Did you know that the average Brit only sleeps for just above six hours a night?
As a nation, there’s a struggle to get a full night’s rest. Such a struggle can lead to feelings of sluggishness and a constant, almost unstoppable yawning.
If you’ve been curious to figure out how to stop yawning, we’re here to help. Read on to find out all about it and what you can do to reduce how often you find yourself yawning throughout your day.
Why Do We Yawn?
First off, what causes yawning, and what exactly is it? Here’s some core information on the action and why you’re doing it in the first place.
What Is Yawning?
Yawning is a reflex wherein the mouth is opened wide and the lungs take in a deep breath to fill with air. Typically speaking, the eyes involuntarily close and may water, and it can leave the body feeling more relaxed than before. It also can stretch the eardrums and many other muscles.
That said, yawning is different for everyone. Most people can override the involuntary reflex to yawn with their mouth closed, breathing through the nose instead. They may also keep their eyes open, or outright suppress the reflex as a whole.
It’s also common for a sound to accompany yawning, which is different from person to person. Some may stretch or groan, others may make a higher-pitched sound, and some may stay silent. Most can also suppress this reflex without much difficulty, especially in settings where yawning is deemed inappropriate or rude.
Why Do We Yawn?
Many things can cause us to yawn. The most common is a lack of stimulation, such as boredom or lengthy periods of waiting without doing anything.
Fatigue is another common cause, whether it’s from a lack of sleep or an excess of physical labour. For instance, overworking yourself can lead to mental fatigue and constant yawning. That might be due to non-stop studying or otherwise gruelling tasks.
Interestingly enough, yawning has often been seen as a contagious act, which most people have experienced. Simply seeing someone yawn can be enough to make one yawn as well. There’s even a decent chance that just reading this article about yawning has made you yawn at least once!
Finally, there are also social hints from yawning. As body language, it typically depicts boredom or a lack of interest. Because of this, yawning is seen as rude during conversations, interviews, professional settings, and other such social situations.
How to Stop Yawning
Ultimately, there’s no guarantee that there are any actions to stop yawning. That’s because nearly every reason one can find for yawning isn’t directly proven. The most well-rested person may still yawn, and someone who’s thoroughly stimulated may find themselves yawning as well.
However, there are ways that one might be able to curb it. With that in mind, consider the following tips to try and lower the frequency or intensity of your yawns.
More Rest
One of the most common potential causes of yawning is a lack of rest. Given this, you may find success in reducing how often you yawn by getting better rest.
If you can’t get a full night’s rest, consider trying to squeeze a nap in during your day. However, it’s not only about the number of hours you get, but also about improving the quality of your sleep.
So, see if there’s anything that might be interfering with sleep. For instance, avoid electronics at night, keep to a routine, and optimize your sleep environment. Make sure your room temperature is ideal, invest in blackout curtains, and deal with unwanted noises.
Caffeine
Naturally, you can wake yourself up with a burst of caffeine. If you enjoy caffeine, consider adding a bit more of it to your daily diet. Another cup of coffee, some tea, certain energy bars and drinks, and even some fruits are a great way to knock the yawns away.
Stay Stimulated
Since one of the big causes of yawning is thought to be boredom, you can lower how often you yawn by simply avoiding boredom. Of course, this is much easier said than done and depends on your environment.
Consider adding something to keep you stimulated. It could be something on your phone, a fidget toy, or any other small activity that you can do during your day.
Stretch Often
Yawns are often accompanied by a stretch. If you find yourself yawning too often, consider stretching more often.
Doing so can help increase blood flow and deliver oxygen better. It’s sometimes said that yawns are your body trying to increase its oxygen, so increasing this blood flow can be highly beneficial.
What to Do if You Can’t Stop Yawning
But what if you’ve done all of these, but you still can’t stop yawning?
Believe it or not, this can indicate several health risks. That said, yawning is also exceptionally normal, and there’s a low chance you should be concerned with yawning frequently. More often than not, it’s a simple annoyance.
Above all else, you should contact your doctor if you’re concerned about anything health-related. With that said, here are some of the things that your constant yawning might indicate.
Possible Health Conditions
Most health conditions associated with frequent yawning are related to sleep. Sleep deprivation and insomnia may be bothering you, preventing you from getting a full night’s rest.
You may also be suffering from sleep apnea, drastically lowering the quality of your sleep.
Past this, it could also indicate narcolepsy, which is a serious condition requiring medical attention.
Medical Attention
If you’re suffering from low-quality sleep or are struggling to even fall asleep, it may be best to seek medical attention. After all, a doctor could prescribe medication that can help to lower your symptoms or make sleep much easier to obtain.
That said, some medications may cause problems sleeping. Make sure that you speak to a medical professional about any complications your medicines might be causing you.
Whether you’re visiting a doctor with oversleep issues or not, it’s still a good idea to know everything you can.
Possible Holistic Fixes
While it’s always a good idea to seek professional medical attention, there are some reasons for yawning that you could fix yourself.
For example, if you find yourself not getting enough sleep, do your best to alter your schedule to allow for more sleep.
Maybe you stay up too late doing a leisure activity or are overworking yourself. If this is the case, try to rearrange things to allow for another hour or two of rest, even if you’re feeling well-rested.
You may also be suffering from mineral or vitamin deficiency. If that’s the case, a doctor can diagnose you and provide advice on possible solutions. For instance, you might be able to address any such issue by taking a multivitamin or other supplement.
Finally, you may find success simply by increasing your fitness. Perhaps adding time in the sun or a workout regimen can help your body to fight off fatigue. Whatever your method, there are many ways to reduce the frequency and intensity of your yawning.
The Bottom Line
So, how do you stop yawning? The best thing you can do to try to lower the frequency of your yawns is to address your health and follow the steps listed in this article. By doing so, you’ll improve the quality and length of your sleep.
Whatever is causing your yawning, there’s a low chance that there’s any cause for alarm. If you have more questions about a healthy night of sleep, feel free to contact us! You can also browse our informative website to learn more.
