Why is pharynx contagious? Frequent yawning - why we yawn

A person yawns in the womb and after birth this process accompanies his entire life. At this time, the chin lower jaw lowered, head thrown back, eyes closed. In addition, the actions are accompanied by stretching of the muscles. Scientists still cannot explain in detail the mechanism and significance of these movements. It is difficult to say why, when a person nearby yawns, it is so difficult to resist yawning in response.

Physiological reasons

Yawning does not always signal that the body wants to sleep. There is an opinion among scientists that it indicates a deficiency of oxygen in the body, but yawning is not associated with breathing. It has already been proven that an attack of yawning can overtake people both at the moment of boredom and during energetic activities.

Scientists are trying to explain this process for various reasons, including psychological and physiological. From a physiological point of view, yawning is provoked by the following factors:

• Yawning is necessary to maintain a normal ratio of carbon dioxide and oxygen. As a result of this act, a strong inhalation occurs open mouth and a sharp exhalation, which enriches tissues and organs with the oxygen necessary for normal functioning.
• Yawning is a sedative for nervous system, helping to overcome stress, which is why she can overcome exciting communication.
• Acts as a stimulus to trigger the energy reserve that occurs as a result of oxygen enrichment after yawning. Brain activity is activated, albeit for a short time.

During the study, scientists noticed that during a boring lesson, students or schoolchildren can yawn more than 20 times within an hour in order to somehow invigorate the body and set it up for work.

• The reason yawning occurs before bed is to help the body relax and prepare for sleep.
• This process is triggered when the ear feels full as a result of a pressure imbalance.
• It is believed that in this way the brain temperature is regulated. That is why the desire to yawn arises during stuffiness and heat in the room. During this movement, a deep breath is taken, which means more oxygen penetrates the body.
• There is a version that myocardial infarction or existing tumors can irritate nervus vagus, passing from the head to the stomach, which provokes many reactions, including frequent yawning.
• The reasons may be hidden behind neurological conditions; for example, it has been noted that patients diagnosed with epilepsy often yawn, which is again associated with a lack of oxygen to the brain.
• Yawning is a consequence of the onset of a period of inhibition following excitation. Some functions are inhibited at this time, the amount of metabolic products in the blood increases, which provokes this process.
• An empty stomach can also cause yawning.
• If you didn’t manage to get enough sleep, you will definitely have a desire to yawn.

The listed versions of yawning once again confirm that constant yawning can be not only a symptom of lethargy, boredom, drowsiness, but also some diseases in the body.

If, while yawning, an adult experiences a feeling of incomplete inhalation or lack of air, then you should see a doctor and have your lungs checked. For representatives of the fair sex, such sensations may be a symptom of breast cancer.

From a psychological point of view

Psychologists explain the reasons for this process from their point of view. The cause of constant yawning may be long-term stress or nervous overload. Such an act can provoke an attack of fear or anxiety, because at this moment the body's need for oxygen increases.

Depression is also often characterized by a strong desire to yawn. During such situations, the human body is in dire need of hyperventilation, which provokes yawning.

Features of the child's body

If a child yawns often, this does not mean that he mirrors the movements of his parents. Young children do not yet have such feelings as empathy, so the “mirror” act is unusual for them.

If parents notice that their child constantly yawns, then the following problems can be suspected:

• disturbances in the functioning of the nervous system;
• stress;
• fear;
• anxiety;
• nervous overstrain.

If you suspect psychological or neurological problems you need to visit a specialist. But most often the reason is quite banal - oxygen deficiency. In such situations, there can be only one recommendation - take more walks with your baby. fresh air.

Function

Even scientists are not yet ready to give an exact answer to this question. There are many opinions and versions, and among them the following can be considered the most reliable:

1. Yawning serves to improve the supply of oxygen to tissues.
2. This act helps restore brain function, so it can attack while doing monotonous or boring work. As a result, blood circulation is activated, the mind is enlightened and performance increases.
3. Psychologists claim that yawning is intended to relieve stress, tension and psychological fatigue.
4. Yawning is intended to relax tense and tired muscles of the neck and the whole body, because it is not without reason that during this process we try to stretch.

Yawning is an important and, as it turns out, necessary reflex for the body.

Why is yawning contagious?

