Jay Summer Staff Writer
Jay Summer
Staff Writer
Jay Summer is a health content writer and editor. She holds a B.S. in psychology and master's degrees in writing and public policy.
Want to read more about all our experts in the field?
Dr. Abhinav Singh Sleep Medicine Physician
Dr. Abhinav Singh
Sleep Medicine Physician
Dr. Singh is the Medical Director of the Indiana Sleep Center. His research and clinical practice focuses on the entire myriad of sleep disorders.
Want to read more about all our experts in the field?
Fact-Checked
Sleep Foundation
Fact-Checking: Our Process
The Sleep Foundation editorial team is dedicated to providing content that meets the highest standards for accuracy and objectivity. Our editors and medical experts rigorously evaluate every article and guide to ensure the information is factual, up-to-date, and free of bias.
The Sleep Foundation fact-checking guidelines are as follows:
- We only cite reputable sources when researching our guides and articles. These include peer-reviewed journals, government reports, academic and medical associations, and interviews with credentialed medical experts and practitioners.
- All scientific data and information must be backed up by at least one reputable source. Each guide and article includes a comprehensive bibliography with full citations and links to the original sources.
- Some guides and articles feature links to other relevant Sleep Foundation pages. These internal links are intended to improve ease of navigation across the site, and are never used as original sources for scientific data or information.
- A member of our medical expert team provides a final review of the content and sources cited for every guide, article, and product review concerning medical- and health-related topics. Inaccurate or unverifiable information will be removed prior to publication.
- Plagiarism is never tolerated. Writers and editors caught stealing content or improperly citing sources are immediately terminated, and we will work to rectify the situation with the original publisher(s)
- Although Sleep Foundation maintains affiliate partnerships with brands and e-commerce portals, these relationships never have any bearing on our product reviews or recommendations. Read our full Advertising Disclosure for more information.
Up-to-Date
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
- What Is a Yawn?
- Why Do We Yawn?
- Normal Yawning Vs. Excessive Yawning
- Causes of Excessive Yawning
- Diagnosing Excessive Yawning
- Treatments for Excessive Yawning
- When to Talk to Your Doctor
We yawn for a variety of reasons. Yawning is a natural involuntary response to feeling tired or bored. Yawns can also be “contagious.” We yawn when we see, hear, or even think about yawns.
However, if you find yourself constantly yawning, it may be a symptom of a sleep disorder or other medical concern. People who yawn excessively tend to have an underlying issue causing the yawns. Knowing the signs of excessive yawning can help you identify and treat the root cause.
What Is a Yawn?
A yawn is a natural reflex that all vertebrate animals experience Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech InformationThe National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.View Source , including birds, fish, reptiles, and mammals Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech InformationThe National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.View Source . Yawning is observed throughout almost all stages of life, from fetus to older age.
When you yawn, you open your mouth, deeply inhale through your mouth and nose, and exhale slowly. Sometimes you might stretch your arms and tilt your head back Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech InformationThe National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.View Source as you yawn. Typically, a yawn lasts between five and 10 seconds.
Why Do We Yawn?
Scientists have identified a number of possible reasons that we yawn:
- Sleepiness or Drowsiness: We commonly yawn when we’re drowsy or excessively sleepy. Yawning occurs both after waking up and before bedtime. Yawns are part of your body’s process of staying awake. The stretching you do when you yawn also helps prevent you from falling asleep.
- Boredom: Yawning is also commonly associated with boredom. If your environment isn’t stimulating, you’ll feel drowsy. A yawn may signal to others Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech InformationThe National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.View Source around us that we’re bored or tired.
- Regulating Brain Temperature: Your yawns might help cool down your overheating brain. In animal studies, the brain temperatures of rats and parakeets were cooler after yawning. One small human study found that people yawn significantly more in summer Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech InformationThe National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.View Source than in winter.
- Ear Pressure: If you’ve been on an airplane before, you may have experienced uncomfortable ear pressure due to a change in altitude. Although not a primary purpose of yawning, a yawn can relieve pressure in your ears.
- Empathy: Some researchers believe that yawns are part of an empathetic response. In human and animal studies, yawns from one animal have been shown to trigger yawns in other animals of the same species. However, research is limited, so the relationship between yawning and empathy requires further study.
Normal Yawning Vs. Excessive Yawning
On average, humans yawn five to 10 times a day. However, people who experience excessive yawning tend to yawn many more times each day. In some case studies, people who yawn excessively reported yawning up to 100 times in a day Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech InformationThe National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.View Source .
Excessive yawning is often associated with factors other than sleepiness or boredom, such as medication use Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech InformationThe National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.View Source . However, given that yawning is perceived as disrespectful in many cultures, constant yawning may negatively impact a person’s social life. Excessive yawning can also be a symptom of an underlying disorder.
