WE all have our theories about why we yawn – boredom, the brain getting oxygen, or the most obvious one, lack of sleep.
There are times when yawning is a cause for concern or even a medical emergency, a GP warns – and if it comes with symptoms such as tiredness or brain fog, it is “worth getting checked out”.
Dr Gareth Patterson (@theirishgp) says “yawning isn’t a condition in itself – it’s usually a symptom of something else”[/caption]
Yawning “more than three yawns per 15 minutes several times a day” could be a warning signal[/caption]
Dr Gareth Patterson (@theirishgp), a practising GP in London, tells Sun Health: “The truth is, we don’t fully understand why we yawn.
“The most common theory is that yawning helps cool the brain and increase alertness.
“It also tends to happen when we’re tired, bored, or even when we see someone else yawn – it’s surprisingly contagious!”
According to the Cleveland Clinic, healthcare providers consider excessive yawning as “more than three yawns per 15 minutes several times a day”.
But yawn occurrence varies widely between people; 20 times per day can be totally normal for some.
Dr Patterson says: “There’s no set number of times you should or shouldn’t yawn per day – it varies from person to person.
“But if you notice you’re yawning much more than usual, and especially if it’s interfering with your daily life or happening alongside other symptoms like constant tiredness or brain fog, it’s worth getting checked out.”
You will likely be told you’re in good health, but it’s worth confirming, in case you have an underlying health condition.
It could be as simple as a quick blood test.
“Yawning isn’t a condition in itself – it’s usually a symptom of something else,” Dr Patterson says.
“It isn’t something people often come to see me about directly – but they do mention it when talking about tiredness, poor sleep, or low mood.
“Most commonly, it’s a sign of fatigue, but excessive yawning can sometimes be linked to more serious issues.”
Here’s what it could mean…
ALSO SNORING?
IF you’re excessively yawning – and you’ve also been told you’re a snorer – it could be a sign of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA).
“This is a condition where your breathing stops and starts during sleep,” says Dr Patterson.
It sounds scary, but you never stop breathing long enough to die.
However, the condition is linked to some serious health problems, including stroke and diabetes.
Dr Patterson says: “It needs treatment as it’s linked to high blood pressure, heart problems, and poor concentration.
“Losing weight, reducing alcohol and stopping smoking are important for anyone with OSA, and some people require a breathing device at night called a CPAP machine to help.”
You can’t tell what you’re doing in your sleep, so what signs can you look out for?
“OSA can leave you feeling unrefreshed in the morning and yawning throughout the day,” says Dr Patterson.
“See your GP if you snore heavily, wake up gasping, or feel exhausted even after a full night’s sleep.”
BLOODY HELL!
OUR blood should be pumping oxygen to all of our organs.
But if you’re anaemic, this isn’t the case, and you will certainly feel it.
Anaemia is when the blood does not have enough red blood cells or haemoglobin (an iron-rich protein within the blood cells) to carry oxygen efficiently around the body.
“Anaemia can lead to tiredness and excessive yawning,” says Dr Patterson.
A blood test can find out if you are anaemic[/caption]
“If you’re often pale, out of breath, or feel your heart racing, ask your doctor for a blood test.”
You can get anaemia associated with a lack of iron, or insufficient B12.
Therefore, there are some key certain risk factors, such as a poor or vegetarian diet.
But other, lesser-known types of anaemia include aplastic, sickle cell anaemia and those linked to chronic diseases, like HIV.
Speak to your GP if you’re struggling with symptoms to find out more.
LOW AND SLOW
YAWNING, feeling like you’re dragging yourself along and just a bit kaput?
Dr Patterson suggests that these symptoms together would leave him questioning if a mental health condition is at play.
“Mental health conditions often come with disrupted sleep or low energy, both of which can cause frequent yawning,” he says.
This includes depression, of which symptoms include feeling hopeless, teary, unable to concentrate on anything or get enjoyment from usual activities.
Mental health conditions such as depression can affect your sleep, which may cause you to yawn[/caption]
Anxiety’s main red flag is a general state of worry. Others include feeling restless, tired, tense, lightheaded or stomach problems.
“If your mood is low or you feel on edge a lot of the time, speak to your GP – support and treatment are available,” Dr Patterson says.
They may recommend therapy or medication, or other lifestyle changes.
PILL POPPER
MANY of us take a wide variety of medications.
They help manage conditions that otherwise make us feel unwell – but we have to put up with some side effects.
“Some medications, especially those for anxiety, depression, or allergies, can make you drowsy and increase yawning,” says Dr Patterson.
Talk to your GP if the side effects of your medication are affecting your life[/caption]
If you’ve got allergies, like hay fever, go for antihistamines such as acrivastine, cetirizine, fexofenadine and loratadine to avoid sleepiness.
SSRIs and SNRIs – antidepressants – have both been reported to cause yawning, though it isn’t something to worry about.
A GP is there for you to help adjust or reconsider your medications.
“Don’t stop your medication suddenly, but speak to your doctor if side effects are affecting your quality of life,” Dr Patterson says.
BRAIN BLIP
IT’S unlikely, but your yawning might change due to a shift in your brain.
Dr Patterson says: “Rarely, frequent yawning can be a sign of conditions like multiple sclerosis (MS) or even issues involving the brainstem.
“This is very uncommon, but if yawning is accompanied by muscle weakness, slurred speech, or other neurological symptoms, seek urgent medical advice.”
Female brain, computer artwork.[/caption]
MS is a condition which can be disabling. The body’s immune system attacks the protective sheath over the nerve fibres of the brain and spine, disrupting communication.
The brainstem is a crucial part of the body, with conditions affecting it ranging from tumours to stroke.
It controls basic functions like breathing, heart rate and sleep – and plays a role in neural pathways that make you yawn.
Therefore, if it’s damaged, there may be a change to the yawning reflex.
Crucially, Dr Patterson says that yawning on its own is unlikely to be indicative of a neurological disorder, but if it comes with other symptoms, it might be a red flag.
YAWNING: FACTS VS MYTHS
Does yawning occur when you are bored, and can you ‘catch’ a yawn?
Yawning is just a sign of being tired or bored
FALSE
As we have described here, there are all sorts of causes for yawning.
While yawning is associated with sleepiness, it also happens for other reasons – a key theory being that it helps to cool the brain.
It’s believed that the deep inhalation of cool air and the stretching of facial muscles increase blood flow, which in turn helps regulate brain temperature.
Yawning is involuntary
TRUE
Yawning is an involuntary reflex. Once you start, you can’t stop (though you can try and hide it).
However, you can also induce a yawn. If you take a deep breath and open your mouth, you may just catch a yawn.
Yawning is contagious
TRUE
Contagious yawning, where you yawn after seeing someone else do it, is a real phenomenon.
It is also observed in some animals, including chimpanzees and wolves.
It’s often linked to empathy and social bonding.
A yawn is an attempt to get more oxygen
FALSE
This is a long-standing theory that has largely been debunked.
Research has shown that the amount of oxygen or carbon dioxide in the blood has little to no effect on the frequency of yawning.