Each of us has noticed that as soon as the person next to you yawns, such a desire is immediately transmitted to the interlocutor. What is the phenomenon of contagiousness? Scientists are trying to explain this for two reasons:

1. "Nonverbal reflex"

According to this theory, the act of yawning is transmitted from one person to another due to “primitive memory.” Ancient people did not know how to speak; they communicated with each other using facial expressions and gestures. When it was time to go to bed, the yawning of the tribe leader meant that it was time to sleep. Everyone else had to respond with support. This is a clear demonstration of group behavior, the actions of one person starting a chain reaction. Yawning is contagious, as is laughter.

1. The tendency to empathize explains the contagiousness of yawning.

Numerous studies by foreign experts confirm that not everyone begins to yawn in response, but only those who have the most developed part of the brain responsible for the ability to empathize.

Surprisingly, it is almost impossible to control the process; if someone nearby yawns, the desire to yawn also inevitably arises.

Some scientists believe that yawning is more contagious than laughter because it is beyond our control. One act of yawning lasts about 6 seconds and in half an hour you can yawn up to 75 times. Here's some more interesting information about it:

• The frequency of yawning in men and women is the same, but the fair sex prefers to cover their mouth with their hand at this moment.
• If, when the desire to yawn appears, you look at a person, then this process is unlikely to succeed.
• It is not possible to control yawning with consciousness; if it starts, it can be repeated once every 60 seconds.

But humans are not the only ones who have the ability to yawn.

In the animal world

Those who have pets can confirm that they also don’t mind yawning. There are plenty of such individuals in the animal world:

• Baboons, sitting on a branch, yawn to show their relatives and enemies their terrifying fangs.
• Just after being born, little hedgehogs already know how to yawn.
• Looking at pelicans, it is sometimes difficult to recognize whether the bird is yawning or has simply opened its mouth to dry its mouth pockets.
• Hippos open their mouths the widest. If he tries to breathe in this way, the child will be able to fit into his mouth.
• Baby dogs and cats are simply adorable when they yawn.
• Koalas in eucalyptus trees are notoriously slow and lazy, so it's not surprising that they yawn constantly.
• The ostrich opens its beak quite wide after waking up.
• It can be assumed that the turtle opens its mouth to scare away the enemy, but closed eyelids confirm that the animal is still yawning.
• Squirrels even delicately cover their mouths with their paws when yawning.
• Even fish are capable of performing the act of yawning, but for them it most often serves as a demonstration of readiness to attack the victim.

These are our smaller brothers, they don’t even want to give in to us in this.

What causes yawning during prayer?

Many people wonder why it is difficult to overcome yawning during prayer. If you talk to the priest, then, as a rule, he will assure you of the presence of damage or the evil eye. But scientists, as always, have logical explanations for this phenomenon:

• It has been noted that most often the act of yawning is observed in the morning or evening hours, and it is at this time that church services are going on. The body either has not yet fully woken up or is in a tired state. In both cases, there is a lack of oxygen for the brain, which provokes yawning.
• While reading a prayer out loud, one may experience normal anxiety in front of a large number of people.

Believers also claim that if a person begins to yawn during prayer, then the body is cleansed of all negativity.

Interesting information from esotericists: if yawning constantly begins while reading affirmations, then this means that the person has some obstacles to the implementation of his plans. You need to undergo cleansing and remove negativity from yourself.

The protruding tears during a yawn are easily explained purely physiological reasons. When yawning, the eyes are closed, which puts pressure on the tear sacs. As a result, tear fluid is released, but does not always have time to drain into the nasopharynx.

Control measures

If yawning appears sometimes, for reasons known to you, then you should not specifically get rid of it. This is a natural physiological reaction of the body. But, if frequent yawning is observed, regardless of the condition and time of day, then treatment may be required. There are several methods to get rid of this act.

Exercises

The method is called “Deep Breaths”. The idea is to regularly take a few deep, slow breaths every 60 minutes. If you feel that an inappropriate yawn is approaching, then you need to inhale deeply through your mouth and exhale through your nose.

You can do without sighing and use the usual cold water with which to moisten upper lip, and then the bottom one.

Healthy sleep

Considering that constant daytime yawning is often caused by lack of sleep, it is advisable to devote enough time to rest at night. In this case, you need to know how much sleep the body needs to recover.

You can lie down for 20-30 minutes during the daytime. This time is enough to relax and recuperate, but not enough to fully immerse yourself in a sound sleep.