Causes of Excessive Yawning
Excessive yawning causes include:
- Drowsiness or Excessive Sleepiness: Frequent yawning is often caused by sleep debt. Sleep debt, or the amount of sleep a person is deprived of over time, can lead to drowsiness or excessive sleepiness. Yawning and excessive sleepiness may be a symptom of other sleep disorders Trusted Source Merck ManualFirst published in 1899 as a small reference book for physicians and pharmacists, the Manual grew in size and scope to become one of the most widely used comprehensive medical resources for professionals and consumers.View Source , such as narcolepsy and sleep apnea.
- Side Effects of Medication: Several case studies have shown that alterations in medication can cause excessive yawning. Excessive yawning is a common side effect of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which are used to treat depression and anxiety disorders.
- Neurological Disorders: Many neurological disorders can increase yawning frequency. People who suffer from migraines, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, stroke, and head trauma may feel a temporary relief of their symptoms when they yawn.
Diagnosing Excessive Yawning
To diagnose excessive yawning, your doctor needs to eliminate possible sleep habits or disorders causing the yawning. If necessary, your doctor may have you take a diagnostic test called an electroencephalography (EEG) Trusted Source National Library of Medicine, Biotech InformationThe National Center for Biotechnology Information advances science and health by providing access to biomedical and genomic information.View Source . An EEG measures brain waves, or the electric activity in your brain. An EEG can help your doctor diagnose neurological disorders that may be triggering your excessive yawning.
Treatments for Excessive Yawning
Treatment for excessive yawning requires identifying the cause of the yawning. When the underlying cause is treated, the symptom of excessive yawning goes away. For example, when patients reduced or stopped the use of an SSRI, their excessive yawning lessened or went away entirely.
When to Talk to Your Doctor
If you feel that you’re experiencing excessive yawning, talk to your doctor. Keep track of other symptoms you experience in addition to the yawning, such as drowsiness or fatigue. Share these with your doctor, so that they have a better understanding of your current health. Together, you and your doctor can determine the cause of your excessive yawning and develop a treatment plan.
Written By
Jay Summer,Staff Writer
Jay Summer is a health content writer and editor. She holds a B.S. in psychology and master's degrees in writing and public policy.
Medically Reviewed by
Dr. Abhinav Singh,Sleep Medicine PhysicianMD
Dr. Singh is the Medical Director of the Indiana Sleep Center. His research and clinical practice focuses on the entire myriad of sleep disorders.
References
11 Sources
Simonds A. K. (1999). Curbside consult: Why do people yawn?. The Western Journal of Medicine, 170(5), 283.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18751145/Walusinski, O. (2009). Yawning in diseases. European Neurology, 62(3), 180–187.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19602891/Teive, H. A. G., Munhoz, R. P., Camargo, C. H. F., & Walusinski, O. (2018). Yawning in neurology: A review. Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria, 76(7), 473–480.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30066799/Guggisberg, A. G., Mathis, J., Schnider, A., & Hess, C. W. (2010). Why do we yawn? Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 34(8), 1267–1276.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20382180/Massen, J. J., Dusch, K., Eldakar, O. T., & Gallup, A. C. (2014). A thermal window for yawning in humans: Yawning as a brain cooling mechanism. Physiology & Behavior, 130, 145–148.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24721675/Walusinski, O. (2010). Popular knowledge and beliefs. In Walusinski, O. (Ed.), Mystery of yawning in physiology and disease. Karger Publishers.
https://www.karger.com/Article/FullText/307071Beale, M. D., & Murphree, T. M. (2000). Excessive yawning and SSRI therapy. The International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology, 3(3), 275–276.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11343604/Gutiérrez-Álvarez, M. (2007). Do your patients suffer from excessive yawning? Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica, 115(1), 80–81.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17201870/Walusinski, O. (2010). Associated diseases. In Walusinski, O. (Ed.), Mystery of yawning in physiology and disease. Karger Publishers.
https://www.karger.com/Article/FullText/307098Schwab, R. J. (2020, June). Insomnia and excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS). Merck Manual Consumer Version., Retrieved June 29, 2021, from
https://www.merckmanuals.com/home/brain,-spinal-cord,-and-nerve-disorders/sleep-disorders/insomnia-and-excessive-daytime-sleepiness-edsNicotra, A., Khalil, N. M., Owbridge, P., Hakda, M., & Beitverda, Y. (2012). Pathological yawning as an ictal seizure manifestation in the elderly. BMJ Case Reports, 2012, bcr0120125618.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23076687/
Learn More About Physical Health and Sleep
Is It Safe To Sleep If You Have a Concussion?
