Yawning

[liquidspace]

I cant seem to stop yawning, it was happening last night and now again this morning, I dont think its particularly due to lack of sleep but am not sure. Its almost like I need to yawn to get enough breath in. Does anyone know if this means anything in particular?

[Octavius]

Pandiculation is a symptom of tiredness and lack of stimulation and not only do we stretch and yawn, we also do long sighs. Nobody really knows what exactly causes us to yawn, but scientists suggest that it may be triggered by a lack of oxygen, boredom, fatigue and visual/physical inference (body language) to yourself to wake up/get alert or to someone else to say that they are boring/ you are tired.

Other suggestions are that yawning enables regulation of body temperature, or a chemical reaction in the brain to effect mood and emotion, such as serotonin or other stimulants.

[LLASY]

Yes you don't breath deeply when you are tired so you yawn to suck in more oxygen. try going for a brisk walk.

[liquidspace]

Thats interesting, thanks.

[bensmum]

Do you get headaches? I ask this as I get migraine and one of the signs that I have an imminent one is that I yawn excessively.

[liquidspace]

I dont get headaches no. I do occasionally get a migraine but nothing has appeared on this occasion as a result of yawning, so I guess it was the tiredness!