Why do you often yawn: possible reasons, is it normal? What makes you want to yawn. Constant yawning - a physiological phenomenon or disease Why does a person yawn a lot

Most of us are familiar with such a funny phenomenon as yawning. Basically, this is an involuntary reaction of the body to fatigue, overwork, boredom. Yawning is an absolutely normal process that our body needs. A person is able to yawn already at 11-12 weeks of fetal development. But sometimes frequent yawning may not be as harmless as it seems at first glance. In some cases, the causes of yawning can lie in serious diseases. In this article, we will tell you what frequent yawning means in a person, in which cases the process is really harmless, and in which it may indicate health problems.

Why do people often yawn

Yawning is a breathing act consisting of a slow, strong inhalation and a sharp exhalation. Before we yawn, we collect a rather large volume of air into the lungs, thereby saturating the body with the necessary amount of oxygen. Taking a deep breath, we improve the nutrition of internal organs and tissues, supply the bloodstream with a larger volume of oxygen than during normal calm breathing.

A person begins to yawn - blood flow increases, metabolism accelerates, the body comes into tone. People begin to yawn when oxygen balance is disturbed, frequent yawning helps to become more energetic, think better and spend time more actively. Such yawning is typical after a long rest or monotonous processes. Sometimes a person yawns even in a dream, if there is not enough oxygen in the room where he sleeps. Yawning occurs when alternating REM and non-REM sleep.

There is an opinion that among ancient people yawning was a way of communication, a signal to action. When danger was detected, one member of the tribe would yawn, mirroring this state to the rest of the members and causing them to collectively yawn to prepare their bodies for physical activity. At the same time, the leader of the group was yawning to give the "subordinates" the command to go to sleep.

Thus, yawning is an important process in the human body, which has been incorporated in us since antiquity, a person sometimes yawns deeply and very often even when talking with another and if he is overexcited. And the desire to yawn sweetly, arising from overwork, lack of sleep, during a telephone conversation, should not be alarming. But the resulting frequent yawning causes are not always harmless. Causes of a yawning attack can be physiological, psychological and emotional.

Physiological causes of frequent yawning

This type of reasons include banal fatigue and lack of sleep, a change in sleep and wakefulness, a long journey when time zones change, as well as hyperventilation syndrome. A person yawns when he simply wants to sleep. A more "original" physiological cause may lie in a sleep disorder called narcolepsy. Some medications have side effects such as frequent yawning. Various diseases are also among the causes of excessive yawning. Lack of air is not always the cause of this phenomenon. Frequent yawning is a sign of what disease, we will give an answer to this question a little lower.

Psycho-emotional reasons

Very frequent yawning can often be a symptom of a mental disorder. With anxiety, anxiety, attacks of fear, a person often yawns because he needs increased ventilation of the lungs. There is a feeling of lack of air for normal breathing, the body sends a call to action to the brain to receive an increased dose of oxygen. Thus, frequent yawning and feeling short of breath are sometimes associated.

This includes the mirror property of yawning. Surely, almost everyone has experienced the process of “infection” with yawning. A person sees a yawner in real life, in a photo or on a screen, and a "chain" reaction begins. Therefore, do not be surprised if, while reading this article, you unwittingly yawned several times. An interesting fact is that not all people are subject to a mirror reaction to yawning, some manage to “resist”.

Causes of frequent yawning in humans, rooted in diseases

So what is the cause of frequent yawning? A number of diseases can have prolonged yawning as their symptom.

Regularly repeated prolonged yawning can be caused by dangerous disorders occurring in the body. Sometimes, frequent yawning is a sign of serious diseases, such as:

• epilepsy
• autoimmune diseases
• hypothyroidism
• multiple sclerosis
• depression
• Chronical bronchitis
• vegetative-vascular dystonia.

