BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuYawning - excessiveExcessive yawningYawning is involuntarily opening the mouth and taking a long, deep breath of air. This is most often done when you are tired or sleepy. Excessive yawning that happens more often than expected, even if drowsiness or weariness is present is considered excessive yawning.DrowsinessDrowsiness refers to feeling more sleepy than normal during the day. People who are drowsy may fall asleep when they do not want to or at times whic...Read Article Now Book Mark Article WearinessFatigue is a feeling of weariness, tiredness, or lack of energy.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Causes Causes may include:Drowsiness or weariness Disorders associated with excessive daytime sleepiness Vasovagal reaction (stimulation of a nerve called the vagus nerve), caused by heart attack or aortic dissection Heart attackMost heart attacks are caused by a blood clot that blocks one of the coronary arteries. The coronary arteries bring blood and oxygen to the heart. ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Aortic dissectionAortic dissection is a serious condition in which there is a tear in the wall of the major artery carrying blood out of the heart (aorta). As the te...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Brain problems such as tumor, stroke, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis TumorA tumor is an abnormal growth of body tissue. Tumors can be cancerous (malignant) or noncancerous (benign).Read Article Now Book Mark Article StrokeA stroke occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain stops. A stroke is sometimes called a "brain attack. " If blood flow is cut off for longer th...Read Article Now Book Mark Article EpilepsyEpilepsy is a brain disorder in which a person has repeated seizures over time. Seizures are episodes of uncontrolled and abnormal electrical activi...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Multiple sclerosisMultiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease that affects the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system).Read Article Now Book Mark Article Certain medicines (rare) Problem with the body's temperature control (rare) Home Care Follow the treatment for the underlying cause. When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your health care provider if: You have unexplained and excessive yawning. The yawning is associated with being very sleepy in the daytime. What to Expect at Your Office Visit The provider will take your medical history and do a physical exam.You may be asked questions such as:When did the excessive yawning begin? How many times do you yawn per hour or day? Is it worse in the morning, after lunch, or during exercise? Is it worse in certain areas or certain rooms? Does yawning interfere with normal activities? Is the increased yawning related to the amount of sleep you get? Is it related to use of medicines? Is it related to activity level or boredom? Do things such as rest or breathing deeply help? What other symptoms are present?You may need tests to look for medical problems that are causing the yawning.Your provider will recommend treatment, if needed based on the results of your exam and tests.Open ReferencesReferencesAvidan AY. Sleep and its disorders. In: Jankovic J, Mazziotta JC, Pomeroy SL, Newman NJ, eds. Bradley and Daroff's Neurology in Clinical Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 101.Rucker JC, Seay MD. Cranial neuropathies. In: Jankovic J, Mazziotta JC, Pomeroy SL, Newman NJ, eds. Bradley and Daroff's Neurology in Clinical Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 103.Teive HAG, Munhoz RP, Camargo CHF, Walusinski O. Yawning in neurology: a review. Arq Neuropsiquiatr. 2018;76(7):473-480. PMID: 30066799 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30066799/.AllVideoImagesTogRelated Information Drowsiness(Symptoms)Fatigue(Symptoms) Review Date: 2/2/2023 Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Clinical Professor, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. 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Yawning - excessiveExcessive yawningYawning is involuntarily opening the mouth and taking a long, deep breath of air. This is most often done when you are tired or sleepy. Excessive yawning that happens more often than expected, even if drowsiness or weariness is present is considered excessive yawning.DrowsinessDrowsiness refers to feeling more sleepy than normal during the day. People who are drowsy may fall asleep when they do not want to or at times whic...Read Article Now Book Mark Article WearinessFatigue is a feeling of weariness, tiredness, or lack of energy.Read Article Now Book Mark Article Causes Causes may include:Drowsiness or weariness Disorders associated with excessive daytime sleepiness Vasovagal reaction (stimulation of a nerve called the vagus nerve), caused by heart attack or aortic dissection Heart attackMost heart attacks are caused by a blood clot that blocks one of the coronary arteries. The coronary arteries bring blood and oxygen to the heart. ...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Aortic dissectionAortic dissection is a serious condition in which there is a tear in the wall of the major artery carrying blood out of the heart (aorta). As the te...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Brain problems such as tumor, stroke, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis TumorA tumor is an abnormal growth of body tissue. Tumors can be cancerous (malignant) or noncancerous (benign).Read Article Now Book Mark Article StrokeA stroke occurs when blood flow to a part of the brain stops. A stroke is sometimes called a "brain attack. " If blood flow is cut off for longer th...Read Article Now Book Mark Article EpilepsyEpilepsy is a brain disorder in which a person has repeated seizures over time. Seizures are episodes of uncontrolled and abnormal electrical activi...Read Article Now Book Mark Article Multiple sclerosisMultiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease that affects the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system).Read Article Now Book Mark Article Certain medicines (rare) Problem with the body's temperature control (rare) Home Care Follow the treatment for the underlying cause. When to Contact a Medical Professional Contact your health care provider if: You have unexplained and excessive yawning. The yawning is associated with being very sleepy in the daytime. What to Expect at Your Office Visit The provider will take your medical history and do a physical exam.You may be asked questions such as:When did the excessive yawning begin? How many times do you yawn per hour or day? Is it worse in the morning, after lunch, or during exercise? Is it worse in certain areas or certain rooms? Does yawning interfere with normal activities? Is the increased yawning related to the amount of sleep you get? Is it related to use of medicines? Is it related to activity level or boredom? Do things such as rest or breathing deeply help? What other symptoms are present?You may need tests to look for medical problems that are causing the yawning.Your provider will recommend treatment, if needed based on the results of your exam and tests.Open ReferencesReferencesAvidan AY. Sleep and its disorders. In: Jankovic J, Mazziotta JC, Pomeroy SL, Newman NJ, eds. Bradley and Daroff's Neurology in Clinical Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 101.Rucker JC, Seay MD. Cranial neuropathies. In: Jankovic J, Mazziotta JC, Pomeroy SL, Newman NJ, eds. Bradley and Daroff's Neurology in Clinical Practice. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 103.Teive HAG, Munhoz RP, Camargo CHF, Walusinski O. Yawning in neurology: a review. Arq Neuropsiquiatr. 2018;76(7):473-480. PMID: 30066799 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30066799/.