Have you heard of excessive yawning?

February 6, 2014

Do you yawn all the time, to the point where people are wondering if they are boring you? You may be suffering from excessive yawning.

Have you heard of excessive yawning?

What yawning tells us

Yawning is a natural phenomenon that indicates a change in your body’s state of alertness.

Yawning is a messenger that we need to learn to listen to; it lets you know that you are tired, that you are a little hungry, or that the TV show your spouse is making you watch is killing you with boredom.

However, if you’re always yawning, and more than once a minute, especially during the day, something is most probably hiding behind this reflex.

What does excessive yawning indicate?

Excessive yawning seldom comes alone. In fact, it is usually associated with a long list of pathologies that are linked to the nervous system or to the heart, among others. That is why it is recommended to consult a doctor if you notice you are yawning excessively.

Possible underlying causes

  • epilepsy
  • cardiac disease or stroke
  • cerebral tumour
  • multiple sclerosis
  • attention deficit syndrome with or without hyperactivity (ADHD)
  • anxiety disorders

Some of these diseases are often accompanied by other symptoms, such as nausea, dizziness, heart palpitations and fainting.

You should consult your doctor if your excessive yawning is accompanied by these or any other symptoms.

What should you expect during a medical consultation?

Your health professional will go over your medical history and carry out a complete physical exam, including scheduling a sleep study. To help with his investigation, take the time to note on paper the answers to the following questions ahead of time.

  • When did the excessive yawning begin?
  • How many times a day do you yawn?
  • Does yawning interfere with your normal activities?
  • Is it worse in the morning, after breakfast, or while you are exercising?
  • Have you noticed a link between the amount of sleep you get and your excessive yawning?
  • What medications are you taking?
  • Do you have other symptoms?

Above all, don’t panic!

If you spent all day at the office and ate your lunch in front of the computer, without taking a break, you could very well start yawning uncontrollably. Your problem may only be a simple lack of oxygen and not a sign of an underlying pathology.

  • Go out for a walk to increase the flow of oxygen to your brain and to your heart. Your excessive yawning should stop.

Dehydration is another common cause of fatigue-induced yawning.

  • To get over it, a nice glass of water should do the trick.

Listen to your body

So, the next time you keep yawning because you are drowsy, listen to your body and get a drink, take a walk, and get a good night’s sleep.

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