It is VVD that can be the cause of frequent yawning caused by lack of air. If lack of air and frequent yawning is accompanied by a feeling of tightness in the chest, anxiety, dry cough and sore throat, fear of stuffy and cramped rooms and other phobias, panic attacks, etc., there is a high probability of developing vegetative-vascular dystonia. Frequent and deep yawning can be accompanied by pain in the heart. It is necessary to consult a specialist for clarification of the diagnosis and methods of treatment.

If the cause of frequent yawning in adults lies in the VVD, you need to learn to be less nervous, adjust your sleep pattern, and eat healthy food with the necessary vitamins and minerals. It will be useful to make special ones.

Sometimes when a person yawns, there is not enough air, his lungs do not fully open. An incomplete breath when yawning is a phenomenon characteristic of adolescents and is considered normal. If this type of yawning occurs in an adult, the lungs should be checked. In women, frequent yawning with incomplete opening of the lungs can be a symptom of breast cancer, so you should undergo a fluorography and visit a mammologist. A careless attitude to a seemingly insignificant symptom can lead to sad consequences.

Frequent yawning in children: causes

There is also such a phenomenon as frequent yawning in a child. Young children are not able to empathize with emotions, so “mirror” yawning is not characteristic of them. It is also unusual for autistic people to yawn. And if an adult does not yawn in response, then most likely he has problems with the ability to empathize.

What does frequent yawning in children mean? Probably, the baby has disorders in the work of the central nervous system. A child, like an adult, can experience nervous strain, stress, and anxiety. In this case, it is best to take the child to an appointment with a neurologist.

In children, sometimes frequent yawning is a sign of lack of oxygen. It is necessary to spend as much time as possible with the child in the air, to review his diet, to establish a sleep and rest regimen.

This is one of the ancient reflexes, it is inherent in people, animals, even reptiles. We make our first yawn already at the 12th week of intrauterine development.

The brain needs oxygen to function properly. When it is deficient, the body strives to make up for its lack. The brain sends a signal and we ze-va-em. That is, we take a deep, lingering breath through a wide-open mouth, followed by an energetic exhalation. Often, this is accompanied by a characteristic sound and sipping.

Why does a person yawn

The reasons:

• Because stuffy. The brain does not have enough oxygen, it tries to get it through yawning.
• Yawning attacks not from idleness, but from tension of the brain. This is a reaction to overwork and stress. When tired, he, defending himself, slows down his activity. Yawning is an excuse to take a break.
• A recent discovery by American scientists: yawning signals that the brain is overheated.
• They usually yawn in the morning, because the head is in a state of inhibition after waking up. The need to cheer up, to wake up makes us stretch and yawn.
• Late in the evening, when we usually sleep, the brain is forced to give signals for yawning in order to bring itself into working condition.
• With strong emotional stress. Before a decisive moment or danger, a person freezes, holding his breath, to prepare for a crucial moment: an exam, a speech. Here, an ancient reflex is activated in order to saturate the blood with oxygen with a deep breath, to maintain the body in a state of first readiness before a crucial event.

Yawning is good for health

Thanks to a yawn

• Accelerates the metabolism
• lungs are ventilated, oxygen starvation is eliminated,
• improves blood supply to the brain,
• the working capacity of the whole organism is restored.
• During a yawn, the muscles of the jaw tense up, and people involuntarily stretch, giving a load to the muscles, eliminating congestion, invigorating the whole body.
• Yawning is useful during airplane flights, it helps when the ears are blocked due to the difference in pressure on the eardrum. After a yawn, the pressure on the eardrum from both the middle ear and the external auditory canal becomes the same. Therefore, when the ear is blocked, one must artificially induce yawning in oneself. As soon as you start stretching, you will immediately yawn.
• An ancient reflex helps relieve fatigue, stress, improves mood.

contagious yawn

It is worth one yawn, it is picked up by others. Scientists have found that subtle natures, endowed with a sense of empathy, are more likely to become infected with yawning. Not subject to this, people with a tougher character. By the way, children under 5 years old do not yawn for the company, because they are selfish, do not know how to empathize - they have yet to learn this. Another assumption, already Italian scientists, we yawn after pleasant, nice people. Watch the video below. Dogs get infected by yawning even more easily than humans. It is worth doing this to the owner, the dog immediately becomes infected with it. They do not react to the yawns of strangers. Here is such a deep contact with the owner.

