Causes of frequent yawning and how to get rid of it quickly. Why do people yawn, and why yawns pass on to others

The process of yawning plays an important role in human life. We “yawn from boredom”, we can “miss” the bus, we call “onlookers” kids who love to stare around, and not under their feet. But what actually is yawning and is it somehow connected with those processes, which are devoted to numerous memes about yawning?

What is a yawn?

Yawning in medical and anatomical reference books is explained as a reflex, that is, involuntary, respiratory act. Simply put, when a person yawns, he takes a long, deep breath, receiving a huge portion of oxygen at a time. When inhaling, the mouth, pharynx, and glottis open wide. Exhalation is relatively short and fast. Often, when exhaling, a person makes a short voice sound.

Yawning is inherent not only to a born person - even the fetus in the womb yawns. Many vertebrates also yawn, with some of them yawning when they see a prey or a rival—the wide opening of the mouth allows their teeth to show.

Why and why do people yawn?

Unfortunately, the causes that provoke yawning have not yet been fully studied and unequivocally established. Of course, scientists know a lot about yawning, but many of them have their own versions of why people yawn. Perhaps only some of these versions are true, or maybe all at once.

So, why does a person yawn and why does he need it:

Balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide. Too much carbon dioxide accumulates in the human blood. The body reacts to this by causing yawning. A person, yawning, immediately receives a large portion of oxygen, and the balance is maintained.
Yawning as an energy drink. Yawning in the morning is necessary for the body to activate. For this, a person yawns when he feels signs of fatigue. By the way, there is a connection between two reflexes: yawning and stretching. These two processes, done simultaneously, not only saturate the blood with oxygen, but also improve blood circulation. Vivacity appears, attention increases.
Yawning as a sedative. People yawn before an exciting event, as yawning activates and invigorates. Yawning has been noted to attack athletes before competitions, students before exams, patients before entering a doctor's office, circus performers before complex stunts, performers before performances, and so on. Through yawning, people cheer themselves up, bring the body into tone, which helps them cope with excitement.
Yawning is good for the ears and nose. Yawning opens and straightens the channels leading to the maxillary sinuses and the Eustachian tubes (those tubes that go from the ear to the throat), which allows you to get rid of the so-called "congestion" in the ears. Yawning regulates air pressure in the middle ear.
Yawning for relaxation and relaxation. Paradoxically, yawning can not only cheer up, but also relax. Arbitrary yawning is used as a technique in some relaxation techniques. Try to lie down, relax and open your mouth wide - sooner or later the process of yawning will occur. At this point, the body will relax. Yawning prepares the body for sleep by creating a sense of calm. This is why people yawn before going to bed.
Why do people yawn when they are bored? With prolonged muscle passivity, blood stasis occurs. Yawning and sipping at the same time keeps you active. For this reason, people yawn when they sit, for example, at a boring lecture: you can’t move, it’s not interesting to listen, a person begins to fall asleep. And here the process of yawning involuntarily takes place, allowing you to sit through the end of the lecture and, most importantly, to listen to it. Some scientists in the course of research have found that yawning in itself allows you to relieve mental stress. Probably, this is also why we yawn when we are forced to listen or watch something that we are not at all interested in.
Yawning to nourish the brain. Some scientists argue that during the period of passivity, when we do not move and get bored, the performance of nerve cells decreases and breathing slows down. When yawning, firstly, the lack of oxygen is replenished (we breathe more slowly during the period of passivity, so the body begins to lack oxygen), and secondly, the blood flow in the vessels of the brain improves. The brain receives the necessary nutrition, and we are a little perked up - both physically and mentally. The blood supply to brain cells improves because at the time of yawning, a person strongly strains the muscles of the oral cavity, face, and neck. There is a kind of mini-gymnastics, as a result of which the activity of the brain is activated.
Yawn as a regulator of brain temperature. According to some scientists, yawning regulates the temperature of the brain, which is why we yawn more often when we are hot. Having received a large portion of cool air, the body “cools the brain”, and it starts working normally again.

