I had no idea this is why we yawn

Did you? ͏   ­ ͏   ­ ͏   ­ ͏   ­ ͏   ­ ͏   ­ ͏   ­ ͏   ­ ͏   ­ ͏   ­ ͏   ­ ͏   ­ ͏   ­ ͏   ­ ͏   ­ ͏   ­ ͏   ­ ͏   ­ ͏   ­ ͏   ­ ͏   ­ ͏   ­ ͏   ­ ͏   ­ ͏   ­ ͏   ­ ͏   ­ ͏   ­ ͏   ­ ͏   ­ ͏   ­ ͏   ­ ͏   ­ ͏   ­ ͏   ­ ͏   ­ ͏   ­ [Healthline]( [Wellness Wire]( In a Nutshell Yawns are weird. I usually catch myself yawning nonstop during boring conversations and when my body is totally zapped of energy. Writing about yawning right now just made me yawn. Why is this happening?! And why else would we yawn aside from exhaustion or boredom? Keep scrolling to find out. • [How long can you live without water?]( • [Signs of emotional eating and how to cope]( • [What’s the link between loneliness and depression?]( Made you yawn, Morgan Mandriota Newsletter Editor, Healthline Written by Morgan Mandriota July 29, 2024 • 3 min read [Reasons you might yawn aside from being tired]( what’s got us buzzing [Reasons you might yawn aside from being tired]( Up until I started research for this story, I believed the biological reason for yawning was to get more oxygen to the brain. But apparently, this claim has since been debunked by a bunch of research.️ So then why do we yawn? We actually don’t know the exact cause or reason, but researchers have some ideas. One theory is that it helps wake your body up. The act of opening your mouth and taking a deep breath stretches your lungs, tissues, muscles, and joints. This behavior rushes blood toward your face and brain, which can help to boost how alert you feel. So when you’re tired or bored (unstimulated), the brain slows down. Once this happens: 🥱️ It’s also thought to help regulate brain temperature. Fun fact: This is one reason why yawns are contagious! Because you’re exposed to the same room temperature as someone near you who’s yawning, seeing them can send a signal to [your brain]( that you should do the same thing (to cool down your brain). According to a [2015 study](, the more [empathetic]( you are, the more likely you are to yawn after seeing someone do it, too. (No, there’s no link to [sociopathic traits]( among people who don’t catch yawns.)️️ If you catch yourself yawning a lot during boring social events like me, you may want to know how to snap out of it to avoid insulting the people you’re with. You can try deep breathing exercises, getting up and moving around, stimulating your brain somehow, or cooling your body down by [drinking ice water](, eating a cold snack, or finding a cooler environment to hang out in.️️ On the other hand, [excessive yawning]( could be a sign of an underlying condition like a heart attack, multiple sclerosis, or liver failure. This is usually accompanied by other symptoms though. If you can’t stop yawning but you’re getting enough sleep and not bored, you might want to talk with a doctor about how to stop.️️ [causes of excessive yawning]( Great finds Blackout curtains are a MUST [NICETOWN Insulated Blackout Curtains]( [NICETOWN Insulated Blackout Curtains]( If there’s one thing I can’t live without, it’s blackout curtains. Not only am I constantly paranoid that people are looking into my windows at night, but I love privacy and darkness when I sleep or play video games at night. I have 6 or 7 pairs of this exact curtain hanging throughout my home — in my bedroom, office, living room, etc. And blackout curtains don’t just mean BLACK. They come in a ton of different colors and sizes! [SHOP NOW]( Every product we recommend has gone through either [Healthline's]( or Optum Store’s vetting processes. If you buy through links on this page, we may receive a small commission or other tangible benefit. Healthline has sole editorial control over this newsletter. Potential uses for the products listed here are not health claims made by the manufacturers. Healthline and Optum Store are owned by RVO Health. FROM OPTUM PERKS [Save Up to 80% on Your Prescriptions]( [Save Up to 80% on Your Prescriptions]( Pay less for your diabetes medication with Optum Perks’ free discount card.* Use it at over 64,000 pharmacies across the United States. [START SAVING [→]]( *It can not be combined with your health insurance. Healthline and Optum Perks are owned by RVO Health. By using this Optum Perks service, we may receive a tangible benefit. health stories you need What we’re reading next [] 🌎 [10 healthy eating habits from around the world.]( Let’s travel to Japan, France, Ethiopia, Italy, Mexico, and beyond. 💪🏻 [103 isolation exercises for your whole body.]( Biceps, shoulders, glutes, calves — you name the spot, it’s on this list! 🦠[Facts about psoriasis and the immune system.]( Plus, FAQ you might want answers to. 💭 [Do dreams actually mean anything?]( Here are some theories to consider. Thanks for reading! I’m curious: Did you yawn at any point while reading this newsletter? Let me know at wellnesswire@healthline.com. (Please note that we may use your name and response in an upcoming edition.) Until next time, [healthline]( Take care of yourself, and we’ll see you again soon! [Telegram] This edition was powered by curiosity. [fb]( [tiktok]( [X]( [youtube]( [insta]( [View in browser]( Did a friend send you this email? 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