Watch your back and lead a healthy lifestyle

Even the ancients said: “A person is only as healthy as his spine.” This truth is still true today, perhaps even more so than before. Constantly sitting in front of a computer monitor does not have the best effect on your posture. In addition, sitting in a half-bent position puts pressure on the diaphragm, which can lead to the desire to yawn.

If we take into account the lack of oxygen as the cause of yawning, then playing sports and an active lifestyle will help. After physical activity Blood circulation accelerates, the brain is supplied with sufficient oxygen and there is no desire to yawn.

Walking in the fresh air in any weather, and if you also give up smoking and other bad habits, then the body will only say thank you.

Reconsidering nutrition

Food from our table affects the functioning of the body and its condition. To prevent and combat yawning, the following recommendations will help:

• The diet should be varied and complete.
• Should be on the table all year round fresh vegetables and fruits.
• Provide healthy nutrition.
• Eliminate sweets and fast foods.
• Try to drink about 1.5-2 liters of water a day, but reduce the amount of coffee before bed.

Food should supply the body with the necessary substances for normal functioning and health, and not clog it with toxins, carcinogens and useless carbohydrates.

Medicines for pathologies

If it turns out that the provocateur of frequent yawning is a disease, then you can get rid of it only after treatment of the underlying pathology.

Yawning due to disturbances in night rest is eliminated by normalizing sleep. To do this, you need to consult a doctor and undergo a course of therapy. medicines, eliminating the problem. Sometimes involuntary yawning movements are observed during therapy with certain drugs, for example, SSRIs, then you can discuss with your doctor the question of reducing the dosage.

Yawning occurs due to various reasons, including physiological, psychological and emotional. During a conversation with a friend who suddenly yawns, it is not surprising if the interlocutor repeats the action. But we must remember that if yawning constantly accompanies you for no apparent reason, then it is advisable to see a doctor so as not to miss the onset of the development of a serious pathology.

Including snakes, dogs, cats, sharks, and chimpanzees. Although yawning is contagious, not everyone catches it. About 60-70% of people yawn if they see another person doing it in real life, or in a video/photo, or even if they read about it. Contagious yawning also occurs in animals, but it doesn't necessarily work the same way as in humans. Scientists have put forward many theories why we yawn, here are some of them:

Yawning signals empathy

Probably the most popular theory of contagious yawning is that yawning serves as a form of nonverbal communication. A contagious yawn shows that you are attuned to the person's emotions. Scientific evidence from a 2010 study at the University of Connecticut found that yawning does not become contagious until a child is about four years old, when empathy skills develop.

It also turned out that children with autism, who may have impaired development of empathy, yawn less often than their peers. A 2015 study examined contagious yawning in adults. In this study, college students were given personality tests and then asked to watch videos of people yawning. The results showed that students with more low level empathy was less likely to “catch” a yawn. Other studies have found a correlation between decreased contagious yawning and schizophrenia, another cause linked to decreased empathy.

Relationship between contagious yawning and age

However, the link between yawning and empathy is inconclusive. Research from the Duke Center for Human Change, published in the journal PLOS ONE, aimed to identify factors that contribute to contagious yawning. In the study, 328 healthy volunteers were given a survey that took into account sleepiness, energy levels and empathy.

Survey participants watched a video of people yawning and counted the number of times they yawned while watching it. Of the 328 participants, 222 yawned at least once. Repeating the video test several times showed that contagious yawning is a stable trait for some people.

Duke's research found no correlation between empathy, time of day, or intelligence and contagious yawning, but there was statistical correlation between age and yawning. Older participants yawned less often. However, since age-related yawning accounted for only 8% of the responses, the researchers intend to look for a genetic basis for contagious yawning.

Contagious yawning in animals

Studying contagious yawning in other animals may provide clues to how humans catch yawns.

A study conducted at the Primate Research Institute at Kyoto University in Japan examined how chimpanzees react to yawning. The results, published in Letters of the Royal Society of Biology, showed that two of the six chimpanzees in the study apparently yawned contagiously in response to videos of other yawning fellows. The three baby chimpanzees studied did not "catch" the yawn, indicating that young chimpanzees, like human children, may not have the level of intellectual development necessary for contagious yawning.

Another interesting finding of the study was that chimpanzees only yawned in response to videos of actual yawns, and not to videos of chimpanzees opening their mouths.