So, let's summarize the questions "Why do people yawn and why do they need it?". When a person is tired, cold or, conversely, overheated, he needs to cheer up. The body itself regulates this process, causing yawning.

At the same time, the body receives a portion of cool air, due to which the temperature of the brain is regulated. The blood is instantly saturated with oxygen, the blood flow of the cerebral vessels improves. Yawning is often accompanied by sipping – these two processes, carried out simultaneously, double the effect of yawning.

In a word, yawning is a reflex that a person needs to be in good shape. However, if the body is preparing for sleep, yawning, on the contrary, helps to relax - this function of yawning has been inherited by us, apparently, from distant ancestors.

And finally, some interesting facts about yawning:

A yawn lasts an average of 6 seconds.
After a second yawn, a person usually yawns not earlier than after one to one and a half minutes.
Women and men yawn with the same frequency.
Men are less likely to cover their mouths while yawning.
People who yawn too often or, on the contrary, too rarely, are advised to consult a doctor - a healthy person yawns constantly, but not too often.
Yawning is known to be contagious. Autistic children don't usually yawn back.
According to the results of research by scientists, in response to the yawn of another person, those people who have a well-developed and especially active area of the brain responsible for the need for empathy yawn.
By reading this article “Why do people yawn?”, you probably yawned at least 2-3 times, and even much more.

Each of us has personal experience with yawning. But few people understand what this process is, what function it performs in the body, and whether yawning is as safe as many people think. In this article, we will take a closer look at why people yawn, as well as consider many other issues related to such a common and familiar phenomenon.

What is a yawn

First of all, you need to understand what a yawn really is. Many believe that they can control this process. In fact, this is a reflex respiratory act, which is characterized by a deep long inhalation and a short exhalation, often accompanied by a characteristic sound.

At first glance, it seems that there is nothing special about yawning, and the problem is not worth considering. However, in 2010, an International Medical Congress was held in France, the theme of which was precisely yawning. The luminaries of medical science in many countries shared their opinions about why a person constantly yawns, why this process is necessary for the body, and when this reflex act becomes a symptom of a disease.

To date, there are no exact, verified and confirmed answers to the questions posed, but there are still certain assumptions. We will describe them in detail below.

When do people yawn and why is it necessary

There are several hypotheses about why people yawn and how this process is reflected in the health of the body. Let's look at them in more detail.

The most common reason people yawn in medical circles is the lack of oxygen in the brain tissue. It is reliably known that during a deep breath, a greatly increased amount of oxygen enters the bloodstream, in contrast to normal breathing. In addition, during a yawn, the respiratory passages open wide: the pharynx, the glottis, the volume of the nasopharynx and pharynx increases. As you know, when the body is saturated with oxygen, blood flow and metabolism are accelerated. This, in turn, leads to an improvement in human well-being, tone. Therefore, in various situations, when the oxygen balance is disturbed, stagnation of blood flow occurs, a person experiences yawning. So, after sleep, long monotonous work, a person yawns. Such a respiratory act helps to cheer up, bring the body into tone.
Another version of the cause of yawning is the need for the body to cool the brain. This hypothesis is closely related to the previous one, since its essence lies in the same saturation of the brain with a large amount of oxygen.
Why do people often yawn during a flight? In this way, the body regulates the pressure in the middle ear. This happens due to the fact that the channels that connect the pharynx and the Eustachian tubes straighten out.
Also, yawning is necessary to relieve muscle tightness. Often the act of breathing is accompanied by pandiculation of the body. So the body is invigorated and tuned to productive activity. The fair sex will be interested to know the fact that during yawning, facial muscles are massaged, tightening them and improving skin turgor.
Why do people often yawn? The reason may be a serious illness. Let's take a closer look at this issue and offer a list of health problems that can cause frequent yawning below.
Among other things, such a reflex respiratory act tends to calm and relax the body. That is why people yawn before going to bed or during an exciting event, such as before an exam, competition, or an important meeting.

