours of sleep per night to feel rested and for optimal health. If you still find yourself yawning more than 30 times a day despite getting enough sleep, talk to your health care provider about what could be causing your excessive yawning. Yes, excessive yawning can be a symptom of several conditions, including sleep disorders like sleep apnea, narcolepsy, and insomnia. It may also point to neurological issues, medication side effects, anxiety, or chronic stress.
Here are eight simple and practical tips that can help you yawn a little bit less. You probably don’t spend too much time thinking about yawning — until you start doing it more often than usual. And when you can’t stop yawning, you probably can’t stop wondering what’s actually going on. Excessive yawning can make it difficult to have conversations, get work done, or even just focus on simple tasks. And if you let yourself think about it for too long, you may start to worry that the yawns are a symptom of a bigger issue.
- Once again, researchers don’t know for sure why this happens.
- During a yawn, a person’s mouth opens as far as possible while they inhale deeply and then slowly exhale.
- EDS may be caused by underlying factors that can be diagnosed by a medical provider.
- It may also be the result of a medication lowering your breathing rate.
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Below are some of the most common — and less common — causes to consider. If your excessive yawning is due to a neurological condition, treatment will once again depend on the specific diagnosis. Some neurological disorders are commonly treated with prescription medications or physical, occupational, or speech therapies. A supportive mattress helps reduce pressure on key areas of the body, including the lower back and shoulders, leading to better sleep posture and deeper rest. Poor spinal alignment during sleep can contribute to waking fatigue and frequent yawning throughout the day.
- It can also be prompted involuntarily when you witness other people yawn, often referred to as “contagious” yawning.
- Yawning isn’t considered a serious adverse reaction, so it’s not usually listed as a side effect in the medication’s drug summary.
- Understanding what triggers frequent yawning is an important first step in managing it effectively.
- If you have excessive yawning and other signs of stroke, like sudden numbness or weakness in your face, arm or leg, get emergency medical care.
While yawning is usually just a normal response to feeling tired or bored, excessive yawning could be a sign of something else. If you’re frequently and uncontrollable yawning, this could mean you have an imbalance in your body or that you have an underlying health concern. Yawning isn’t considered a serious adverse reaction, so it’s not usually listed as a side effect in the medication’s drug summary. This is why it’s important to let a healthcare provider know if you believe any medications may trigger excessive yawning. The most common causes of excessive yawning include sleep disorders, medication side effects, and certain health conditions.
If yawning is frequent, a medical evaluation is recommended. It could mean that you have a medical condition, are experiencing medication side effects, or just that you’re particularly stressed. Yawning is a common — yet mysterious — human function and behavior. If you find yourself yawning a lot, first try to figure out why. If nothing seems to make sense, talk to your healthcare provider.
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Some cultures consider yawning to be rude, which can also negatively impact your life. Research also shows that we’re much more likely to have contagious yawning when we see or hear a close loved one yawn as opposed to a stranger. With a bachelor’s degree in anthropology from Indiana University Bloomington, Rebecca enjoys making accurate, up-to-date health information accessible to all readers. As a freelance writer and editor, she has covered everything from healthcare and experimental music to education. Rebecca lives in Tennessee, where she spends her free time reading, writing fiction, and making music.
When you’re tired or even bored, yawning can be that release that you need. But when you’re yawning all the time, it can get pretty annoying — and even concerning. Yawning is the opening of your airway and mouth to take a long, deep breath of air. And surrounding muscles powerfully stretch or tense, excessive yawning causes most significantly around your throat (pharynx).
Reducing or “curing” excessive yawning may require you to get to the root cause. Throughout your day, try to drink water regularly, and monitor yourself for symptoms of dehydration, including exhaustion, dry mouth, or darker-colored urine. Also, dehydration can impact your circulation and oxygen delivery, and you might yawn more often because your body’s trying to maintain some balance. Cleveland Clinic’s primary care providers offer lifelong medical care.
Still, if yawning becomes persistent or appears alongside symptoms like dizziness, confusion, or fatigue, it is important to consult a healthcare provider. Identifying and treating the underlying cause not only helps reduce excessive yawning but also supports your overall health and quality of life. Understanding what triggers frequent yawning is an important first step in managing it effectively. Very often, excessive yawning is the result of insufficient sleep.
Common Causes of Yawning
Excessive yawning can be caused by a number of conditions, some more serious than others. This article will discuss the causes of frequent yawning, its implications, and how to manage it. Researchers initially thought that yawning might mean you lack oxygen, but more recent evidence suggests this is untrue. Yawning doesn’t mean you lack oxygen or your body is trying to get more oxygen. Your eyes may water because yawning causes muscles in your face to tense up and stretch, which might affect your tear glands, causing your eyes to water.
What triggers yawning
Excessive yawning can be a symptom of certain conditions and a side effect of certain medications. Not getting enough sleep or sleep deprivation can cause excessive yawning. 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.
When you’re dehydrated, it can really sap your energy, and this can make you yawn more. To help keep your hydration levels in check, try to drink water consistently throughout the day and try to add hydrating foods into your diet like fruits and veggies. Nobody wants to yawn all the time — and luckily, you don’t have to!
If excessive yawning is occurring as a result of a sleep disorder, a doctor may recommend sleep aid supplements, such as melatonin, or other medications, if necessary. Researchers aren’t exactly sure why yawning occurs, but common triggers include fatigue and boredom. Yawns may also occur when you talk about yawning or see or hear someone else yawn. Although excessive yawning is usually harmless, it can occasionally point to a more serious underlying issue.
Why do I feel like I have to yawn to get a deep breath?
When you’re dehydrated, you can start to feel tired and unfocused. This can make you yawn a lot because your body’s trying to stay alert. Yawning is mostly involuntary, meaning you don’t have control over it. However, you can make yourself yawn by breathing in gradually while retracting the tip of your tongue and opening your jaw repetitively. In addition, seeing other people yawning often triggers one. Talk with a doctor if you’ve noticed a sudden increase in your yawning, especially if you’ve been yawning frequently for no apparent reason.