A study from the University of London found that dogs can catch yawns from people. In the study, 21 out of 29 dogs yawned when a person yawned in front of them, but did not reciprocate when the person simply opened their mouth. The results confirmed the correlation between age and contagious yawning, as only dogs older than seven months were susceptible to catching yawns. Dogs aren't the only pets known to be susceptible to human yawns. Although much less common, cats also yawn after humans.

Contagious yawning in animals can serve as a means of communication. Siamese fighting fish yawn when they see their mirror image or another fighting fish, usually just before an attack. This may be a defensive behavior or serve to oxygenate the fish's tissues before exercise. Adélie and emperor penguins yawn at each other during a courtship ritual.

Contagious yawning is associated with temperature in both animals and humans. Most scientists suggest that it is a thermoregulatory behavior, while some researchers believe that it is used to communicate a potential threat or stressful situation.

People usually yawn when they are tired or bored. Similar behavior is observed in animals. One study found that the brain temperature of sleep-deprived rats was higher than their core temperature. Yawning lowers brain temperature and possibly improves brain function. Contagious yawning can act as a social behavior, informing group members that it is time to rest.

Summarizing

The bottom line is that scientists aren't entirely sure why contagious yawning occurs. It has been linked to empathy, age and temperature, but the underlying cause is still unclear. Not all people “catch” a yawn. Those who don't may simply be young, old, or genetically predisposed to not-yawning, and such people are not necessarily lacking in empathy.

There is no person in the world who has never yawned. Even the unborn fetus in the womb yawns.

What is yawning?

Experts in the field of anatomy and medicine describe yawning as a reflexive breathing act, which is accompanied by a deep inhalation and a short exhalation. During yawning, the mouth, pharynx and glottis are open, so at such a moment the body receives a large amount of oxygen.

What are its reasons?

Why does a person yawn? There are many explanations for what could cause this phenomenon. However, not all of them are fully studied and scientifically substantiated.

Scientists highlight following reasons occurrence of yawning:

1. Maintaining the balance of carbon dioxide and oxygen in the human body.
2. Nervous system protection. Yawning can occur during some exciting event or during a conversation. IN in this case it acts as a sedative that helps the body cope with stress.
3. Lack of minerals and vitamins in the body.
4. The body needs an energy boost. During yawning, the body is enriched with oxygen, which has a beneficial effect on blood circulation and can be considered as a kind of stimulus for activating energy reserves.
5. Relaxation. Very often a person begins to yawn when he wants to sleep. In this case, the mechanism of action of yawning is as follows: it allows the body to relax and better prepare for sleep.

1. Yawning initiates the opening of the communicating channels of the throat and ears, thereby relieving the feeling of congestion due to temporary pressure dissonance.
2. Regulation of brain temperature. Often a person yawns during extreme heat, when the brain needs additional cooling due to the intake of air.

Why is yawning contagious?

In places with large crowds of people, you can often observe the response of people around you to the fact that someone yawned. It manifests itself in the fact that a few seconds after one person yawns, everyone who observed this phenomenon begins to yawn one after another. According to experts, there may be two reasons for this phenomenon.

Nonverbal reflex

The "nonverbal reflex" theory suggests that yawning is passed from one person to another due to "primitive memory." Our ancestors, who lived under a primitive communal system, did not communicate using the speech apparatus. Therefore, when people went to bed at the same time, the leader’s yawn was regarded as a “signal” to sleep for the entire tribe. And they were obliged to support him with an appropriate response.

Empathy

The fact that in a large group only a few people become “infected” by yawning when another person yawns may indicate their tendency toward empathy. Studies conducted in America, England and Japan have proven that those who have a more developed area of ​​the brain responsible for empathy preferentially “pick up” yawns.

Why do my eyes water when I yawn?

Many people have probably noticed that when you yawn, your eyes water. This is easily explained by human physiology. During yawning, the eyes close, which leads to compression of the lacrimal sac and contraction of blood vessels in the tear ducts.

Therefore, tears do not always have time to get into the nasopharynx and pour out of the eyes.

Why do some people yawn during prayer?

Often people begin to involuntarily yawn during prayer. Believers explain this reaction by the presence of an evil eye or damage in the yawning person.

