Have you ever
wondered why you can’t resist a yawn when you see someone else yawn
first? Have you ever pondered what causes the reaction or how many times
the average person yawns in a day? Did you know that yawning starts as early as
in the womb when the fetus is only eleven weeks old?
When
you yawn, the powerful stretching of your jaw increases the blood flow
to your neck, face and head. When you take a deep breath during a yawn, it
forces the downward flow of spinal fluid and blood from the brain. The cool air
that is breathed in through the mouth cools these fluids.
There
are two types of yawns. The spur-of-the-moment yawning results from boredom or
fatigue. The contagious yawning is a response to watching someone else yawn.
Though
excessive yawning can mean fatigue, drowsiness, and sleeplessness, it can also
be a sign of serious health conditions like migraine headaches, Parkinson’s
disease, central sleep apnea, obesity, a heart attack, epilepsy, multiple
sclerosis (MS), a stroke, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Here are a
few ways to keep from yawning throughout the day:[i]- Avoid
consuming caffeine four to six hours before your bedtime.
2. Avoid ice creams or foods that are high in sugar as it
can lead to excessive yawning. Choose healthy and whole chilled foods for some
stunning results.
- Don’t
drink alcohol one to two hours before bedtime.
- Don’t
think about problems that cause you to worry before your bedtime. Have a
good night’s sleep; a new day will usher in positive changes. Have faith.
5.
Doodling
shifts your focus from yawning and helps you to concentrate. It makes you more productive, keeps
you in the present moment, helps generate great ideas and is an outlet for
everyday creativity.
- Drink
a cool beverage. During those
important moments, keep a cool beverage handy. If you feel the need to
yawn, take a sip of ice water.
7.
Ginger
(20ml) relieves spasms in the stomach and upper respiratory tract. It relieves
the tightness in the gut that impedes the free movement of the diaphragm which
leads to excessive yawning.
- Have
a light snack like a piece of fruit before going to bed. This will keep
your tummy from grumbling at night.
- If
you change or shift your regular sleep schedule. It will cause lots of
yawning when you are awake. It’s a myth that your body adjusts quickly to
a different sleep schedule.
- Keep
your bedroom comfortable, cool, dark, and quiet. Use heavy curtains to
block the light from the windows, so your bedroom is dark and cozy for a
good night’s sleep.
- Keep
your environment cool. Because one reason we yawn when the brain's
temperature too warm, it'll help to avoid sitting in a hot environment.
- Keep
your naps short and between ten and thirty minutes. Avoid taking naps
after 3 PM.
- Maintain
a sleep journal.
14.
Rosemary
essential oil
was shown to reduce the cortisol levels. Excess cortisol has been linked to
decreased memory and learning. Lavender,
jasmine, cinnamon,
and peppermint essential oils can work their magic and fend off yawning.
- Set
an alarm to remind you that it’s time for bedtime.
- Shut
off your electronics, and keep them away from your bedroom. The type of
light these screens emit can stimulate your brain. It can suppress the
melatonin production and interfere with your sleep.
- Skip
a big glass of water before your bedtime. Avoid liquids ninety minutes
before going to bed.
- Take
a few deep breaths through your nose, and exhale through your mouth.
- The
quality of your sleep matters most to prevent yawning.
- Try
to do a relaxing activity before your bedtime. Take a warm bath, read a
good book, do any restful activity that will soothe your brain and lull it
to sleep.
- Try
to get seven to nine hours of quality sleep to function at your best
during your waking hours.
- Try
to limit foods that contain tryptophan during the day. Tryptophan gets
converted to serotonin in the brain. Serotonin helps you to fall asleep.
- Use
a cool compress. If you really want to make sure you don't yawn, press a
cool compress against your head and hold it there for a minute or two.
This should keep you cool enough to keep from yawning.
- Wakeup
with the sun, sunlight helps your body’s inner clock to reset itself each
day.
25.
Yawning
can also happen by other class of antidepressants such as noradrenalin and
serotonin reuptake inhibitors.
26.
Yawning
is your body’s thermostat. When your brain is heated you tend to yawn. Chilled
foods can help to bring down your body’s temperature. Fruits, veggies, yogurts and cheeses that
are cold can suppress your yawning tendency.
- You
have to change your sleeping habits
and set a proper, regular time for nightly sleeping.
“Psychological
Fact #16: Yawning is contagious. Even thinking about yawning is enough. After
reading this, there is a 50% chance that you will yawn.” (Psychofacts.tumblr.com)[ii]
[i] If you’re a healthy individual,
despite age, gender, diet, or physical fitness levels, you give out a probable
rate of ten yawns per hour. An average person yawns roughly 240,000 times
during their lifetime.
[ii] Sources used:
·
“10 Little Known Facts about Yawning” by Anna Fleet
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