Why do children yawn

Yawning in children is considered an indicator of normal lung development. A reliable fact has been recorded that children yawn even before they are born. Such a respiratory act can be observed using ultrasound in the fetus for a period of 11-12 weeks of pregnancy. But, if yawning often helps an adult to cheer up, then such a process exclusively calms a child, becomes a harbinger of sleep.

If parents notice that the baby yawns too often, you need to pay attention to this. Perhaps the crumbs do not have enough oxygen and there is a need to increase the duration of walks in the fresh air. Frequent yawning in children can also indicate problems with the nervous system. In this case, an examination by a neurologist is required.

Why do people yawn in church

You have come to church for spiritual peace, when suddenly you begin to yawn. You become uncomfortable in front of others, and you have to leave the temple. Why does a person yawn in church? We hasten to reassure - this situation happens quite often and does not depend on the age, state of health of the parishioner. It is not difficult to explain this phenomenon, knowing the mechanism of yawning. In the church, several reasons appear simultaneously for which such a respiratory process occurs: a stuffy room, muffled light, monotonous prayer. All these factors contribute to the inhibition of various body processes, including blood flow. Therefore, there is a lack of oxygen, which contributes to an involuntary reflex act.

Why do people yawn while talking

Are you talking to a person, and he suddenly starts yawning? Do not rush to accuse the interlocutor of ingratitude and indifference, and yourself - of the lack of oratory and emotionality. The case is exactly the opposite. Yawning overcame the listener just because of the increased work of brain activity. The opponent listened attentively to your story, so his oxygen metabolism was disturbed, and in order to replenish his strength and continue the active work of the brain, the body was saturated with oxygen with the help of a yawn. Now you can safely continue your story.

In the same way, one can explain why a person yawns when talking - overexertion contributes to a decrease in the amount of oxygen in the bloodstream, and yawning as a protective mechanism replenishes the spent energy.

Is yawning contagious?

It has been noticed that yawning is “contagious” - as soon as one person yawns, others around him also begin to reflexively repeat. Why do people yawn even when they are just watching a video of a person yawning or reading an article about yawning? The answer lies in the cerebral cortex. Are you yawning now? This is your mirror neurons, which are located in the cerebral cortex. They are responsible for empathy and are the cause of contagious yawns on an emotional level. It has been noted that categories of people who have less developed parts of the brain responsible for feelings are not prone to contagious yawning. These people include children under 5 years old (although there are exceptions), autistic people and those suffering from schizophrenia.

Signs and superstitions

There are such beliefs among the people about yawning:

They cover their mouth with their hands during a yawn so that the devil does not fly into the soul.
Residents of Turkey believe that if you do not have time to cover your mouth during a yawn, the soul can fly out of a person.
The Indians believe that yawning is a call to death or the devil, and in order to scare away the unclean, you need to snap your fingers.
In our open spaces, folk healers claim that the evil eye comes out in the process of yawning. And if a person yawns while talking with another, the soul is protected from unfavorable energy.

When yawning becomes a dangerous symptom

Why do people yawn so often? Frequent yawning is a signal to the body that it lacks oxygen. In this case, ventilate the room, but rather organize a walk in the fresh air.

Frequent yawning may indicate fatigue. Set aside time for rest and good sleep, alternate vigorous activity with breaks for relaxation. We found out why a person yawns, but how to deal with such a process when it takes us by surprise at the most inopportune moment, for example, during a business meeting or a date with a loved one? How to cope with the reflex act and, as they say, not lose face in front of others? There are some actionable tips:

Fresh air will saturate the body with oxygen, and the need for the body to yawn will disappear.
Daily morning jogging or other active sports will help minimize the chances of yawning during the day.
Do not forget about proper rest and sleep.
While working at the computer, sit straight - this way the diaphragm is not squeezed, and the air saturated with oxygen enters in the required volume.
Learn proper deep breathing.
Cold drink or food will eliminate the attack of yawning.
Express method for suppressing the reflex - as soon as you feel the urge to yawn, lick your lips.
It also helps to hold back a yawn by taking a deep breath in through the nose and a short breath out through the mouth.

