On average, we gag about 250,000 times during a lifetime. A natural reaction, often linked to fatigue or boredom. But if this banal reflex becomes too frequent, it could reveal worrying signals for your health. In the United States, experts from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine sound the alarm: excessive yawn is not trivial, it can translate a lack of chronic sleep … or worse. A recent report relayed by Cnn underlines the direct links between excessive drowsiness and serious risks to health.
When the yawn becomes an alert signal
According to Kristen Kutson, sleep specialist at the Northwestern University in Chicago, there is a threshold not to be crossed: “A perfectly rested person will not fall asleep, even during a boring meeting. If it happens, the body claims rest“. According to researchers, a poor quality sleep, so below the 7 to 8 hours recommended, is likely to promote the appearance of many health concerns. And according to the pulmonologist Dr Eric Olson of Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, drowsiness is a major public health problem, too often ignored or minimized.
The yawn is one of the first alarms that the brain sends to fight drowsiness. It can thus be the most visible symptom of a disruption of the sleep rhythm. Beyond the simple lack of sleep, excessive yawning can hide other medical disorders. Health professionals list several possible causes to watch closely:
- Intracranial hypertension;
- Intense migraine;
- Severe depression;
- Exposure to carbon monoxide;
- Certain neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease (even for some of these pathologies, yawning disappears).
Each case requires a precise diagnosis, especially if the symptom is recent or intensifies.
What a frequent yawn reveals on your health
The yawn may seem benign, but it acts as an indicator of the proper functioning of your body. He is often the first witness to a deeper disruption. In this sense, it represents an opportunity to prevent certain disorders before they get worse.
According to the American Academy of Sleep Medicine, the consequences of insufficient sleep are very real with a clear increase in road and work accidents linked to drowsiness, risk of diabetes, or even long -term cardiovascular pathologies.
How to improve the quality of your sleep
No need to turn all your routine upside down to sleep better. Sometimes some targeted adjustments are enough to find a restful sleep. Specialists recommend that he respect regular sleeping and lifting schedules, even on weekends, to help your organic clock stabilize; And to reduce exposure to screens at least an hour before bedtime is also advised, since blue light blocks the production of melatonin, sleep hormone.
If you tend to ruminate in bed, remember to establish a small soothing ritual before going to bed like a short reading or a slow breathing session. These simple gestures, repeated each evening, send a clear signal to your brain: it is time to rest.
The key to restore balance: listen to your body. Isolated yawn is not worrying. But if it becomes recurrent or is accompanied by drowsiness during the day, it may be time to review your sleep or consult a health professional if that persists or worsens.