21 Facts About Yawning You Didn’t Know
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It is a reflex that is exhibited when a person inhales deeply.
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It is an instinctive response to tiredness or boredom.
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It can be contagious.
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It helps to increase blood flow and oxygen saturation in the brain.
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It can help to cool down the brain.
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It occurs more often in men than women.
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Yawning Usually Lasts Six Seconds?
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It is more common during the day than at night.
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It is more common in warmer climates than colder climates.
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Babies and young children yawn less frequently than adults do.
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It can be a sign of anxiety or stress.
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It is often accompanied by stretching.
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It can act as a signal to other people in the vicinity.
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It has been observed in many animal species, including dogs and cats.
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It is usually louder when exhaling than inhaling.
Table of Contents
1. It is a Natural Reflex.
Yawning is an automatic reflex where the mouth opens wide, the lungs take in a deep breath, and then air is released. It’s typically linked with drowsiness or boredom.
What is a yawn? It’s an action that occurs without conscious control and helps us stretch muscles and increase alertness when needed.
2. It Helps Increase Oxygen Intake.
While there is some debate, one of the common beliefs is that yawning helps the body take in more oxygen. This may explain why people often yawn when they feel tired or sluggish.
If you yawn too much, it might be your body’s way of increasing oxygen to combat fatigue.
3. It Can Be Contagious.
One of the most fascinating aspects of yawning is how it can spread from person to person. Contagious yawn occurs when you see someone else yawn and feel the impulse to do the same. This is linked to our brain’s ability to mimic others’ behaviors, reflecting social bonding.
4. People yawn when they want to sleep.
Some theories relate it to the circadian rhythm of the body. The body clock witnesses a spike in brain temperatures when we are minutes away from calling it a day.
The body’s way of cooling down the temperature rise is a yawn. This way, people get a nice sleep.
5. Yawning May Signal Tiredness or Boredom.
Most of the time, yawning happens when we are tired or bored. It’s the body’s signal that it needs a break. Why do we yawn when we are tired? Our body may be trying to cool down the brain or boost alertness to keep us awake.
6. All Animals Yawn.
Yawning is an involuntary function of the body. It isn’t exclusive to human bodies. From the mighty king of the jungle to the humble loyal house dog, yawning has everyone in its grasp. As interesting as yawning is it is also mysterious.
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7. It Is Linked to Transitions in Sleep and Wakefulness.
Yawning is often observed when we are transitioning between states of alertness and drowsiness. It could be an attempt to adjust to the shift in activity, preparing our body for either sleep or wakefulness.
How to stop yawning when transitioning? Getting adequate rest can help reduce the urge to yawn.
8. Yawning May Be a Sign of Empathy.
Research shows that people are more likely to yawn in response to others if they feel a strong emotional connection or empathy. This may explain why you’re more likely to catch a yawn from a close friend or family member.
9. It Improves Brain Temperature Regulation.
One emerging theory suggests that yawning helps regulate brain temperature. When we yawn, it may cool the brain, making it more efficient. This could explain why we tend to yawn too much when we are tired or overheated.
10. Yawning That Begin Even Before the Birth of a Child.
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Yawning is a far more complex behavior. Many doctors have observed babies yawning in utero. Humans yawn for around 6 seconds on average which is the longest yawning period of any other species.
11. It Helps Increase Oxygen Intake.
While there is some debate, one of the common beliefs is that yawning helps the body take in more oxygen. This may explain why people often yawn when they feel tired or sluggish.
If you yawn too much, it might be your body’s way of increasing oxygen to combat fatigue.
12. Yawning is also an attempt to increase attention and arousal.
When people yawn in classrooms or in Infront of other people, it represents an attempt for them to maintain attention, arousal, and focus. It indicates that they are paying attention to a situation.
It is an effort to provide the brain with an optimal temperature so that it can efficiently function.
13. It Can Be Contagious.
One of the most fascinating aspects of yawning is how it can spread from person to person. Contagious yawn occurs when you see someone else yawn and feel the impulse to do the same. This is linked to our brain’s ability to mimic others’ behaviors, reflecting social bonding.
14. A man faced 6 months in jail for a yawn.
There are still misconceptions about yawning. In fact, in 2009, one judge sentenced someone to jail for disrupting the court by yawning.
It seemed that judge was not aware of the fact that yawning is an involuntary function of the human body.
15. Yawning makes animals more alert.
People can think about wild animals which need to remain alert and watch for predators.
So, if the animals are getting drowsy but it’s not a time to rest, catching a yawn might make them more alert, and therefore they survive in critical situations.
16. People yawn in summer more often.
During summer yawning is very frequent among people than in the winter. Due to high temperatures in summer, the brain gets overheated. To cool it down, people yawn so that more blood is provided to the brain.
As a result, the brain works efficiently.
17. Too much Yawning may indicate a disorder in a person.
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Although yawning is good for health, excessive yawning may point to a disorder in a person. too much yawning may be caused by heart conditions or sleeping disorders.
Therefore, people who have a high frequency of yawning should consult with medical professionals.
18. It Can Help Relieve Tension in the Jaw.
Yawning might serve another practical purpose—relieving tension in the jaw muscles. By stretching the jaw wide during a yawn, it can reduce any discomfort or tightness in the area, making you feel more relaxed.
19. It May Be a Way to Cool Down the Brain.
One of the newer theories about yawning is that it helps cool the brain. This could explain why we tend to yawn more during mental fatigue or when the brain is overworked.
Does yawning mean lack of oxygen? While this is a popular theory, it’s not fully supported, as cooling the brain might be a more accurate explanation.
20. It Might Help With Memory and Alertness.
Yawning might play a role in boosting brain function, particularly when it comes to memory and attention. Some theories suggest that yawning helps improve the brain’s ability to focus and remember information, which can be helpful when you’re trying to stay alert or retain knowledge.
21. Chronic Yawning Should Be Investigated by a Doctor.
If you’re yawning constantly and can’t seem to stop, it’s important to consider the possibility of an underlying health condition. Constant yawning and shortness of breath could be symptoms of a more serious issue. Consulting with a healthcare provider is essential to rule out medical causes.
FAQS
Yawning is believed to help increase oxygen intake and regulate brain temperature. It may also be a signal of transitioning between sleep and wakefulness.
Yawning can indicate tiredness, boredom, or even stress. It may also serve as a social signal in some situations, as it is often contagious.
Yawning helps cool the brain, increase alertness, and improve oxygen flow. It also helps relax the jaw and stretch facial muscles.
Excessive yawning without tiredness could be caused by anxiety, stress, boredom, or even a drop in body temperature. It’s worth monitoring other factors if it persists.
In rare cases, excessive yawning can be a symptom of a stroke, especially if accompanied by other signs like weakness or confusion. It’s important to seek medical attention if you’re concerned.
To stop yawning frequently, ensure you’re well-rested, reduce stress, and stay active. Drinking water or taking deep breaths may also help curb the urge.
Yawning and shortness of breath can be caused by physical exertion, medical conditions affecting the respiratory system, anxiety, stress, medications, or environmental factors. Consult a medical professional for persistent or severe symptoms.