Yawning is an absolutely normal physiological phenomenon of the body of any person. It usually appears when tired, before going to bed or after waking up early, and a very common cause of yawning is a lack of interest in what is happening. But these factors do not exhaust all the reasons for its occurrence.

What is a yawn?

Before you figure out what external and internal causes cause frequent yawning, you should understand the mechanism and features of this process. It is an uncontrolled reflex, which is a prolonged breathing act.

Yawning involves a slow, deep breath that ends with a quick and resounding exhalation. In the process of yawning, a person gains a large volume of air into the lungs, which allows saturating the body with a significant amount of oxygen, improving the nutrition of tissues and internal organs.

In the process of yawning, the work of all internal systems improves - cardiovascular, respiratory, muscular, circulatory, as well as brain activity. This leads to compensation for the lack of oxygen and activation of the functioning of the body. It is these factors that cause yawning in the morning.

Every person on the planet has a yawn, the causes of which are manifold. But among them all, the largest two groups can be distinguished:

• Physiological;
• Non-physiological.

Physiological causes of frequent yawning

Yawning is useful because it allows you to activate metabolic processes, improve ear pressure, supply organs and tissues with oxygen, but constant yawning may indicate different states of the body. That is why it is important to pay close attention to this symptom.

Let's deal with the main physiological causes of increased yawning. Among them it is worth highlighting the following:

1. lack of oxygen;
2. The need to cool the brain;
3. Decreased body activity;
4. Psycho-emotional stress of the body;
5. Lack of rest, chronic fatigue;
6. "Chain reaction".

One of the main causes of yawning is a lack of oxygen, which is usually observed in a person who has been in a stuffy room for a long time. The brain starts the process, which, in the absence of oxygen, seeks to replenish it through deep breathing - yawning.

As American researchers have established, yawning very often appears when the brain overheats, which is due to an increase in ambient temperature and leads to a decrease in its activity. Yawning is a physiological mechanism that promotes its ventilation.

The third physiological reason for yawning is a decrease in body activity. The process of wakefulness of any person is accompanied by phases of inhibition and activity, therefore, in order to resume the working capacity of the brain, normalize the heart rhythm and metabolic processes, the yawning mechanism is launched.

Another group of reasons for yawning are emotional stress and fatigue. Frequent yawning can occur with lack of sleep or vigorous activity at night, which is laid down by nature as a period for rest.

Frequent yawning can also be caused by a “chain reaction”. If one person yawns in a large group, then this reaction passes to others. However, the reasons for this phenomenon have not been found.

Diseases in which there is a constant yawning

Despite the fact that yawning is a physiological harmless phenomenon, frequent yawning can indicate various pathologies and diseases. That is why it is important to consult a doctor when it appears.

In most cases, such a symptom may indicate the following diseases and pathologies:

1. Hormonal disorders in the body;
2. multiple sclerosis;
3. Depressed state;
4. Circulatory disorders;
5. Problems with thermoregulation of the brain, especially with prolonged oxygen starvation;

Often, yawning can indicate the onset of an epileptic seizure, along with symptoms such as dizziness, changes in blood pressure, fever, cloudy eyes.

But if there is pain when yawning, localized in the lower jaw or ear, it may indicate an inflammatory process, infection, and also a dislocation of the jaw. If you experience any discomfort, you should definitely consult a doctor.

Yawning is a normal physiological phenomenon that occurs in a person with a lack of air, nervous strain, fatigue, but also many other diseases and pathologies of the body. Therefore, this symptom must be treated carefully.

Basically, you want to yawn in the evening, when the usual time to go to bed comes up. Such yawning is natural and surprises no one. But sometimes it suddenly starts at the height of the working day, and it is so intense that it cannot be stopped. Scientists are interested in why a person often yawns and what is the physiological significance of this process.

