Am I the only one who tries to 鈥榮wallow my head鈥� as my Nana used to say聽while exercising? For a while, I thought so! But a Google search聽told me I'm not聽alone. Many people suffer from constant yawning when they are聽physically active.聽So why do we yawn when we exercise? Well, why聽do we yawn at all?
Well, . Even fetuses can experience yawns (), though I鈥檇 doubt they鈥檙e doing so due to physical activity. It was once thought that animals yawned to increase the oxygen in their bodies, especially in their brains, but studies giving patients more or less oxygen found it did not affect the frequency of yawning. It is also theorized that yawning is used to keep organisms alert, an idea that explains why yawns are contagious- to remind other nearby animals to stay alert as well.聽In some animals, notably dogs,
Another theory is that yawning is another way for bodies to thermoregulate, via the action of neurotransmitters. Serotonin is an important neurotransmitter in the regulation of skin blood flow, and the thermoregulation this blood flow does. Increases of serotonin have been shown to increase body and brain temperatures, a change that causes the body to trigger more yawns, in an attempt to cool itself. The effects of serotonin on thermoregulation are especially obvious in the case of patients who suffer from serotonin syndrome, a condition caused by an excess of serotonin in their systems, usually from taking several serotonin-affecting drugs in tandem. Some of the are hyperthermia, shivering, sweating and vasoconstriction.聽This process is also obvious to SSRI (selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor) or SNRI (selective serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitor) users聽who experience a relatively (~11%) common side effect of the medications- excessive yawning. While the users may not be aware of it, the increased serotonin levels in their body increases its temperature, and therefore its yawn rate. have shown as many as 200 yawns per day!聽
Less innocently however than heat or medication induced yawns are yawns as a clinical symptom. The main reason we yawn consciously is to relieve聽pressure in our skulls, like when you try to 'pop your ears' on an airplane, so an increased rate of intracranial hypertension (too much pressure on the brain), migraines, or even heart or kidney problems. So if you鈥檙e not warm, taking SS/SNRIs, sleepy or anxious, and are experiencing excessive yawning, it may be worth mentioning to your doctor. Finally, at least my mystery is solved; Run fast, get warm, start yawning. Maybe I should try running in the winter?聽
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