Scientists used to think we yawn due to a lack of oxygen. But more recent research in the 1980s disproved this theory since breathing in more oxygen or carbon dioxide didn't affect how often one yawns.
This seems logical since yawning does bring in more oxygen with a deep breath and the expiration removes more carbon dioxide than the usual breath, but research by putting people in low-oxygen or high- carbon-dioxide environments does not cause yawning.
Though many believe yawning increases oxygen supply to the brain, researchers publishing in Physiology & Behavior have concluded that the purpose of yawning is to cool the brain.
Excessive yawning reasons include: Physical Causes—Fatigue, general tiredness, body temperature malfunctions, and stimulation of the vagus nerve can cause frequent yawning. Excessive yawning and sleep disorders are often correlated. Emotional Causes—Anxiety and depression can lead to yawning excessively.
In some cases, excessive yawning may indicate bleeding around the heart or even a heart attack. Other symptoms that may indicate a heart problem include: pain in the chest. shortness of breath.
Long-term breathlessness is usually caused by: obesity or being unfit. poorly controlled asthma. chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) – permanent damage to the lungs usually caused by years of smoking.
Allergies, anxiety, exercise and illness (like the common cold or the flu) can cause acute dyspnea. More serious conditions, like a heart attack, sudden airway narrowing (anaphylaxis) or blood clot (pulmonary embolism) can also cause acute dyspnea.
If you start yawning excessively and are not sure why, you should talk to your doctor. Excessive yawning might be caused by an underlying medical condition. It's a good idea to ask your doctor what may be the cause. If you're worried that you can't stop yawning, you should see your doctor soon.
07/13Vasovagal reaction
The drop in blood pressure and heart rate limits the blood from reaching the brain. In such a situation, the body automatically tries to up its oxygen intake by yawning.
Dehydration can lead to fatigue, which can lead to yawning.
The anaemia of B12 deficiency can present in various ways
It can also present as continual sighing or yawning. The low red blood cell count may lead to an increased flow state perceived as pulsatile tinnitus.
If you have a health condition that causes low levels of oxygen in your blood (hypoxia), you may feel breathless and tired, particularly after walking or coughing.
It is theorized that yawning is a semi-voluntary action and partly a reflex controlled by neurotransmitters in the hypothalamus of the brain. It is also associated with increased levels of neurotransmitters, neuropeptide proteins and certain hormones.
Hypoxia is low levels of oxygen in your body tissues. It causes symptoms like confusion, restlessness, difficulty breathing, rapid heart rate, and bluish skin. Many chronic heart and lung conditions can put you at risk for hypoxia. Hypoxia can be life-threatening.
Dizziness/lightheadedness: Feeling faint or dizzy is one of the most common indicators your body is not getting the oxygen it needs. Rapid, shallow breathing: When your body is not receiving sufficient oxygen, it can make you feel like your lungs are not getting enough air and can cause you to start breathing quickly.
A previous study by Singer et al. (2007) identified supratentorial lesions in patients with extended AC strokes and implicated “that excessive yawning can be a sign of supratentorial lesions affecting the MCA (medial cerebral artery, comment ours) territory”.
Health Conditions
Neurological conditions that affect the brain (or vagus nerve), such as multiple sclerosis (MS), Parkinson's disease, and epilepsy, may prompt excessive yawning, likely due to how they affect the body's temperature regulation.
Yawning, as well as deep inhalation increased facial temperature, lung volume, and heart rate.
Yawning is a very unusual and uncommon side effect of antidepressant medications. There are reports1 of excessive yawning caused by several antidepressant medications, including duloxetine, clomipramine, fluoxetine, citalopram, sertraline, and paroxetine.
If shortness of breath happens when you're clearly not exerting yourself, when you're doing something you normally could do without feeling winded, or comes on suddenly, those are warning signs that a heart issue could potentially be to blame.
Shortness of breath does not equal saturation (SaO2%)
In other words, your level of dyspnea, or air hunger, does not always correlate with your oxygen saturation. This means that you can be short of breath, even extremely short of breath, even in the presence of normal oxygen saturation.
While there are many causes of shortness of breath, the most common causes are lung disease, heart disease, or deconditioning (lack of exercise, especially in people who are overweight or obese).