Why is yawning necessary?

When a person yawns, they open their mouth wide and take a very deep breath. Thus, hyperventilation of the lungs occurs, and the body receives the maximum amount of oxygen.

It is logical to assume that you want to yawn in a stuffy room or other situations when there is a lack of air or it is difficult to breathe. But observations have shown that yawning happens not only in such cases.

Main reasons

After various studies, scientists were able to develop a classification of the main causes of yawning. It turned out that they can be not only physiological, but also psychological. And too frequent yawning is even a symptom of some serious diseases.

Therefore, if you catch yourself yawning not only when you want to sleep, you should not leave this moment unattended.

Physiological

The most common physiological causes. We have already noted the lack of oxygen. In addition, the person yawns:

• with severe stress or prolonged nervous strain - this allows him to relax a little;
• with vitamin deficiency - metabolic processes are disturbed, often a person feels chronic fatigue and yawns all the time;
• for a shake - for example, after monotonous work or a long wait to get rid of fatigue;
• when relaxing - a deep breath contributes to the complete relaxation of the whole body;
• with stuffy ears - this way the air pressure on both sides of the eardrum is equalized;
• when overheating - often yawning attacks in a hot climate, when the human brain overheats.

Knowing the physiological reasons that can provoke yawning, it is easier to understand in which cases you should not worry, even if it recurs, and when it is better to consult with specialists.

Pathological

Scientists have proven that frequent uncontrolled yawning, not associated with external influences, can be a symptom of one of the following diseases:

More often than usual, people yawn during the treatment of oncological diseases with a course of chemistry or radiation therapy, or when taking potent drugs. Alarming symptoms are lethargy, drowsiness, frequent headache or dizziness, panic attacks accompanying yawning.

Only experienced doctors can identify and treat such conditions. Therefore, if you constantly yawn for no apparent reason, be sure to undergo an examination.

Types of yawning

In a dream

Separately, I would like to say about such a phenomenon as yawning in a dream. It is especially common in newborns and children under three years of age. Moms begin to worry and try to find out from the pediatrician what such yawning can be a symptom of. But here the facial structure of the child, which still has very narrow nasal passages, is to blame.

When the room is too hot or the air is very dry, crusts form in the nose and less oxygen is supplied when breathing. The baby compensates for this shortcoming by yawning. If you ventilate the room well and carefully clean the nose, the child will continue to sleep peacefully.

Older children and adults can yawn without waking up for other reasons:

• uncomfortable position of the body, in which the chest is compressed;
• severe nervous strain during the day;
• violation of cerebral circulation (a harbinger of a stroke);
• difficulty breathing with snoring and respiratory diseases;
• squeezing the larynx in the supine position with a large excess weight.

It turns out that yawning is a universal mechanism that performs several functions at once: protective, signaling, regulating.

Mirror

A very interesting process is the so-called "mirror yawn". If there are several people in the room at the same time, and one of them starts to yawn sweetly, then there is literally a “chain reaction” - this is transmitted to everyone around.

Scientists have never been able to find a satisfactory explanation for why yawning is contagious. One theory says that this is one of the types of atavism that we inherited from our ancestors.

The mirror response is supposedly programmed genetically. Thus, the leader synchronized the actions of the group and then gave the appropriate commands.

Is it possible to control

Evening yawning does not bother anyone. But if her attack takes you by surprise in the middle of the working day, it is uncomfortable and indecent. Doctors decided to find out how to control yawning and are there any effective means of combating this undesirable phenomenon?

Most people try to suppress a yawn by clenching their jaws hard. But usually this does not help, because it does not allow you to get the extra portion of oxygen that the body needs now.

To quickly stop yawning, it is better to try the following:

If yawning is provoked by lack of sleep, then a cup of coffee will be a temporary remedy against it. But you should not drink too much of it, otherwise it will be difficult to fall asleep after a long day, and in the morning everything will happen again.

