yawning

[Mark N]

Does anyone else find that they yawn very often? My wife critizes me for it [and she claims she never criticizes me but that is another story] but between my meds making me tired I also think it causes me to breath to shallow and the yawns are a result of this. I know my wife is conscious of it because her upbringing taught her that everyone is looking at us. I know I am not as aware of my surroundings as I should and that is why I say I would have been a absentminded professor if I followed my first educational plan in college.

It doesn't bother me and noone has said anything to me about it other than my wife. I know it isn't a very big problem compared to the other issues I deal with but it does make me wonder sometimes.

[Bobbi]

When taking some medications in the past, Mark, I did find that I was yawning more... and my tongue felt like it was swollen.

Could it be medications you may be taking? I dunno, yet... after changing medications, I don't yawn all the time. It was unrelenting.

[ErinENj]

Hi Mark,

I have issues with yawning when I'm late taking my pills or when I'm going through withdrawls. It's the strangest symptom I've ever had. And it's really irritating for those around me, since a yawn is always contagious, so they're yawning almost as much as I am!

I have some issues some days, but those are usually the days that I notice my meds hitting me a little bit harder and on the days when I don't get nearly enough sleep (I had one on Tuesday. I was up until 2am, because I was posting on here, and I was supposed to be up at 5:45am for class. I decided to get up at 6:15am and risk the traffic, but I was still completely exhausted! I can do okay with 6 hours sleep, but anything less is just way too little for functioning!).

Isn't yawning something related to breathing, like you yawn when your lungs aren't getting enough oxygen? I could be wrong, but that's what I always think of when I think of yawning. I know I yawn a lot in the mornings, and I think it's related to the fact that my chest is always painfully congested because I'm a smoker (I know, I know...it's the worst thing I could possibly do on top of all of my other health problems. I'm trying to quit but school makes it really difficult. The drive is the worst, and when I'm down there and have time to kill and don't have much to do really makes me smoke more. But I know that after school is over and after I get back from Amsterdam, England and Scotland, I'm going to seriously work on quitting before I start working. At the very least, I'm going to cut back, a LOT)

Anyways, maybe someone else has an idea as to other things yawning might be related to. Those are the things that always make me yawn like I haven't slept in years! :D

[Mark N]

Erin, it is tied into your breathing and why I said that I think my meds cause me to breath too shallow. I know that yawning causes me to start taking deeper breaths. I also know that many times my meds make me sleepy and that is when I seem to do more yawning. That is the thing my wife doesn't understand. Even though I am up and doing things I am ready to put my head down and go to sleep.

Bobbi, You could be right about the meds I am on but it took me along time to come up with one that I could tolerate to take so I am willing to put up with the yawning.

[Kathi49]

Mark,

I yawn a lot too and attribute it to the Norco and the Klonopin. They are both sedating and make me sleepy, plain and simple. And, yes, I have noticed I breathe a little more shallow at times. It doesn't happen all the time since I take low doses but every now and then, in particular if I have overdone something or stayed up too late is well, when I yawn the most. :) Shoot, maybe we both need one of those breathing deals they give you after surgery.

[Pharmacist.steve]

If you are breathing shallow .. you will be accumulating CO2 in the lower portion of your lungs .. bascially blocks O2 obsorption in that portion of the lungs.. it is a normal problem for COPD'er
http://www.angelfire.com/planet/razr
Here is a website that explains the exercise

[BrokenBladder]

I also have a problem with yawning. It does upset people around me because it's so catching!! Anyway thanks for the link Steve, I'm going to read it now.

[Mark N]

Steve, thanks for the website.

[curiousforever]

Some days I seem to do this also. I've also noticed I yawn even more when I'm nervous!

I've yawned completely thru job interviews - luckily I'd still get the job cause I'd tell them that and we'd laugh.

Interesting Steve...cause I know my co2 levels were not quite right at one point and I'm also a smoker. Gads. I need to quit. Even the doc (the PA doc that decided not to be my doc) said I shouldn't quit yet.

Was he just hoping I'd kick the bucket sooner? hahahah! :)