However, if this is a completely normal physiological phenomenon, try to evaluate it with scientific point view - the conclusions will look like this:

• Most often people yawn in the morning or evening time- Church services usually take place at this time. During this period, the body has not yet fully engaged in work and tries to enrich the brain with oxygen through yawning. Or it’s time to get ready for bed, that is, it’s time to relax.
• If a person prays in front of others and says the prayer out loud, then yawning can begin simply from elementary excitement.

How to deal with yawning?

If yawning occurs periodically, then there is no reason to worry. However, if a person yawns frequently and continuously, such a phenomenon can serve as a signal that the body is experiencing oxygen starvation, is on the verge of exhaustion, or is experiencing some kind of malfunction.

In this case, following these simple recommendations can help you overcome yawning:

Exercise "deep breaths"

At certain intervals (for example, after 1 hour), it will be useful to take 5-6 deep, slow breaths. When an inappropriate yawn is approaching, you need to take a deep breath through your mouth and exhale through your nose, or wet your lips with water (first the upper one, then the lower one).

The duration of sleep varies for each person: for some, full recovery It is enough to sleep 8-10 hours a day, and for some people even 6 hours is enough. It is very important to determine your amount of time and get enough sleep regularly.

Also, if possible, try to rest during the day. In the daytime, a rest of 20 minutes will help the body relax and gain strength, while it will not allow you to switch to full sleep.

Straight back

To keep your spine healthy and prevent yawning, you should constantly monitor your posture. With a bent back, the diaphragm does not work “to its fullest,” which can initiate causeless “yawning.”

Sports and healthy lifestyle

During sports, the body is saturated with oxygen, which allows a person to remain alert throughout the day. In addition to training, it will be highly advisable to give up bad habits and take walks in the fresh air as often as possible.

Proper nutrition

A nutritious diet and eating in moderation can also prevent the occurrence of yawning. It is advisable to include in meals only those foods that belong to healthy eating(exclude fast food, excessively high-calorie sweets, food waste).

In addition, you should try to drink 1.5-2 liters of purified water per day.

Medications

Also, reducing the intake of a variety of foods to the required minimum will help eliminate the appearance of causeless yawning. medicinal drugs, especially antihistamines.

We yawn when we wake up in the morning and fall asleep in the evening. We yawn during boring meetings and during long pauses. We yawn as soon as someone nearby yawns.
It would seem that such a habitual reflex or ritual. But it’s surprising: researchers are still confused about the reasons for its appearance.

What is yawning?

Yawning is a breathing process that occurs involuntarily with a long, deep inhalation and a relatively quick exhalation. The mouth, as a rule, is wide open and this breathing action is accompanied by a peculiar sound, and for some, tears also appear reflexively.

Yawning is normal in most cases physiological phenomena appears when there is a lack of oxygen, stressful situations, overwork, but may be a sign of certain diseases in the body.

Causes

The most common version is that yawning is a defense mechanism, allowing the brain to relieve fatigue by invigorating with a fresh dose of oxygen, and at the same time getting rid of excess carbon dioxide. Statistics and research support this hypothesis: people are most likely to yawn at times when their gray matter is tired and clearly in need of rest - for example, in the evening after a hard day at work, during a boring meeting, or during an overly complex lecture.

A yawn is essentially the same as inhaling, allowing the lungs and blood to become saturated with oxygen. However, as it turned out, people yawn even if you give them something to breathe pure oxygen, - that is, the reflex opening of the mouth is in no way associated with hypoxia (lack of oxygen). With what then?

Yawning is needed to cool the brain, one of the newest and increasingly popular theories tells us. A computer or laptop, for example, cannot function without a built-in fan: under heavy load, the processor overheats and, if it is not cooled in time, may fail. Our gray matter is structured according to a similar principle: with prolonged or intensive work its temperature rises, which worsens connections between neurons and ultimately has a destructive effect on thinking. Therefore, the brain needs cooling - this can be facilitated by open window or a walk in the park, a glass of cool water, or (since neither the walk nor the glass is shining) a sweet yawn.

In principle, the cooling theory is confirmed by experiments. For example, volunteers who had an ice compress applied to their forehead while watching boring movies yawned 2 times less often than a group of volunteers without a cooling compress. So, if you feel like you're gaping, be sure to note: Your brain is overheated and would benefit from a walk in the fresh air.

Why yawning is contagious

To make sure that yawning cannot occur simple explanations, it is enough to recall the well-known fact: this reflex is contagious. As soon as someone yawns, an epidemic of yawning covers the majority of those around them.