Prevention

Even if yawning is associated with chronic diseases, there are fairly simple ways to prevent its uncontrollable attacks:

And in conclusion, one more interesting fact, which was noted by British psychologists who study yawning. The more emotional and sociable a person is, the more often he mirrors a yawn.

Those who often yawn are kinder and more sociable by nature, they quickly show sympathy and come to the aid of others. So take this into account when choosing new friends.

Why does a person yawn?

Photo Shutterstock

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.

Photo Shutterstock

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.

Photo 1. Yawning is not unique to humans. Source: Flickr (Janačka).

Reasons for frequent yawning

A huge number of different reasons can provoke frequent bouts of yawning. In some cases, its appearance is not caused by any pathologies, while in others it indicates serious diseases. With regular causeless yawning, it is necessary to undergo a medical diagnostic examination.

Physiological

Physiological reasons - phenomena when yawning is caused by non-pathogenic factors. These include:

• Lack of air- can occur when you stay in a stuffy room for a long time, so the body tries to get oxygen.
• Overheating of the brain- When a person is overstressed for a long time, he begins to heat up. When yawning, a person swallows a lot of air, which ensures ventilation of the brain. Open the window and put a cold compress on your forehead to relieve your condition.
• Decreased body activity- if the body is tired, all metabolic processes in it slow down. Therefore, metabolic products accumulate in the blood. Thanks to yawning, blood circulation, heart rate are restored in the body, and metabolism is accelerated.
• Fatigue and lack of sleep is the most common cause of frequent yawning. Frequent lack of sleep or chronic fatigue can provoke it. This is due to the fact that the brain cannot be updated due to lack of sleep. To start the whole process in it, it needs oxygen.

Note! To get rid of yawning, it is enough to cool down and have a good rest. This will restore metabolic processes.

Psychological and emotional

A number of emotional and psychological factors can provoke frequent yawning:

• Severe surge- yawning acts as a psychological relief. Such a manifestation may indicate an approaching nervous breakdown.
• Chain reaction- if someone from the environment starts to yawn, the person who sees this repeats after him.

Why do people yawn in their sleep

In rare cases, people yawn in their sleep. Usually the cause of this phenomenon is:

• Disorders in the hormonal background.
• Migraine.
• Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.
• Therapy with antihistamines.
• Deficiency of vitamins and microelements in the body.
• Sleep in an uncomfortable position.

Frequent yawning as a symptom of illness

In some cases, yawning can be caused by a number of pathological conditions. It may indicate a fainting state if accompanied by dizziness, darkening of the eyes, a drop in blood pressure and a decrease in body temperature. In addition, the following diseases can be the cause of this phenomenon:

1. Vegetovascular dystonia.
2. Multiple sclerosis.
3. Respiratory failure.
4. Prolonged depression.
5. Disorders in the cardiovascular system: heart failure, ischemia, tachycardia, arrhythmia.
6. Atherosclerosis is the deposition of cholesterol plaques on the walls of blood vessels.
7. Diseases of the endocrine system: hypo-, hyperthyroidism, diffuse goiter and others.

Note! If you regularly suffer from bouts of yawning, get a diagnostic test. This phenomenon may indicate serious pathologies.

How to stop yawning all the time

Frequent bouts of yawning cause discomfort to any person. Of course, because of them, a person cannot work normally or is in society. To get rid of constant yawning, you can take the following actions:

• Breathe through your nose- so you can reduce the temperature of your body, cool the blood, which means - stop yawning. If you feel like you are about to yawn, try taking a few breaths with your mouth.
• Drink cold water- this will lower the body temperature, after which the yawning will stop.
• If you are working in a hot, stuffy environment, always keep a bottle of chilled liquid handy.
• Do a little exercise- This will help to disperse the blood and speed up the metabolism.
• Eat cold- for this, watermelon, melon or ice cream is best suited.
• Make yourself a cold bandage or a compress on your forehead - this will invigorate and relieve yawning.
• Ventilate rooms regularly.
• As soon as you feel a yawn approaching, rest your tongue on the upper sky.

