Yawning is closely related to sleepiness and fatigue. However, this activity is not only caused by these two things. There are many things that can make you yawn, including diseases or conditions you need to be aware of.
Yawning that occurs occasionally is generally not a dangerous condition or associated with illness. A study shows that yawning is one of the body's mechanisms to increase the amount of oxygen. In addition, there are also those who say that this activity is related to boredom.
However, if yawning is done too often or when you don't feel sleepy, it may be a sign of a certain medical condition.
Some of the Causes of Someone Yawning
The following are some of the factors that can be the reason why someone yawns:
1. Cools the brain
One theory is that yawning is one of the body's natural attempts to cool the brain. When you yawn, your neck, jaw, and facial muscles stretch, increasing blood flow to your head and face.
In addition, there are also studies which state that a person will evaporate more easily when the air is cold than when the air is hot.
When you take a deep breath when you yawn, cold air will enter the sinus cavities and this makes the cool air temperature channeled to the brain through the blood vessels. Arriving at the brain, the cold temperature will cool the brain.
2. Watching people yawn
Various studies reveal that yawning is contagious. This is thought to be related to a person's sense of empathy. This is what makes it easy for you to yawn when you see people around you yawn, especially people you know or are close to.
3. Feeling bored
Have you ever felt bored, then you unconsciously yawned? If so, this is actually a natural thing to happen. Yawning activity can indeed be caused by boredom.
So, if you see two people communicating and one of them yawns a lot, it could be that the person is bored during the conversation.
4. Having certain diseases
Yawning too much, especially without feeling tired or sleepy, can be a sign of certain illnesses, such as:
- Anemia or lack of blood
- Vasovagal syncope is a condition due to excessive nerve reflexes in the body that make a person easily dizzy and faint
- Sleep apnea
- Chronic fatigue syndrome
- Thyroid disorders
- Narcolepsy
- Brain disorders, such as a brain tumor, stroke, or epilepsy
- Chronic diseases, such as multiple sclerosis, diabetes and liver failure
To determine whether frequent sleepiness complaints are caused by certain diseases or not, you need to consult a doctor.
To determine the cause of your frequent sleepiness, the doctor may perform a physical examination and supporting examinations, such as blood tests, CT scan or MRI of the brain, electroencephalogram (EEG), and sleep study.
Yawning is normal, especially if you're feeling tired, bored, or watching someone else yawn.
However, if you yawn frequently and are not accompanied by drowsiness, especially if you have other complaints, such as difficulty concentrating and dizziness, and if these complaints interfere with your daily activities, you should immediately consult a doctor for proper examination and treatment.