Yawning?

Anyone notice they yawn a lot? I have read that people with MS do because yawning is a way to cool the brain and a person with MS  functions better when cooler....This I was very interested in reading. I had a mentally stimulating job for 15 years, of course everyone that is diagnosed with MS had it long before they knew they had it.

So a person just naturally develops compensation techniques for what is happening that they don't realizes is happening.

I kept my head above the water in my job, did an acceptable job. But it was not as good of a job as it had been in the first part of the 15 years. By the end I was taking notes compulsively, I would breath deeply about every hour....it just seemed that I did a better job when I stopped working to take a few deep breaths every hour so I would actually write the time I did it on a paper so I would not forget to do it the next hour.

And I worked overtime...I worked a lot of overtime. I'm single working was my life. I'd get up at about 4:30am go to the Y and work out for a couple of hours. Be at work at 7 am, work until 5 pm, go home and get some supper an go back to work about 7 pm when everyone had left  & it was quite. Then work until bedtime. Go home, get some sleep until the alarm clock rang at 4:30am.

I kept my head above water and returned an acceptable work...but when the economy tanked I was one of the employees laid off (mass lay off so there were many employee's laid off, not just me). An employer wans't an employee who works hard but one that thinks quick on their feet also. Thinking quick on my feet was not something I could do over the years. But I was willing to work hard, never could be doubted. But being able to "work smart" or think quick on my feet was doubted for the larger part of the 15 years.

Actually it was at 4 years into the 15 years that my evaluations began to say I should "work smarter" and I should not need to work as many hours. It was just the last 3 years where it was A LOT of hours. But I kept my head above the water, until the economy got me. It hurts to think what a great effort I did &Truthfully, I wasn't really a good employee.

I compensated well & notes, yawning & deep breathing are compensation. Anyone yawn a lot, too?

[Sarahsmom46]

I can surely relate.  I make efforts every day to "work smarter, not harder" and it is starting to all take a toll on me.  Like you, I am not the "model" employee and rising star that I was only 3 years ago.  

Maybe it is caused by cognitive decline because of age or illness, who knows for sure.  But we both seem to know about ourselves is that work is getting harder for us and trying to keep up is a problem.

Now about the yawning...That is such an intriguing idea.  Where did you read about that or how did you learn about it as far as cooling the brain?  I also yawn a lot, but thought it was due to not getting refreshing sleep at night because of pain.  But, hey if it works I'm on board with it and the deep breathing.  It is easy to do and can be done anywhere.  I'll give it a try.  

Julie

[Sarahsmom46]

I wanted to mention something else...I am so sorry about your layoff.  The economic situation right now is affecting all of us in one way or another.  Both my brothers were recently laid off from their jobs and my sister's hours were cut down so much that she's not sure how she will pay her bills.  I sure hope you find another job soon.  

Many hugs,

Julie

[jdhecaj]

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,467589,00.html

Study: Yawning Cools Brain, May Indicate Health Problems

Tuesday, December 16, 2008 | FoxNews.com

Research from Binghamton University shows there are a whole host of reasons why we yawn, but primarily it is to control the brain’s temperature, Discovery News reported.

“Brains are like computers,” Andrew Gallup, a researcher in the department of biology at Binghamton, who led the study, told Discovery News. “They operate most efficiently when cool, and physical adaptations have evolved to allow maximum cooling of the brain.”

Gallup’s research was published in the journal Animal Behavior.

Gallup and his colleagues studied yawning in parakeets, which have large brains, are subjected to frequent temperature changes and do not participate in contagious yawning, like humans do.

Gallup said contagious yawning is most likely an evolved mechanism that keeps groups of people alert as they “remain vigilant against danger.”

The parakeets were exposed to moderate temperatures, high temperatures and increasing temperatures. The parakeets’ yawning more than doubled when the scientists increased the ambient temperature.

It is believed that yawning acts like a radiator for birds and mammals, cooling the brain and body, and even altering blood flow. Previous studies have suggested yawning functions somewhat like a jolt of energy, as it leads to a heightened state of arousal. (This may be why we yawn when we wake up in the morning).

The research explained why tired people yawn: Fatigue increases brain temperature, which would prompt the body to need a cool-down.

People with health problems also may experience excessive yawning, said Gordon Gallup Jr., a State University of New York at Albany psychologist, who did not work on the study, but is Andrew Gallup’s father, and also an expert on yawning.

"It is interesting to note that instances of excessive yawning in humans may be indicative of brain cooling problems," Gordon Gallup said, indicating that patients who have multiple sclerosis tend to yawn excessively, “and MS involves thermoregulatory dysfunction."

Excessive yawning often precedes the onset of seizures in epileptic patients and can predict migraine headaches, Gordon Gallup added.

Click here to read more on this story from Discovery News.

Click here to read more on this study (subscription required).

[Quixotic1]

Excesssive yawning is also a side effect of amny of the antidepressants.  It was a problem for me on Zoloft.

[JJFL]

Hi  jdhecaj,

Wow !! "yawning & deep breathing are compensation. Anyone yawn a lot, too? "

Yes, have been doing that for years especially if I am exercising.  I thought it was from the small muscles around the ribs spasming but this is interesting...

Thxs...Peace.

JJFL...

[hbananas]

Anybody else ever get the yawns where you're not doing the big, open-mouth stretchy one, but the little discreet through-the-nose kind?  Sometimes I get a string going where my ears and throat and soft palate keep making mini-yawns over and over and over and I can't stop it.  It's especially bothersome if I'm trying to go to sleep at the time.

[Joe79]

Makes sense.  When I was on the fire department we would go over this some because often we would have to use breathing devices and have our respiratory systems covered and protected.  When the airways are covered you run a much higher risk of falling out and getting heat exaustion or heat stroke.  It was my understanding (this was years ago) that your lungs and breathing are the #1 way to cool the body and expel heat.  All those little fans and flaps in your lungs if spread out over the floor would near cover a room.  It's like a radiator on a car.  You inhale 72 degree office air, it cools the blood getting oxygenated in your lungs and going to the brain- you exhale a higher temp. etc etc.  Not sure if memory is completely accerate but...

[chezbug]

Oooo, I will have to try and see if I yawn excessively.  I know that I definitely related to your work experience.  I write down EVERYTHING because my memory stinks.  I have notes everywhere on my desk and I have a Franklin Planner to help me with my to-do list too.  My calendar has to have every appointment or committment on it or I will forget it entirely.  I not only worry about my job because of not being able to think fast, work smart but I worry because of all the doctor and PT appointments.   With this economy you can't show that you are the weakest link.  Like in the bird world, if you show that you are not healthy you are the first to get picked off (layed off, etc).  If I am let go how will I be able to pay for all these appts, PT and medications?!?  Nevermind keeping the roof over our heads and food in our bellies. :)

I know I'm definitely sensitive to heat - it makes me feel so much more yucky.

That's a great article though - I am going to keep an eye on my oldest son - he has epilepsy (partial seizures) and we can't see them, but maybe if I see him yawning excessively I will know he's having (or about to) one.

All the best,
Chezbug
(Not dx with MS yet - waiting for second MRI of the brain)

[Ufrustrated2]

yes, I too have this. day or night. noticed it years ago when stressing the body during exercising. i had always thought such activity should "wake me up", not induce yawning!

I would say I too have just naturally developed compensation techniques for what is happening with me and some of them I now do not even realize I'm doing it.

Thanks for the thread, I was always curious about this. Boy, I'm sure my local neuro would just love to hear about this. Can't imagine what he would shrug this one off on. ;-)

Cheers