What Causes Excessive Yawning?

Everyone yawns sometimes. Usually, a yawn an indicator of tiredness and most of the time, yawning is completely harmless and is a natural bodily function. However, yawning excessively can indicate a problem. What constitutes excessive yawning? Excessive yawning is when a person yawns multiple times a minute. Sometimes this has a simple explanation, but sometimes yawning too often can be a sign of several serious health problems. For example, sleep disorders, mental illnesses, and certain autoimmune diseases can cause patients to yawn excessively. It is important for individuals to consult a doctor if they develop a sudden and inexplicable tendency to yawn often.

Get to know the potential causes of excessive yawning now.

Fatigue Or Drowsiness

If someone begins to yawn excessively, fatigue or drowsiness is usually the culprit. Yawning is a natural response to being tired. No one really knows why humans yawn; it is thought it might serve to lower the temperature of the brain. Regardless, it is usually nothing to worry about. Getting enough sleep should put a stop to excessive yawning in most cases. It is important to practice good sleep hygiene to get not only enough sleep but also quality sleep. Sleep hygiene includes keeping bedtime and wake-up schedules regular, keeping the bedroom at a cool and pleasant temperature, not drinking caffeine or alcohol late in the day, and avoiding looking at screens right before bed. If individuals do all of these things and still have trouble sleeping, they may wish to consider taking melatonin supplements before bed for a short term option.

Keep reading for more information on what can cause excessive yawning.