{"id":28529,"date":"2023-06-16T04:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-06-16T04:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.saatva.com\/?p=28529"},"modified":"2023-12-14T00:23:26","modified_gmt":"2023-12-14T00:23:26","slug":"why-do-we-yawn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.saatva.com\/blog\/why-do-we-yawn\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Do We Yawn? 4 Reasons, According to Science"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Yawning is a universal human experience. And it doesn\u2019t stop with us. Animals yawn too\u2014from your house cat stretching in the sun, all the way up to African and Asian elephants<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most people think yawning happens because you\u2019re sleepy. That\u2019s true. But it\u2019s not the only reason why you might yawn. There\u2019s much more to yawning than meets the eye\u2014and while this action is a normal human function, it can sometimes be a sign of a more concerning issue, like narcolepsy<\/a> or sleep apnea<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learn more about why we yawn, why we yawn when we see someone else yawn, and how much yawning is too much.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is yawning?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You probably already know what yawning is, but here\u2019s a quick definition: Yawning is a reflex<\/a> where your mouth opens wide; you take in a long, deep breath (your eyes might close or your head might tilt back); and then exhale as you close your mouth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s involuntary, which means that if you feel a yawn coming on, it\u2019s difficult to suppress. Human yawns can last anywhere from four to 10 seconds. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why do we yawn?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are several reasons why we might yawn. These include sleepiness, boredom, and regulating brain temperature. The four most common causes of yawning include:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Drowsiness<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

You likely notice yourself yawning the most when you\u2019re sleepy or drowsy\u2014maybe when you\u2019ve just woken up in the morning or when it\u2019s almost time for bed at night. Yawning can help your body stay awake (while also signaling to you that it would appreciate some sleep).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Boredom<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Boredom and a lack of stimulation can make you yawn. Again, your body is trying to wake itself up, keeping you alert if you\u2019re struggling to focus on a long class or a boring movie. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Temperature<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Yawning can actually help regulate your brain temperature. Inhaling air can help your brain cool down if it gets too warm\u2014no wonder people yawn more<\/a> during the summer. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ear pressure<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

One final reason why you might yawn is to change your ear pressure. Yawning can relieve pressure in your ears if you\u2019re flying on an airplane or driving through the mountains, sometimes making your ears \u201cpop.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why do we yawn when we see someone else yawn?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Have you been yawning throughout this entire article so far? If your answer is yes, that\u2019s not surprising. Seeing somebody else yawn or even reading the word often triggers us to yawn too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scientists think this might be an empathy response<\/a>. You might be experiencing echopraxia<\/a>\u2014where you automatically mimic someone else\u2019s movements. Or we may feel prompted to yawn in a group setting as a way to keep us all alert. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s worth considering too, that if you see someone yawn in the same room as you, you\u2019re both being exposed to the same environment and the same temperature. So you may simply be simultaneously reacting to what\u2019s around you, both noticing that you\u2019re tired at the same time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why do we cry when we yawn?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You might notice that sometimes, you tear up when you yawn. This is completely normal to experience. The action of yawning pulls on the lacrimal glands, which are located above your eyeballs and produce tears. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

This pressure can stimulate the glands<\/a> and make tears come out. Your eyes also might be dry and fatigued, which can cause tear production too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How much yawning is too much?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

According to experts, there\u2019s no definitive answer on how much yawning is too much. While most of us yawn around five to 10 times a day, everyone is different, and some people might yawn up to 100 times<\/a> in a 24-hour period. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, it\u2019s helpful to realize that excessive yawning like this could be a sign of a larger health issue\u2014something deeper than just skipping your coffee this morning. Yawning frequently during the day could be a side effect of medication or a sign of health conditions such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n