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How do I Treat Excessive Yawning?
Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison
Treatment for excessive yawning typically depends on its cause. Medical professionals usually do not treat yawning itself, as it is usually a symptom of an underlying issue rather than a separate medical problem. For example, some of the health problems that may cause yawning include encephalitis, multiple sclerosis, and heart disorders. Conditions that interfere with the proper intake or use of oxygen may contribute to it as well. Additionally, a person may yawn more than normal as a side effect of certain types of medications.
Before you can concern yourself with treating excessive yawning, you must first understand the difference between yawning excessively and yawning that is likely considered normal. If you have a day in which you yawn a good deal, this may not mean you are yawning excessively. A bit of extra yawning may happen to anyone from time to time. If, on the other hand, you are experiencing much more yawning than usual and it lasts for a significant amount of time, you may have reason to be more concerned and seek the advice of a healthcare professional.
There is a range of conditions that may cause this problem, and if found, a medical professional will take steps to treat them. The treatment of these conditions will usually help to alleviate the increase in yawning. Among the conditions that may be treated to deal with yawning issues are heart problems that may lead to a heart attack, inflammation of the brain and the spinal cord, or a nervous system condition such as multiple sclerosis. Some breathing disorders may contribute to the problem as well. In the event that the excess yawning is happening as a result of a medication side effect instead of a health condition, a medical professional may recommend a change in medication instead.
Usually, a healthcare professional will ask a number of questions when he is attempting to diagnose the underlying condition causing excessive yawning. The answers to these questions may help him get to the root of the problem. For example, the medical professional may ask how well you sleep at night and if you feel unusually tired during the day. He may also ask you when you first noticed the increase in yawning and approximately how many times you yawn each day. Before he can determine the underlying problem, he may also ask if you feel the yawning is related to boredom and if the symptom is relieved by taking deep breaths or resting.
Nicole Madison
Nicole’s thirst for knowledge inspired her to become a TheHealthBoard writer, and she focuses primarily on topics such as homeschooling, parenting, health, science, and business. When not writing or spending time with her four children, Nicole enjoys reading, camping, and going to the beach.
Learn more...
Nicole Madison
Nicole’s thirst for knowledge inspired her to become a TheHealthBoard writer, and she focuses primarily on topics such as homeschooling, parenting, health, science, and business. When not writing or spending time with her four children, Nicole enjoys reading, camping, and going to the beach.
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![Excessive yawning usually means a good night's sleep is needed.]()
By: Ana Blazic PavlovicExcessive yawning usually means a good night's sleep is needed. -
![Some heart problems can cause excessive yawning.]()
By: nebariSome heart problems can cause excessive yawning. -
![There are various causes of excessive yawning.]()
By: Klaus EppeleThere are various causes of excessive yawning. -
![Boredom is a common cause of excessive yawning.]()
By: Ermolaev AlexandrBoredom is a common cause of excessive yawning. -
![Excessive yawning could be a sign of dehydration.]()
By: MaridavExcessive yawning could be a sign of dehydration. -
![Conditions that prevent people from getting enough oxygen in their system can cause excessive yawning.]()
By: ChenPGConditions that prevent people from getting enough oxygen in their system can cause excessive yawning.
Discussion Comments
@StarJo – Did you know that excessive sleeping can also cause frequent yawning? I used to get too much sleep when I was younger, and even on days when I had gotten twelve hours of sleep, I would yawn a lot.
I also had a headache and wanted to go back to bed, but that would just make me even more miserable. I finally figured out that getting about eight hours of sleep cut down on the sleep hangover and made me yawn a lot less.
I hated feeling groggy and irritable. Yawning so much made my parents ask me how on earth I could still be sleepy, and that would put me in an even worse mood. It's best to get up at a reasonable time.
I noticed that I started yawning a lot after I had been taking St. John's Wort for about a month. It was doing wonders for my anxiety and panic attacks, but I sure did yawn a lot more than normal.
I wondered why I was yawning so much, and then I remembered that the only thing different in my life was the St. John's Wort. I asked around and found out that several other people who were taking it had experienced excessive yawning.
It relaxed me and lessened my worrying, and I think that made me a little bit sleepy. I liked feeling relaxed instead of uptight and scared, but the frequent yawning did get annoying.
Excessive tiredness made me yawn excessively. What's funny is that all that yawning seemed to make me even more tired!
Something about yawning makes me want to lie down and go to sleep so badly. Even if I'm not really all that tired, if I have a fit of yawning, I suddenly become drowsy.
Lately, I haven't been getting enough sleep. I've had a lot on my mind, and my thoughts have kept me awake. I usually fall asleep about an hour or two before my alarm goes off, and then I yawn all day.
I know that getting more rest would alleviate the yawning problem. I just don't know how to do that right now.
Yawning is so contagious! Every time that I see someone else yawn, whether they are on television or driving by in a car, I have to yawn.
In fact, I just yawned several times while reading this article. Just reading the word “yawn” makes me do it!
So, I know what causes yawning in my case. If I am yawning excessively, it is because I have either been reading about it, listening to someone talk about it, or seeing someone else yawn over and over.
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