Yawning
Yawning is a reflex consisting of the simultaneous inhalation of air and the stretching of the eardrums, followed by an exhalation of breath. Yawning (oscitation) most often occurs in adults immediately before and after sleep, during tedious activities and as a result of its contagious quality. It usually lasts six seconds.
Causes[edit | edit source]
The exact causes of yawning are still unknown. However, there are a number of theories that attempt to explain why yawns occur.
Contagious yawning[edit | edit source]
Contagious yawning is triggered involuntarily when you observe another person yawn. It is a common form of echophenomena – the automatic imitation of another's words (echolalia) or actions (echopraxia).
Thermoregulatory theory[edit | edit source]
The thermoregulatory theory of yawning suggests that yawning is a way to cool down the brain.
Evolutionary theory[edit | edit source]
The evolutionary theory of yawning suggests that yawning evolved to help our ancestors stay alert and avoid danger.
Effects[edit | edit source]
Yawning has a number of effects on the body, including increasing heart rate, blood pressure, and blood oxygen levels.
In animals[edit | edit source]
Yawning is not limited to humans. It is also observed in a wide range of animals including mammals, birds and reptiles.
See also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
External links[edit | edit source]
- Why do we yawn and why is it contagious? - BBC Nature
- Why Do We Yawn When We Are Tired? - Scientific American
| Yawning Resources | |
|---|---|
|
 |
Search WikiMD
Ad.Tired of being Overweight? Try W8MD's physician weight loss program.
Semaglutide (Ozempic / Wegovy and Tirzepatide (Mounjaro / Zepbound) available.
Advertise on WikiMD
|
WikiMD's Wellness Encyclopedia |
| Let Food Be Thy Medicine Medicine Thy Food - Hippocrates |
Translate this page: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
தமிழ்,
తెలుగు,
Urdu,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
বাংলা
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
Greek,
português do Brasil,
polski,
română,
русский,
Nederlands,
norsk,
svenska,
suomi,
Italian
Middle Eastern & African
عربى,
Turkish,
Persian,
Hebrew,
Afrikaans,
isiZulu,
Kiswahili,
Other
Bulgarian,
Hungarian,
Czech,
Swedish,
മലയാളം,
मराठी,
ਪੰਜਾਬੀ,
ગુજરાતી,
Portuguese,
Ukrainian
WikiMD is not a substitute for professional medical advice. See full disclaimer.
Credits:Most images are courtesy of Wikimedia commons, and templates Wikipedia, licensed under CC BY SA or similar.
Contributors: Prab R. Tumpati, MD
