Excessive yawning: Causes and treatments

Fatigue or drowsiness is a common side effect of many over-the-counter and prescription drugs.Medications that could cause excessive yawning include:Depression can cause or exacerbate yawning due to either side effects of antidepressants or fatigue that comes with depression.If a person with depression is finding themselves yawning frequently, or more than usual, they can discuss this with their doctor, who may then be able to change medication doses or check for any other causes.Excessive yawning can be related to the vagus nerve, which runs from the bottom of the brain down to the heart and stomach.In some cases, excessive yawning may indicate bleeding around the heart or even a heart attack.Other symptoms that may indicate a heart problem include:If people notice any of these signs, they should seek medical attention immediately.People who have had a stroke may yawn excessively. This may be why yawning is related to anxiety and fatigue, both of which place the body under stress.One study suggests that recognizing abnormal rises in cortisol might help detect some neurological conditions, such as MS and early-onset dementia.The main symptoms of MS include:People may yawn excessively during the last stages of liver failure. Scientists believe that this is due to the fatigue that liver failure causes.Other symptoms of liver failure include:In rare cases, excessive yawning can be a symptom of a frontal lobe or brain stem tumor.Other symptoms that may signal a brain tumor include:If a person finds themselves yawning excessively, they should see their doctor to find out what could be causing it.The treatments will depend on the cause of the yawning, and may include the following:A doctor may ask people about their sleep habits and how physically and mentally tired they feel on a regular basis.They may order an electroencephalogram (EEG) to rule out brain abnormalities such as a seizure disorder. Excessive yawning can arise from extreme tiredness, a side effect of medications, or an underlying health condition.If a person find themselves yawning frequently, or more than they would usually for no known reason, they should see their doctor to find out what could be causing it.If they notice any other symptoms that could indicate a serious health condition, they should seek medical help immediately. https://www.heart.org/en/about-us/heart-attack-and-stroke-symptoms https://muschealth.org/medical-services/geriatrics-and-aging/healthy-aging/yawning Before brain tumor diagnosis: Signs and symptoms. https://braintumor.org/brain-tumor-information/signs-and-symptoms/Common tests for heart failure. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3678674/Heart attack and stroke symptoms. https://www.nationalmssociety.org/Symptoms-Diagnosis/MS-SymptomsTeive, H. http://www.jneuro.com/neurology-neuroscience/yawning-as-a-new-potential-diagnostic-marker-forneurological-diseases.php?aid=7176Wasade, V. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5024315/Yawning: Why and what could it mean? CareersThis page was printed from: https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/324401.phpVisit www.medicalnewstoday.com for medical news and health news headlines posted throughout the day, every day.2019 Healthline Media UK Ltd. All rights reserved.