Neither oxygen starvation This cannot be explained by overheating of the brain, because everyone’s physiological processes occur individually, which means they cannot be simultaneous. This means that the reflex has some other meaning. And he was actually discovered after stumbling upon another fact.

Yawning in people begins not only with visual contact with someone yawning nearby: often, to start the process, you just need to think about yawning, read about it, or hear the specific sound of yawning. It follows from this that a reflex is not always a physiological process, but also a mental one.

After conducting research, scientists came to the conclusion that yawning is contagious due to mirror neurons. They are located in the layer of gray matter of the brain not only of people, but also of some animals and birds and are endowed with the property of empathy - they begin to get excited when we see the actions of others. These neurons are responsible for the ability to imitate (for example, when learning foreign languages) and empathize. They force us to consciously experience the emotions of other people, which is actually called empathy.

Roughly speaking: You yawn - it means you have empathy and are able to act in social groups. It is assumed that our ancient ancestors in this way determined “their own” - those with whom they could play in a team. By the way, as experiments show, children under 4 years of age and those who suffer from autism are not susceptible to mirror yawning: they have not yet learned to act according to social laws. However, even this Interesting Facts yawning is not limited to.

Yawning can be “infected” both from person to person and from person to dog. Research by Swedish scientists proves that dogs can yawn when yawning people come into their field of vision, and the older the dog, the more prone he is to reflexive imitation, and for puppies less than 7 one month old yawning is not transmitted.

If we talk about spontaneous, non-imitative yawning, then different animals have their own reasons for it. The same dogs often “reflect” when they are nervous - for example, when they find themselves in an unusual environment. While waiting for lunch at the zoo, the lions begin to yawn intensely. Hyenas - when preparing to attack a victim. Many monkeys, by opening their mouths wide, show their superiority in a pack of relatives. Birds, turtles, crocodiles, snakes yawn from time to time...

But herbivores yawn much less often than cold-blooded and carnivorous animals. For example, it is extremely rare to see a horse, cow, camel or hare yawning. This, by the way, leads scientists to the idea that yawning may be somehow connected with the level of intellectual development: those creatures whose IQ is higher yawn more often than “silly ones.”

What could frequent yawning be a sign of?

Frequent yawning in itself cannot be a sign of any disease. Its appearance can be triggered by lack of sleep, fatigue, stress, nervousness, overeating, and boredom. In this case, this is a normal reaction of the body to such factors. Once they are removed, yawning will return to normal. By the way, a person yawns at least 10 times during the day.

The presence of other symptoms with frequent yawning may be a sign of illness. For example, when constant drowsiness and frequent yawning, a possible diagnosis is vegetative-vascular dystonia or cardiac arrhythmia.

Dizziness with blurred vision, increased body temperature along with frequent yawning may be a harbinger of an epileptic seizure.

How to overcome yawning?

There are situations when yawning is inappropriate. There are several ways to deal with it:

• When the next yawn approaches, you need to take a deep breath through your mouth and exhale through your nose.
• Many people find that taking a sip of water or wetting their lips with it helps.
• Adequate sleep prevents frequent yawning.
• Exercising will keep the body alert, saturating it with oxygen. You can do squats, push-ups or others physical exercise, which will increase the tone of the body.
• Proper nutrition and drinking the required amount of water throughout the day prevents frequent yawning.
• Don't slouch. Smooth posture contributes to the full filling of the lungs with oxygen. When your back is bent, the diaphragm is not completely saturated with air, which can cause increased yawning.
• Walking in the fresh air, ventilating the room, and quitting smoking will help get rid of causeless yawning.

Video: Why do people yawn?

It is important to understand that yawning is a natural positive breathing action that activates the body and is not in itself a sign of illness. So the attitude towards the phrase “Don’t yawn!” It's worth reconsidering a bit. Yawn and be healthy.

Every person, regardless of age, yawns. At this time, he opens his mouth wide, fills his lungs with air for a long time, sometimes makes a sound and exhales quickly. We usually say that we are bored or... However, constant yawning can be caused by many reasons - from simple to serious, indicating the presence of a disease.

Frequent yawning: reasons

Yawning is a physiological process that is caused by a number of reasons. These include:

• lack of sleep;
• fatigue;
• traveling across time zones;
• changing the daily routine.