So, we found out why a person yawns. It turns out that such a simple process has important functions in the work of the whole organism. Therefore, it should not be taken lightly. With prolonged and frequent yawning, be sure to undergo an examination of the heart and blood vessels under the supervision of a doctor.

Some people who are far from medicine believe that yawning is a sign of drowsiness or boredom. In fact, this is an uncontrolled reflex of the body, which can manifest itself for a variety of reasons.

Why does a person yawn?

Often yawning, especially frequent and strong, indicates health problems or chronic fatigue, nervous strain. Therefore, it is necessary to understand the causes of yawning and take the necessary measures.

Why yawning happens

The reasons that trigger the yawn reflex are not yet fully understood. Many doctors, biologists and physiologists believe that a person begins to yawn not only when he is bored or sleepy, but also when the body lacks oxygen - for example, when in a stuffy, poorly ventilated room. Because of this, metabolic products accumulate in the blood. They act on the respiratory center of the brain, thereby not only activating the processes of inhibition, but also provoking yawning.

The physiological act of yawning itself consists of two phases: a slow deep breath, during which the facial and neck muscles are strongly strained, and a quick, sharp exhalation. Muscle tension increases the rate of blood flow, which improves the blood supply to the brain and accelerates metabolic processes. In addition, impulses from tense muscles excite the nerve cells of the cerebral cortex, which leads, as it were, to “shaking off” the processes of inhibition.

Therefore, after yawning, the brain begins to work more actively (though not for long)

Some scientists believe that yawning performs the function of thermoregulation of the brain. They compare the brain to some complex electronic device that, when overheated, begins to work worse. Yawning, on the other hand, by providing blood and cooler air to the brain, relieves it of overheating and thereby improves functioning.

Often a person yawns immediately after waking up in the morning. This is because, due to prolonged immobility, the rate of blood flow in his body has decreased, and the concentration of carbon dioxide and other metabolic products in the blood, on the contrary, has increased.

Constant yawning also often occurs when performing work associated with risk or excitement, increased responsibility. This can happen to people in many different professions and situations: test pilots before flights, stunt performers before performing risky stunts, actors before going on stage, surgeons before a complex operation, and so on.

The reason is that with strong emotional stress, excitement, a person instinctively tries to hold his breath. The oxygen content in the blood drops rapidly, while the carbon dioxide content rises. Then the body just as instinctively turns on the mechanism of yawning, saturating the blood with oxygen.

Yawning is a sign of illness

What health problems can yawning indicate and how to get rid of it? If a person often yawns, especially during the day, this indicates that his body does not have enough oxygen. It is necessary to go out into the fresh air or at least ventilate the room.

Frequent yawning, especially in conjunction with a feeling of physical weakness, lethargy, apathy, may also indicate overwork or emotional overstrain. This is a signal that the body needs rest. It is necessary to take at least a short vacation, or at least reduce the load, streamline the daily routine, and avoid stressful, conflict situations. Sleep should be long enough, and the sleeping area should be well ventilated.

Yawning is also one of the signs of vegetovascular dystonia. This disease is treated with the help of restorative and sedative drugs. It is also necessary to engage in physical therapy and avoid unrest, stressful situations.

In some cases, according to the doctor's prescription, the patient is prescribed neuroleptic drugs.

Frequent yawning can also be a symptom of the development of such a formidable disease as multiple sclerosis. It occurs when the body's immune system, for some reason, begins to mistake its own central nervous system for foreign tissue, attacks and damages it. These attacks can occur in different places in the body (scattered). Depending on where exactly the damaged areas of the brain are located, the patient experiences certain symptoms. Most often in the early stages of the disease, they manifest themselves in the form of visual impairment, muscle weakness, deterioration in coordination of movements, and fine motor skills.

