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Yawning - excessive

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• Treatment

Definition:

Yawning involves opening the mouth involuntarily while taking a long, deep breath of air. This is usually done as a result of drowsiness or weariness . Excessive yawning is yawning that happens more often than would be expected, even if drowsiness or weariness is present.

Alternative Names:

Excessive yawning

Considerations:

Yawning is a normal response to fatigue and drowsiness, but excessive yawning can be caused by a vasovagal reaction. This reaction is caused by the action of a nerve, called the vagus nerve, on the blood vessels. It may indicate a heart problem.

Normal yawning may happen when someone else yawns.

Common Causes:

• Drowsiness or weariness
• Disorders associated with excessive daytime sleepiness
• Vasovagal reaction
  • Heart attack
  • Aortic dissection

• Review Date: 1/18/2007
• Reviewed By: Benjamin W. Van Voorhees, MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Medicine and Pediatrics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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