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Suffering With Yawning Profusely. Should I Be Concerned?
Question: I suffer with yawning profusely (constantly). I am concerned.
Hi XXXXXXX
Thanks for writing in.
I am a medical specialist with an additional degree in cardiology.
I read your background and present complaint with diligence. You have taken treatment of Ca Prostrate and currently taking anti hypertensive drug (if there is follow up query please mention the name of drug[s])
Yawning is a normal response to fatigue and drowsiness, but excessive yawning can be caused by a vasovagal reaction. This reaction is caused by the action of a nerve, called the vagus nerve, on the blood vessels. It may indicate a heart problem.
Normal yawning may happen when someone else yawns.
Causes
•Drowsiness or weariness
•Disorders associated with excessive daytime sleepiness
•Vasovagal reaction ◦Heart attack (not excessive repetitive yawning as in you)
When to Contact a Medical Professional
•You experience unexplained and excessive yawning.
•The yawning is associated with excessive daytime sleepiness.
What to Expect at doctor's office?
The health care provider will get your medical history and do a physical examination.
Medical history questions may include:
•When did the excessive yawning begin?
•How many times do you yawn per hour or day?
•Is the yawning the same throughout the day?
•Is it worse in the morning, after lunch, or during exercise?
•Is it worse in certain areas or certain rooms?
•Does yawning interfere with normal activities?
•Is the increased yawning related to the amount of sleep you get?
•Is it related to use of medications?
•Is it related to activity level?
•Is it related to boredom?
•What helps it?
•Does rest help?
•Does breathing deeply help?
•What other symptoms are present?
•What medications are you taking?
Diagnostic tests that may be performed include sleep studies.
Treatment- If you do sleep peacefully at night and no other cause worth treating is found:
Since there are no definite answers about the various causes and reasons for yawning, there are no established treatments. Yawning is not in itself a thing to be concerned about. As said earlier, some medical authorities believe that yawning is caused by vasovagal reaction and disorders related to stress and sleeping habits. Treatment based on these beliefs should follow the underlying cause. If you have a history of heart attack, treating it will also be the remedy for your excessive yawning. How to Suppress a Yawn While treatment is a matter of medical and cultural opinion, suppressing a yawn is a matter of discipline. There are situations when yawning is inappropriate and suppressing it is the best course of action. Such situations include interviews, funerals, weddings, conference meetings, and medical consults. Yawning, as many would agree, is a sign of boredom. You do not want the priest or the interviewer questioning your intention and character, do you? Follow these steps to learn how to suppress a yawn so as not to send the wrong message at the wrong time:
•Hold your mouth tightly and clench your jaws. When you feel the yawn is coming, just maintain pressure at the back of your jaws. Swallow the yawn as it tries to escape.
•Drink a glass of water when you feel the urge to yawn. This will cause the feeling to subside. Drinking plenty of fluids will also make you feel less tired. Dehydration is the primary cause of fatigue, which can lead to yawning.
•Inhale deeply and try to hold your breath as long as you can, then breathe out. Make sure to expel all the air from your lungs. Yawning may be the result of too much carbon dioxide in the lungs.
•Push firmly on your throat directly above the Adam's XXXXXXX For girls, it is directly above the Eve's orange. Push upwards to expel the air in your throat and hold back your yawn. You may want to exercise discretion here.
•If you cannot suppress the yawn, you can cover your mouth with your hands to hide or minimize the yawning. Sometimes this act helps to suppress a full-blown yawn.
I hope that the answer is useful. If you have any further query, I will be only too happy to answer.
Best Wishes
Dr Anil Grover,
Cardiologist
M.B.;B.S, M.D. (Internal Medicine) D.M.(Cardiology)
http://www/ WWW.WWWW.WW
Thanks for writing in.
I am a medical specialist with an additional degree in cardiology.
I read your background and present complaint with diligence. You have taken treatment of Ca Prostrate and currently taking anti hypertensive drug (if there is follow up query please mention the name of drug[s])
Yawning is a normal response to fatigue and drowsiness, but excessive yawning can be caused by a vasovagal reaction. This reaction is caused by the action of a nerve, called the vagus nerve, on the blood vessels. It may indicate a heart problem.
Normal yawning may happen when someone else yawns.
Causes
•Drowsiness or weariness
•Disorders associated with excessive daytime sleepiness
•Vasovagal reaction ◦Heart attack (not excessive repetitive yawning as in you)
When to Contact a Medical Professional
•You experience unexplained and excessive yawning.
•The yawning is associated with excessive daytime sleepiness.
What to Expect at doctor's office?
The health care provider will get your medical history and do a physical examination.
Medical history questions may include:
•When did the excessive yawning begin?
•How many times do you yawn per hour or day?
•Is the yawning the same throughout the day?
•Is it worse in the morning, after lunch, or during exercise?
•Is it worse in certain areas or certain rooms?
•Does yawning interfere with normal activities?
•Is the increased yawning related to the amount of sleep you get?
•Is it related to use of medications?
•Is it related to activity level?
•Is it related to boredom?
•What helps it?
•Does rest help?
•Does breathing deeply help?
•What other symptoms are present?
•What medications are you taking?
Diagnostic tests that may be performed include sleep studies.
Treatment- If you do sleep peacefully at night and no other cause worth treating is found:
Since there are no definite answers about the various causes and reasons for yawning, there are no established treatments. Yawning is not in itself a thing to be concerned about. As said earlier, some medical authorities believe that yawning is caused by vasovagal reaction and disorders related to stress and sleeping habits. Treatment based on these beliefs should follow the underlying cause. If you have a history of heart attack, treating it will also be the remedy for your excessive yawning. How to Suppress a Yawn While treatment is a matter of medical and cultural opinion, suppressing a yawn is a matter of discipline. There are situations when yawning is inappropriate and suppressing it is the best course of action. Such situations include interviews, funerals, weddings, conference meetings, and medical consults. Yawning, as many would agree, is a sign of boredom. You do not want the priest or the interviewer questioning your intention and character, do you? Follow these steps to learn how to suppress a yawn so as not to send the wrong message at the wrong time:
•Hold your mouth tightly and clench your jaws. When you feel the yawn is coming, just maintain pressure at the back of your jaws. Swallow the yawn as it tries to escape.
•Drink a glass of water when you feel the urge to yawn. This will cause the feeling to subside. Drinking plenty of fluids will also make you feel less tired. Dehydration is the primary cause of fatigue, which can lead to yawning.
•Inhale deeply and try to hold your breath as long as you can, then breathe out. Make sure to expel all the air from your lungs. Yawning may be the result of too much carbon dioxide in the lungs.
•Push firmly on your throat directly above the Adam's XXXXXXX For girls, it is directly above the Eve's orange. Push upwards to expel the air in your throat and hold back your yawn. You may want to exercise discretion here.
•If you cannot suppress the yawn, you can cover your mouth with your hands to hide or minimize the yawning. Sometimes this act helps to suppress a full-blown yawn.
I hope that the answer is useful. If you have any further query, I will be only too happy to answer.
Best Wishes
Dr Anil Grover,
Cardiologist
M.B.;B.S, M.D. (Internal Medicine) D.M.(Cardiology)
http://www/ WWW.WWWW.WW
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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