Until relatively recently, the diagnosis of "multiple sclerosis" was considered a sentence dooming a person to an early disability and helplessness. Now, with the help of modern medicines, it is possible to avoid the development of the disease, preventing disability. But for this it is necessary to detect multiple sclerosis at an early stage. Therefore, with frequent yawning, it is necessary to consult a neurologist, who will give a referral for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and, if lesions of the brain are detected, prescribe treatment.

Although a lot of research has been devoted to studying the causes of yawning, scientists still cannot agree on what its main purpose is. For a long time it was believed that yawning occurs as a result of a low oxygen content in the blood: with the help of a deep breath, the body takes a breath of oxygen. However, scientists eventually refuted this theory: it turned out that if you give a yawning person more oxygen or ventilate a stuffy room, he will not stop yawning.

Reason for yawning. Version 2: brain cooling

According to another theory, a person yawns to cool the brain. Experiments conducted by American scientists showed that subjects who had a cold compress applied to their forehead yawned less often when watching videos of yawning people than subjects with or without a warm compress (about the contagiousness of yawning - a little lower). Those participants in the experiment who were asked to breathe only through their nose also yawned less often: with such breathing, cooler blood enters the brain than with mouth breathing.

Reason for yawning. Version 3: warm up

Who else?

Not only people yawn, but also other mammals, birds and even fish. For example, baboons yawn to show threat, while exposing their fangs. In addition, male baboons always yawn at the sound of thunder (scientists have not yet figured out why). Male fighting fish also yawn to demonstrate threat - they yawn when they see another fish or look in the mirror and are often accompanied by an aggressive attack. Other fish can also yawn, usually when the water is too hot or there is a lack of oxygen. Emperor and Adélie penguins yawn during their courtship ritual. And snakes yawn to straighten their jaws and straighten their trachea after swallowing large prey.

Another purpose of yawning is to stretch and relax tired or tight muscles. First of all, these are the muscles of the pharynx and tongue, but also the muscles of the whole body: that is why a person often stretches simultaneously with yawning. Such a warm-up for the muscles, combined with a cooling of the brain, helps to invigorate the body and bring it into a state of readiness for action. Therefore, yawning often occurs when people are nervous before some important event: students yawn before exams, skydivers before a jump, and artists before a performance. For the same reason, people yawn when they are sleepy or bored: yawning helps to invigorate a sleepy brain and numb muscles.

Reason for yawning. Version 4: Ear Help

It is also useful to yawn while flying on an airplane. This helps to get rid of the feeling of stuffy ears that occurs during takeoff or landing due to the pressure difference on either side of the eardrum. Since the pharynx is connected to the middle ear cavity by special channels, yawning helps equalize the pressure in the ears.

Reason for yawning. Version 5: mirror neurons

four legged friends

Yawning can be transmitted not only from person to person, but also from person to dog. So, scientists from Sweden and the UK have shown that dogs yawn at the sight of yawning people, and the tendency to such mirror behavior depends on the age of the dog: animals under seven months old are resistant to infection by yawning. At the same time, dogs are not deceived - if a person does not yawn for real, but simply opens his mouth, depicting a yawn, the dog will not yawn in response. Scientists have also shown that dogs become more relaxed and sleepy when they see a yawning person - that is, they copy not only human behavior, but also the physiological state that underlies it.

Yawning is highly contagious. People begin to yawn not only when they see others yawning, but also when watching videos or photos of people yawning. Moreover, often it is enough for a person to read or think about yawning in order to start yawning himself. However, not everyone has the ability to mirror yawn: studies of children with autism have shown that, unlike healthy children, they do not become infected with yawning when watching videos of other people yawning. Also, children under the age of five, who are not yet able to empathize with others, are not prone to mirror yawning. What explains the relationship between susceptibility to infection by yawning and the capacity for empathy?