ByDanielle Pacheco December 22, 2023
Obesity and Sleep
ByAlexa Fry December 22, 2023
How Sleep Apnea Affects Blood Pressure
ByAlexa Fry December 22, 2023
Why Intermittent Fasting Can Lead to Better Sleep
ByJay Summer December 22, 2023
Sleeping With Your Eyes Open
ByJay Summer December 22, 2023
Sleep and Overeating
ByEric Suni December 22, 2023
Fibromyalgia and Sleep
ByDanielle Pacheco December 22, 2023
Why You Shouldn't Sleep With Contacts In
ByDanielle Pacheco December 22, 2023
Thyroid Issues and Sleep
ByDanielle Pacheco December 22, 2023
Physical Health and Sleep
ByDanielle Pacheco December 22, 2023
Weight Loss and Sleep
ByRob Newsom December 22, 2023
Dry Mouth At Night: What Causes It and How to Prevent It
ByJay Summer December 22, 2023
Nosebleeds While Sleeping
ByJay Summer December 22, 2023
Farting During Sleep: Causes and Tips for Reducing It
ByDanielle Pacheco December 22, 2023
Parkinson's Disease and Sleep
ByDanielle Pacheco December 22, 2023
Painsomnia
ByJay Summer December 22, 2023
Can a Lack of Sleep Cause Nausea?
ByJay Summer December 22, 2023
Sciatic Nerve Pain Relief at Night - How to Sleep With Sciatica
ByDanielle Pacheco December 22, 2023
Allergies and Sleep
ByDanielle Pacheco December 21, 2023
Migraines and Sleep: A Bidirectional Relationship
ByJay Summer December 15, 2023
Numbness in Hands While Sleeping: Causes and Remedies
ByLucy Bryan December 15, 2023
What Are Normal Oxygen Levels During Sleep?
ByJay Summer December 7, 2023
Heart Palpitations at Night: Diagnosis and Treatment
ByJay Summer December 7, 2023
What Causes Night Sweats in Men?
ByTom Ryan November 22, 2023
GERD and Sleep
ByEric Suni November 22, 2023
Nocturia: Causes and Treatments for Frequent Urination
ByEric Suni November 22, 2023
Rest and Recovery: How to Sleep With Intercostal Muscle Strain
ByDanielle Pacheco November 22, 2023
Waking Up Gasping for Air: Exploring Causes and Treatment
ByJay Summer November 22, 2023
Cataplexy
ByRob Newsom November 22, 2023
Waking Up With Lower Back Pain
ByJay Summer November 22, 2023
Waking Up With a Dry Throat: What Causes It and How Do You Treat It?
ByDanielle Pacheco November 22, 2023
Medical and Brain Conditions That Cause Excessive Sleepiness
ByEric Suni November 22, 2023
Hypnic Headaches: Causes, Treatments, and Relief
ByJay Summer November 22, 2023
How to Sleep with Lower Back Pain: Finding Comfort and Relief
ByEric Suni November 22, 2023
Morning Headaches: Why Do I Wake Up With A Headache?
ByJay Summer November 22, 2023
Progesterone for Sleep: Everything You Need to Know
ByLucy Bryan November 17, 2023
How to Sleep With a Cough or a Cold
ByJay Summer November 8, 2023
Leg Cramps at Night: Tips to Reduce Discomfort
ByJay Summer November 3, 2023
Nicotine and Sleep
ByRob Newsom November 1, 2023
Alzheimer’s Disease and Sleep
ByAlexa Fry October 31, 2023
How Sleep Deprivation Affects Your Heart
ByEric Suni October 30, 2023
Sleep and Blood Glucose Levels
ByDanielle Pacheco October 26, 2023
Lack of Sleep and Diabetes
ByDanielle Pacheco October 26, 2023
How Does Testosterone Affect Sleep?
ByEric Suni October 20, 2023
How To Sleep with Tinnitus
ByJay Summer October 18, 2023
What Is a Normal Sleeping Heart Rate?
ByJay Summer October 9, 2023
The Relationship Between Sex and Sleep
ByEric Suni October 9, 2023
How Sleep Affects Immunity
ByEric Suni August 15, 2023
Why Does My Body Ache When I Wake Up?
ByJay Summer July 14, 2023
Vertigo While Sleeping: Tips and Treatment
ByJay Summer June 28, 2023
Autism and Sleep
ByJay Summer June 22, 2023
Sleep Apnea and Heart Disease
ByRob Newsom June 15, 2023
How to Sleep With a Sore Throat
ByJay Summer June 6, 2023
Pain and Sleep
ByDanielle Pacheco May 23, 2023
Memory and Sleep
ByDanielle Pacheco April 28, 2023
Diet, Exercise, and Sleep
ByRob Newsom March 3, 2023
Cancer and Sleep
ByEric Suni February 23, 2023
Can a Lack of Sleep Cause Headaches?
ByDanielle Pacheco February 13, 2023
Smith-Magenis Syndrome and Sleep
ByRob Newsom January 19, 2023
Beauty Sleep
ByYazan Hamzeh January 6, 2023
Epilepsy and Sleep
ByRob Newsom April 22, 2022
Multiple Sclerosis (MS) and Sleep
ByDanielle Pacheco April 20, 2022
Load More Articles
Other Articles of Interest
Physical Activity and Sleep
Sleep Disorders
How Sleep Works
Sleep Hygiene
Back
We Are Here To Help You Sleep.
Tell us about your sleep by taking this brief quiz.
Based on your answers, we will calculate your freeSleep Foundation Score™and create a personalized sleep profile that includes sleep-improving products and education curated justfor you.