Yawning is an unconscious breathing act, a deep long inhalation and a rapid exhalation. At the same time, the mouth is open, and the process of yawning itself is accompanied by a characteristic sound. At first glance, yawning seems to be a natural process for the body, but in some cases, excessive yawning can become a symptom of the disease. There are several hypotheses that answer the question of why people often yawn. Doctors are studying why this process is necessary for the body, but they have not come to final conclusions.

Why do people yawn?

Consider the most common hypotheses that explain why people often yawn and how it affects the general condition of the body.

• Yawning as an aid to the body with a lack of oxygen in the brain tissues. During a deeper breath, more oxygen enters the bloodstream than during normal breathing. Saturation of the body with oxygen leads to accelerated blood flow and metabolism, which makes a person feel better and the whole body comes into tone. Therefore, in various situations when the oxygen balance is disturbed, a person yawns and becomes more cheerful. For example, yawning after sleep or long monotonous work.

• Yawning to cool the brain. Scientists were able to prove this effect by conducting an experiment in which two groups of people watched videos of yawning actors. Participants with a cold compress on their foreheads yawned less compared to people with or without a warm compress.

Useful properties of yawning

• Help for stuffy ears. Why do you often yawn when the plane changes altitude? Yawning helps relieve ear congestion, which occurs due to a sharp difference in pressure.
• Warm-up for muscles . During yawning, a person usually involuntarily stretches and kneads the frozen body. Thus, yawning prepares a person for action. So, students yawn, preparing for the exam, and artists - before the performance. This also explains the yawning of people when they are bored or want to sleep - yawning helps to cheer up and work with stiff muscles.

• Protection of the nervous system. During a serious conversation or an exciting situation, a person may ask himself: "Why do I often yawn?" Such a reaction will be a kind of sedative for the body, which will help to cope with stress.
• Relaxing effect . If a person, then yawning will help the body relax and prepare for sleep.

Yawning as a sign of illness

Frequent and prolonged yawning is a symptom of an unhealthy state of the body. This may be one of the signs of sleep problems, high blood pressure, depression, or severe anxiety. Therefore, in cases where yawning overcomes a person constantly, it is better to consult a doctor - to check your pressure, the state of blood vessels and the heart. And first you need to try to be less nervous, get enough sleep and replenish the supply of vitamins and minerals in the body.

The mirror property of yawning

Yawning is a phenomenon that can be "infected". Why do you often yawn when you see people with their mouths open in real life or on TV? In the cortex of our brain are which are the cause of the stickiness of yawning. It is enough for a person to read about yawning or think about it, and then he immediately begins to yawn. But not all people are susceptible to this “disease”. Children with autism can watch a provocative video without yawning. And children under the age of five are not capable of mirror yawning, since they still do not know how to empathize with other people's emotions.

The frequent yawning of the owners is transmitted to the dogs, and they also completely copy the physiological state of the owner, becoming relaxed and sleepy, like a yawning person. Dogs also see the difference: if the owner just opens his mouth wide, then the dog will not mimic his behavior, and the yawn will definitely copy.

Yawning as a sign of emotional intimacy

Frequent yawning occurs among relatives and close friends of the yawner. And distant acquaintances and strangers almost do not show mirror signs. Proximity is the only factor that scientists have been able to identify, because both gender and nationality do not affect a person's need to yawn in response.

Yawning as a way to communicate

Scientists believe that even during the evolution of primates, yawning began to be used as an imitative action. The reasons were very different. So, at the sight of danger, one of the group members yawned, and his condition was transmitted to everyone else and put them on alert. And in order to convey a signal to people that it was time to go to bed, the leader yawned, and the tribe supported him with an appropriate reaction.