The contagiousness of yawning is based on the so-called mirror neurons. These neurons, located in the cerebral cortex of humans, other primates, and some birds, have a kind of empathy: they fire when a person observes the actions that someone else is doing. Mirror neurons determine the ability to imitate (for example, when learning new languages) and to empathize: thanks to them, we not only notice the emotional state of another person, but actually experience it ourselves. Mirror yawning is one example of such imitative behavior. According to scientists, imitative yawning arose in the evolution of primates to coordinate the actions of social groups. When one of the group members yawned at the sight of danger, his state was transmitted to everyone else, and the group came into a state of readiness for action.

Reason for yawning. Version 6: a sign of closeness

In 2011, Italian scientists showed that the contagiousness of yawning serves as a measure of people's emotional closeness. In experiments, mirror yawning most often occurred in close relatives and friends of the yawner. Distant acquaintances were less likely to become infected by yawning, and very rarely did mirror behavior occur in people unfamiliar with the yawning person. At the same time, gender and nationality did not affect the tendency to yawn infection.

Reason for yawning. Version 7: a symptom of the disease

Long-term frequent yawning can be a sign of various diseases - for example, violations of the body's thermoregulation, sleep problems, high blood pressure, arterial thrombosis, or damage to the brain stem, where the respiratory center is located. In addition, too frequent yawning can occur with increased anxiety or depression - while there is an increased level of cortisol, the stress hormone, in the blood. Therefore, if you are overcome by constant yawning, you should consult a doctor - check your heart, blood vessels and pressure. And for starters, you can try to get a good night's sleep and stop being nervous.

A person yawns in the womb and after birth, this process accompanies the rest of his life. At this time, the chin with the lower jaw is lowered, the head is thrown back, the eyes are closed. In addition, the actions are accompanied by muscle stretching. The mechanism and significance of these movements, scientists still cannot explain in detail. It is difficult to say why, when a person nearby yawns, it is so difficult to resist not to miss in return.

Physiological causes

Not always yawning signals that the body wants to sleep. Among scientists there is an opinion that it indicates a lack of oxygen in the body, but yawning is not associated with breathing. It has already been proven that an attack of yawning can overtake people both at the moment of boredom and during energetic activities.

Scientists are trying to explain this process by various reasons, including psychological and physiological. From the point of view of physiology, yawning is provoked by the following factors:

Yawning is necessary to maintain a normal ratio of carbon dioxide and oxygen. As a result of this act, a strong inhalation occurs through an open mouth and a sharp exhalation, which enriches the tissues and organs with oxygen necessary for normal life.
Yawning is a sedative for the nervous system, helping to overcome stress, which is why it can overcome exciting communication.
Acts as a stimulus to trigger the energy reserve that occurs as a result of oxygen enrichment after yawning. The activity of the brain is activated, albeit for a short time.

During the study, scientists noticed that during a boring lesson, students or schoolchildren can yawn more than 20 times within an hour in order to somehow invigorate the body and set it up for work.

The reason for yawning before bed is to help the body relax and prepare for sleep.
This process is triggered if there is a feeling of fullness in the ear as a result of pressure imbalance.
It is believed that, in this way, the regulation of brain temperature occurs. That is why the desire to yawn occurs during stuffiness and heat in the room. During this movement, a deep breath is taken, which means that more oxygen enters the body.
There is a version that myocardial infarction or existing tumors can irritate the vagus nerve, which runs from the head to the stomach, which provokes many reactions, including frequent yawning.
Causes may be hidden behind neurological conditions, for example, patients diagnosed with epilepsy have been noted to yawn frequently, which is again associated with a lack of oxygen to the brain.
Yawning is a consequence of the onset of a period of inhibition for excitation. Some functions are inhibited at this time, the amount of metabolic products in the blood increases, which provokes this process.
An empty stomach can also cause yawning.
If you could not sleep, then there will definitely be a desire to yawn.

The listed versions of yawning once again confirm that constant yawning can be not only a symptom of lethargy, boredom, drowsiness, but also some diseases in the body.

