excessive yawning, frequent yawning: What's it, causes, symptoms, diagnostics, treatment, prevention

Yawning – excessive; Excessive yawning

What is excessive yawning?

Excessive yawning is a common condition, which is characterized by an abnormally high frequency of yawning, often accompanied by feeling tired and/or dizzy. It can be as a sudden single episode or as a chronic relapsing disease.. Excessive yawning is not a life-threatening condition, but can cause discomfort and interfere with daily life.

Causes of Excessive Yawning

Excessive yawning can have many causes, from physiological to psychological. Physiological causes include:, like cardiovascular disease, thyroid disease, airway obstruction, sleep deprivation, poor sleep quality and dehydration. Psychological causes include anxiety, depression, stress and boredom.

The most common causes of excessive yawning can also include:

• Drowsiness or fatigue
• Disorders, associated with excessive daytime sleepiness
• Vasovagal reaction (nerve stimulation, called the vagus nerve), caused by a heart attack or aortic dissection.
• Brain problems, like a tumor , stroke , epilepsy , multiple sclerosis
• Some medications (rarely)
• Problem with body temperature control (rarely)

Symptoms of excessive yawning

The main symptom of excessive yawning is, of course, unusually high frequency of yawning. Other symptoms, associated with excessive yawning, may include fatigue, dizziness, nausea, headache, dry mouth and feeling irritable.

When to see a doctor

If you experience excessive yawning, accompanied by any of the above symptoms, it is important to see a doctor. Your doctor will be able to determine the cause of your excessive yawning and provide you with a treatment plan..

Questions, that your doctor may ask

When visiting a doctor for excessive yawning, you can expect, that the doctor will ask some questions:

• How long have you experienced excessive yawning?
• Are you experiencing any other symptoms besides excessive yawning?
• Have you experienced any changes in your sleep or wake cycle?
• Have you been stressed or have trouble sleeping?
• You felt unusually tired or had difficulty concentrating?
• Do certain activities cause excessive yawning??

Diagnosis of excessive yawning

Your doctor, probably, start with a physical examination, during which he, probably, ask you questions, related to your health, lifestyle and recent activities. Your doctor may also order additional tests., such as a blood test or a sleep study.

Treating Excessive Yawning

Treatment for excessive yawning will depend on the cause of the condition.. If it's caused by a disease, such as cardiovascular or thyroid disease, treating this condition should help reduce the frequency of yawning.

Medicines

In some cases, medications may be prescribed, to help reduce the frequency of yawning. Antidepressants may be prescribed for this purpose., sedatives and stimulants.

Therapy

Razgovornaya therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy and stress management techniques can also be very helpful for excessive yawning., caused by psychological factors.

Home Treatment for Excessive Yawning

There are several home treatments, which can help reduce the frequency of excessive yawning.

• Get plenty of rest. Try to get at least 7-8 hours of sleep each night and take a nap during the day if necessary.
• Limit your intake of caffeine and alcohol. Caffeine and alcohol can interfere with your natural sleep-wake cycle, so try to limit your intake.
• Apply relaxation techniques. Make time for deep breathing, meditation and/or yoga, to reduce stress and anxiety.
• Save time, held behind a screen. Try to limit your time, that you spend on your computer or phone, and balance this time with physical activity and social interaction.

Preventing Excessive Yawning

The most effective way to prevent excessive yawning is to address the root cause. If the cause is medical, it is important to effectively manage and treat the condition through lifestyle changes and medication, when necessary. If the reason is psychological, it is important to practice stress management techniques, get plenty of rest and exercise, and limit the time, behind screens.

Used sources and literature

Avidan AY. Sleep and its disorders. In: Jankovic J, Mazziotta JC, Pomeroy SL, Newman NJ, eds. Bradley and Daroff’s Neurology in Clinical Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 101.

Rucker JC, Seay MD. Cranial neuropathies. In: Jankovic J, Mazziotta JC, Pomeroy SL, Newman NJ, eds. Bradley and Daroff’s Neurology in Clinical Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 103.

Teive HAG, Munhoz RP, Camargo CHF, Walusinski O. Yawning in neurology: a review. Arq Neuropsiquiatr. 2018;76(7):473-480. PMID: 30066799 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30066799/.