Ways to deal with yawning

The periodic occurrence of yawning is natural for the body, but if a person constantly asks the question “Why do I yawn often?”, This may mean that some kind of malfunction has occurred in the body. Here are some simple tips to help you beat yawning:

1. Healthy sleep . It is necessary to determine how much time a person needs to sleep in order for the body to recover. Also, with severe fatigue in the daytime, you can afford a small 20-minute rest. This will help the body relax, but will not allow you to switch to a full sleep.
2. Straight posture . A bent back can cause frequent yawning. The reasons for this effect is that the hunched state does not allow the diaphragm to fully work and causes its involuntary contractions. Whereas an even posture will reduce the desire to yawn.
3. Fresh air and sports. A person is saturated with oxygen during exercise, and this allows him to remain alert throughout the day. An even better option would be to spend more time outdoors, taking walks or arranging light workouts in the fresh air.
4. Food . Good nutrition will help bring the body in order and get rid of frequent yawning for no reason. You should try to take vitamins, remove unhealthy foods from your diet and drink more fluids.

Popular questions about yawning:

• during a yawn? Yawning, a person closes his eyes, which compresses the lacrimal sac, and the vessels in the lacrimal ducts contract. Because of this, tears spill out, as they did not have time to get into the nasopharynx.
• Why do small children yawn? Children yawn when they want to sleep, this process calms them down. If the baby yawns too often, it is possible that he does not have enough oxygen, and then it is worth walking more with him in the fresh air.

• Why do people often yawn in church? This is a normal phenomenon due to human physiology. The service takes place in the morning, when the human body has not yet woken up, and with the help of yawning, it is enriched with oxygen, helping to cheer up. Also, the room is usually stuffy, and the lights are dimmed, which slows down the blood flow and there is a lack of oxygen.
• Why do people often yawn when talking? This does not mean at all that the person is bored or indifferent to the topic of discussion, but on the contrary, yawning overcame the interlocutor due to the active work of the brain. He listened to the story so attentively and thoughtfully that his oxygen metabolism was disturbed, so the body replenished its strength with the help of a yawn.

The simple process of yawning has important functions for the proper functioning of the whole organism. It is worth paying attention if yawning has become unusually frequent and prolonged, and help the body recover.

Have you ever thought about why it happens that you often yawn a lot? This article is an attempt to explain what is going on and give you an idea of ​​where frequent yawning comes from. Curiously, frequent yawning is our body's involuntary response to fatigue as well as boredom. When you yawn, your mouth opens wide and your lungs fill with air. A yawn can be short or long, sometimes tears come along with yawning, and sometimes a runny nose. Yawning is normal, but it happens that a person yawns too often. Below you will find explanations for the causes of frequent yawning.

Physiological causes of frequent yawning

Physiological causes of frequent yawning include:

• tiredness or drowsiness;
• changes associated with sleep patterns: change of work schedule, lack of sleep, travel associated with the crossing of several time zones;
• a disorder such as narcolepsy, which can lead to daytime sleepiness;
• sleep apnea, a disorder that restricts breathing for short periods of time;
• side effects from drugs such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which are used to treat depression and anxiety;
• problems with the functioning of the vagus nerve, which can be caused by bleeding in or around the aorta, or in severe cases due to a heart attack.

In some cases, frequent or excessive yawning may be an indicator of:

• epilepsy;
• stroke or brain tumor;
• liver failure;
• cardiovascular disease;
• chronic venous insufficiency;
• electrolyte imbalance;
• an autoimmune disease called Hashimoto's thyroiditis (leads to hypothyroidism and low levels of thyroid hormones);
• hypothyroidism;
• multiple sclerosis.

Psychological and Emotional Causes of Excessive Yawning

Excessive yawning can be caused by emotional or psychological reasons. These include:

• stress,
• depression,
• anxiety.

Yawning can occur when a person feels anxious or has anxiety attacks. As a rule, during such episodes, the body requires hyperventilation of the lungs, which causes bouts of yawning. Hyperventilation makes you feel as if there is not enough air to breathe, in response the body sends a command to the brain what needs to be done to get more oxygen, so involuntary excessive yawning occurs. Through this process, the brain tries to oxygenate the lungs.