If during yawning an adult has a feeling of incomplete inspiration, lack of air, then you should see a doctor and check your lungs. In the fair sex, such sensations can be a symptom of breast cancer.

From the point of view of psychology

Psychologists explain the reasons for this process from their point of view. The cause of constant yawning can be prolonged stress or nervous overload. Such an act can provoke an attack of fear or anxiety, because at this moment the body's need for oxygen increases.

The depressive state is also often characterized by the appearance of a strong desire to yawn. During such situations, the human body is in dire need of hyperventilation of the lungs, which provokes yawning.

Features of the child's body

If a child often yawns, this does not mean that he mirrors the movements of his parents. Young children do not yet have such feelings as empathy, so the “mirror” act is not characteristic of them.

If parents notice that their child is constantly yawning, then the following problems can be suspected:

disorders in the work of the nervous system;
stress;
fear;
anxiety;
nervous tension.

If you suspect psychological and neurological problems, you should visit a specialist. But most often the reason is rather banal - lack of oxygen. In such situations, there can be only one recommendation - to walk more with the baby in the fresh air.

Function

Even scientists are not yet ready to give an exact answer to this question. There are many opinions and versions, and among them the following can be considered the most reliable:

Yawning serves to improve the supply of oxygen to tissues.
This act helps to restore the working capacity of the brain, so it can attack during monotonous or boring work. As a result, blood circulation is activated, the mind is enlightened and efficiency increases.
Psychologists claim that yawning is designed to relieve stress, tension and psychological fatigue.
Yawning is intended to relax the stiff and tired muscles of the neck and the whole body, because it is not without reason that during this process we try to stretch.

Yawning is an important and, as it turns out, necessary reflex for the body.

Why is yawning contagious?

Each of us noticed, as soon as a person nearby yawns, such a desire is immediately transmitted to the interlocutor. What is the phenomenon of contagion - scientists are trying to explain this by two reasons:

"Non-verbal reflex".

According to this theory, the act of yawning is transmitted from one person to another due to "primitive memory". Ancient people could not speak, they communicated with each other using facial expressions and gestures. When it was time for bedtime, the yawning of the leader of the tribe meant that it was time for bed. All the rest had to support in response. This is a clear demonstration of group behavior, the actions of one person start a chain reaction. Yawning is contagious, as is laughter.

The tendency to empathy explains the contagiousness of yawning.

Numerous studies by foreign experts confirm that not everyone begins to yawn in response, but only those who have the most developed part of the brain responsible for the ability to empathize.

Surprisingly, it is almost impossible to control the process, if someone yawns nearby, there is always a desire to miss too.

Some scientists believe that yawning is more contagious than laughter because it is beyond our control. One act of yawning lasts about 6 seconds and in half an hour you can yawn up to 75 times. Here is some more interesting information about it:

The frequency of yawning in men and women is the same, but the fair sex prefers to cover their mouth with their hands at this moment.
If, during the appearance of a desire to yawn, look at a person, then he is unlikely to succeed in this process.
It is impossible to control yawning with consciousness, if it starts, it can be repeated once every 60 seconds.

But not only humans have the ability to yawn.

In the animal world

Those who have pets can confirm that they are also not averse to yawning. There are plenty of such people in the animal world:

Baboons, sitting on a branch, yawn to show relatives and enemies frightening fangs.
Only when they are born, little hedgehogs already know how to yawn.
Looking at pelicans, it is sometimes difficult to recognize whether the bird is yawning or simply opened its mouth to dry the mouth pockets.
Hippos open their mouths the widest. If he tries to breathe in this way, then the child will be able to fit in his mouth.
Baby dogs and cats are simply adorable when they yawn.
Koalas in eucalyptus trees are notorious for being slow and lazy, so it's no wonder they yawn all the time.
The ostrich, after waking up, opens its beak quite wide.
It can be assumed that the turtle opens its mouth to frighten off the enemy, but the closed eyelids confirm that the animal is still yawning.
While yawning, squirrels even delicately cover their mouths with their paws.
Even fish are capable of performing the act of yawning, but in them it most often serves as a demonstration of readiness to attack the victim.