However, frequent yawning should alert you, as it may be an indicator of serious illness. It can be:

• cardiovascular diseases;
• multiple sclerosis;
• epilepsy;
• hypothyroidism;
• electrolyte imbalance;
• insufficient liver function.

Constant nervousness can also lead to frequent yawning. The reason may be if a person is in a state of anxiety, depression, or stress.

Why is yawning contagious?

Everyone has probably noticed that as soon as one person yawns, everyone present begins to repeat after him, which is why they consider yawning a contagious process. Many experts have tried to answer the question of why this happens, but no one can say for sure. This is just speculation.

Interesting: Sometimes it is enough to see a yawning person in a photograph, and a yawn involuntarily arises.

Scientists have proven that when you see a yawn, the areas in the brain that are responsible for empathy for a person are activated. That is, only responsive people imitate yawners. The proof is that children under 5 years of age never repeat a yawn, since they have not yet learned to empathize with others, as well as people suffering from autism.

Constant severe yawning: reasons

There are many reasons for constant yawning:

1. Lack of oxygen to the brain. A signal of lack of oxygen is sent to it, since at this time hyperventilation of the lungs is necessary. Therefore, a person yawns, taking in more air with his mouth, and saturates the lungs with oxygen;
2. « Overheating of the brain" It occurs when on the street heat air, and when yawning, ventilation of the lungs again takes place;
3. Transition from the braking phase to the active phase. In order to wake up better, start the metabolic mechanism, the rhythm of the heart and the whole body as a whole, a yawn is made.

Most often, constant yawning occurs when you are tired or working at night.

The child yawns often - what are the reasons?

Usually, most parents do not pay much attention to their baby's yawning. Most often, the conclusion is that the child did not get enough sleep. But if yawning is repeated too often, then you should not ignore it.

In children, there are mainly 2 reasons frequent yawning:

1. The first is associated with disruption of the nervous system;
2. The second is due to lack of oxygen.

It is necessary to urgently contact a neurologist and follow his recommendations. If no pathology is detected, it means that you need to ventilate the room where the baby is more, increase the time of walks and maintain constant temperature so that the child does not overheat and does not experience a lack of oxygen.

Why does a child yawn in his sleep?

Basically, yawning during sleep occurs due to lack of oxygen. This can be determined by the following signs:

• mouth slightly open;
• noises are heard during breathing;
• A dry cough occurs from time to time.

It is worth visiting an ENT specialist or neurologist to find out the reasons. But before visiting a doctor, you can try to ventilate your child’s room before going to bed. If everything is fine with your health, the yawning will stop.

Why does an adult yawn in his sleep?

It also happens that a person involuntarily yawns in his sleep. This may also be due to several reasons:

1. Health disorders (migraine, changes in hormonal levels, as well as in the syndrome chronic fatigue).
2. Lack of vitamins and microelements in the body.
3. If a person is taking antihistamines.

During sleep, it is undesirable to bend your back, since the diaphragm cannot sufficiently perform its functions; it is advisable to lie with a straight back.

Why does a person yawn during prayer?

Some people begin to yawn when visiting church and reading prayers. Some believe that this is how a person relaxes, others find the reason in the insufficient amount of air due to burning candles, because they burn oxygen.

To eliminate the causes, it is advisable to adhere to a number of rules.

1. When reading a prayer at home, you need to ventilate the room, and then the yawning will stop. Moreover, if the prayer is long, the brain works hard, you need to concentrate so as not to forget the words.
2. Very often a person who prays has to for a long time be in one position: standing on your knees or feet. Breathing and nerve endings slow down, which results in a lack of oxygen.
3. If prayer in a temple takes place in public, yawning also occurs with excitement.

How to control yawning?

In order to reduce yawning, you can resort to next steps:

• take active breaths through your nose and exhale through your mouth;
• if you feel a sudden yawning, it is advisable to drink some cool water;
• when they notice frequent urge to yawn, you need to open the window, ventilate the room well, it is advisable to lower the temperature a little;
• Cucumbers and watermelon can help, as they contain more liquid;
• It is recommended to place a dampened and cooled towel on your head.

Video: Why do people yawn?

In the following video, a representative of the Slivki Show channel will try to find the reasons that provoke yawns in people:

Frequent and severe yawning during the day and at night should alert you, as this usually occurs due to illness. Therefore, it is advisable to contact a specialist. Don't ignore your body's signals!