Serious and life-threatening causes of excessive yawning

Excessive yawning can sometimes be a sign that the condition a person is in is life threatening. Such symptoms should be considered an emergency. This happens with a sudden deterioration in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), as well as in chronic bronchitis and emphysema.

What to do to control yawning

Here are some tips on what to do to control yawning and avoid excessive yawning.

Get enough sleep

The advice is pretty obvious. However, when a person gets enough sleep, they are better rested and therefore able to control yawning. If you do not get enough sleep, you will yawn, as you will not be able to overcome drowsiness.

Try to control yawning like this:

• inhale deeply through your nose and exhale through your mouth;
• when you realize you're about to yawn, try drinking a cool or chilled drink (if you have one on hand);
• eat vegetables with a high water content, such as cucumbers or watermelons, if you want to avoid excessive yawning;
• if you feel like yawning, go to a cool place or ventilate the room thoroughly to lower the temperature and add oxygen to the room;
• if you have an important meeting ahead of you, during which you should never yawn, put a wet compress on your head for a few minutes before going to such a meeting. This measure will prevent yawning until you have finished your negotiations.

How to treat excessive yawning

If medications such as SSRIs are found to be the cause of your frequent yawning, your doctor may prescribe lower doses of them. Studies show that lowering the dosage can eliminate excessive yawning, but leave the desired effects of taking these drugs. In any case, the doctor must decide.

If you have a sleep disorder that has resulted in excessive yawning, your doctor may be able to advise you on medications to take to improve sleep and methods to use to help you sleep better. One example of a disease that causes excessive yawning is sleep apnea, which is associated with persistent airway pressure. This means that you will need to normalize breathing and make sure that the airways are open.

If you have other medical conditions that cause frequent yawning, such as tumors, kidney failure, liver or heart problems, or stroke, you should see your doctor right away.

When to see a doctor for frequent yawning

It makes sense to consult a doctor with a complaint of frequent yawning if:

• there is no explanation why you often yawn,
• your frequent yawning is associated with daytime sleepiness.

Article author : Kristina Sumarokova, Moscow Medicine ©
Denial of responsibility : The information provided in this article about why you often yawn is for informational purposes only. However, it cannot be a substitute for consulting a professional doctor.

The appearance of moles, redness of the eyes, frequent yawning - these and other "little things" can cause serious diseases. Therefore, noticing that the body is a little "jumping", do not expect that everything will go away by itself. After all, in such a clear way, your body tells you about the danger. And you, in turn, must inform the doctor about this!

Any disease at an early stage is easier and cheaper to treat. Therefore, it is so important to know the dangerous symptoms in order to take adequate measures to eliminate them in a timely manner.

Frequent yawning during the day

You sleep enough and get enough sleep, but you suddenly pesters frequent yawning? Scientists have found that this physiological process helps to reduce nervousness and mobilize the body.

It is for this reason for yawning often overcomes skydivers before jumps, athletes before the start, musicians before a concert ... Perhaps you have an exam, a public speech, or some other kind of serious test? involuntary yawning increases the readiness of the body to act in critical situations.

According to other theories, yawning is a complex process of regulating the temperature of the brain. Yawning brings in blood and cooler air, which improves brain function. It usually accompanies fatigue, drowsiness, boredom, a depressed, despondent state. If the mood is cheerful, joyful, upbeat, you don’t want to yawn.

To stop frequent yawning, as a rule, it is enough to change the position, straighten up and square your shoulders, take a few deep breaths and sharp exhalations, if possible, walk around or do some simple physical exercises.

If you yawn frequently, you should see a doctor. When?

unstoppable constant yawn may be a symptom of some disease states requiring medical attention. Frequent yawning, combined with excessive weakness and drowsiness, may indicate hormonal changes, chronic fatigue syndrome, or burnout syndrome.

Yawning attacks are observed when