These are our smaller brothers, they do not even want to yield to us in this.

What Causes Yawning During Prayer

Many wonder why it is difficult to overcome yawning during prayer. If you talk with the priest, then, as a rule, he will assure you of the presence of damage or the evil eye. But scientists, as always, have logical explanations for this phenomenon:

It has been noted that most often the act of yawning is observed in the morning or evening hours, namely at this time there is a service in the church. The body either has not yet fully woken up or is in a tired state. In both cases, there is a lack of oxygen for brain function, which provokes yawning.
While reading a prayer aloud, the usual excitement in front of a large number of people can be observed.

Believers also claim that if a person begins to yawn during prayer, then the body is cleansed of all negativity.

Interesting information from esotericists: if yawning constantly starts while reading affirmations, then this means that a person has some barriers to the implementation of his plan. It is necessary to undergo purification and remove negativity from oneself.

The protruding tears during a yawn are easily explained by purely physiological reasons. During yawning, the eyes are closed, which leads to pressure on the lacrimal sacs. As a result, tear fluid is released, but does not always have time to drain into the nasopharynx.

Control measures

If yawning appears sometimes, for reasons known to you, then you should not specifically get rid of it. This is a natural physiological reaction of the body. But, if frequent yawning is observed, regardless of the condition and time of day, then treatment may be required. To get rid of this act, there are several methods.

Exercises

The technique is called Deep Breathing. The bottom line is to regularly take a few deep and slow breaths every 60 minutes. If you feel that an inappropriate yawn is approaching, then you need to inhale deeply through your mouth, and exhale through your nose.

You can do without sighs, and use ordinary cold water, which moisten the upper lip, and then the lower.

Healthy sleep

Given that often the cause of constant daytime yawning is lack of sleep, it can be advised to give enough time for a night's rest. In this case, you need to know how much sleep the body needs to recover.

You can lie down for 20-30 minutes in the daytime. This time is enough to rest and recuperate, but not enough to fully immerse yourself in sound sleep.

Watch your back and lead a healthy lifestyle

Even the ancients said: "A person is as healthy as his spine is healthy." This truth is true even now, maybe even more than before. Constantly sitting at a computer monitor does not have the best effect on posture. In addition, sitting in a bent position compresses the diaphragm, which can lead to the desire to yawn.

If we take into account the lack of oxygen as the cause of yawning, then sports and an active lifestyle will help. After physical activity, blood circulation is accelerated, the brain is supplied with sufficient oxygen and there is no desire to yawn.

Walking in the fresh air in any weather, and if you still give up smoking and other bad habits, then the body will only say thank you.

Rethinking nutrition

Food from our table affects the functioning of the body and its condition. The following tips can help prevent and combat yawning:

The diet should be varied and complete.
Fresh vegetables and fruits should be on the table all year round.
Provide healthy food.
Avoid sweets and fast foods.
Try to drink about 1.5-2 liters of water a day, but reduce the amount of coffee before bedtime.

Food should supply the body with the necessary substances for normal functioning and health, and not clog it with toxins, carcinogens and useless carbohydrates.

Medicines for pathologies

If it turned out that the provocateur of frequent yawning is a disease, then you can get rid of it only after the treatment of the underlying pathology.

Yawning against the background of violations of night rest is eliminated by the normalization of sleep. To do this, you need to consult a doctor and undergo a course of therapy with drugs that eliminate the problem. Sometimes involuntary yawning movements are observed during therapy with certain drugs, for example, SSRIs, then you can discuss with your doctor the issue of reducing the dosage.

Yawning occurs for various reasons, including physiological, psychological and emotional. During a conversation with a friend who suddenly yawned, it is not surprising if the interlocutor repeats the action. But we must remember that if yawning accompanies constantly for no apparent reason, then it is advisable to see a doctor so as not to miss the onset of the development of a serious pathology.