Straining to complete yawn, yawning all day, feel i just need a deep breath.

[Cloefish]

I have had this problem for a long time, but in the last year it has gotten worse and I cant stand it.  I regularly go through periods where I feel the need to yawn or get a deep breath and I just cant. I try and try over and over to yawn (causing me to get head aches), and finally accomplish it just to need  to yawn again. I am a sleepy person all the time,  but  the  straining  to yawn thing  makes me  crazy! I also have increasingly bad short term memory problems (at only 25), could this be connected to the yawning, and lack of oxygen to the  brain? could I  have asthma?  thank you so much for any help you can give me.

[jg_spencer]

Have you had any luck since this post ?  I just started the same issue a couple of weeks ago and its driving me crazy.  All the lung and heart test have come back normal ??

[chandlerbriggs275]

i have the same problem you need to see a Neuroscientist your yawn has nothing to do with your lungs its our brains + our nerve system

[Aleco]

Also been having these symptoms on an off for as long as I can remember. I'm a 31 yr old male - previously been treated for anaemia and currently still on treatmet for chronic GERD. If I stop my GERD meds for more than a week, the heartburn returns. Didn't realise this might be related to my "over-breathing problem". I was diagnosed with anaemia after I went to the doctor complaining that everytime I had to drive on the highway at high speeds, I would feel drowsy and short of breath. The blood tests confirmed anaemia - the reason it only presented during driving was that I was obviously more "stressed" when driving at speed on the highway. I still get the drowsiness and shortness of breath from time to time when driving, and I often get the "yawning" attacks described by other people on this forum, but as far as I know my iron levels are back to normal after a few months of supplementation. The cause of the iron defficiency was suspected microscopic blood loss in the gastro-intestinal tract (possibly inflammatory bowel disorder of some kind, never formerly diagnosed or confirmed).  I found myself back on this forum today because I've been getting the yawning attacks at work, which is embarassing. I've had people ask me if they are boring me!

My theory is that nothing is simple in life and that this condition must be caused by a complex combination of factors, which is why it is so difficult to diagnose / prove to medical practitioners. For example, it may be initially caused by a reaction to some sort of drug or alergy, or a dip in iron levels or some other physiological condition, but once you become aware of the problem and you are a naturally anxious or over-sensitive personality (I know I am), you start to pre-empt the attacks even when there is no longer a real underlying phsyiological condition. When this happens, you are more prone to having an attach due to psychosematic or psychological reasons, long after your physiological issues have cleared up. The most common trigger is then likely to be stress (conscious or sub-conscious). However, because yawning is also notoriously contagious, another possible trigger might simply be that you either think about yawning or see someone else yawning. Ordinarily, the yawning reflex would be unconscious but because you are already acutely aware of it and anxious about having another attach, the problem is amplified and can trigger an attack. For me, another possible trigger on the road is if my eyesight is a bit blurry (I wear glasses for driving) - I obviously have an irrational fear of either passing out at the wheel or crashing because I haven't had my eyes checked recently. Certainly, one of the biggest triggers of an attack of this nature is the fear of actually having an attack, which is why so many people commented that they couldn't identify any other trigger - the trigger could be sub-conscious. As far as resolving the issue - it's like breaking any habit - take it day by day and make a conscious effort to control the problem by calming down, slowing your breathing (breathing through your nose helps) and supressing the urge to yawn constantly rather than trying to make it happen. While doing all of this, try and take your mind off it and you should see an improvement. If all this fails, you may still have an underlying physiological problem that still needs to be addressed. Hope my story and theories help others....

[hexus]

Thanks to everyone who posted. After searching for 1 week what the hell could be wrong with me, i find out that i was just Hyperventilating. Also big thanks to hava for The Yog Pranayam (breathing exercise) after doing that breathing exercise i felt hungry as dog because i didn't feel anymore that annoying "balloon" feeling in stomach. From now on i just try to breath slower and more relaxed.
Good Luck And God Bless You All!

[DebC24]

I think I have a solution!  I've had this only a couple times in my life, and just recently for the past five days. I've had the same feelings, not getting enough air or a satisfying breath, the need to keep yawning which only one out of many times gives that good satisfying breath. Yes it causes anxiety as it is a horrible feeling.  I believe the answer is not in doctors, scripts, and endless tests. I think everyone needs a chiropractic adjustment. I've read only one post on several sites that said they got relief from this. It worked for me. I think nerves get impinged on the spine. The spine regulates all body processes.  I've been to a chiropractor many times in my life (I'm 54 and overweight), but not for many years. My brother gave me an adjustment (right or wrong it gave me relief) as I can't afford the chiropractor as they must take x-rays first. If you can't afford one as many insurances don't cover these docs (which is a shame!), then have someone hold you from behind in a standing position like they are giving you a 'bear hug' from behind, cross your arms over your chest and have them bear hug you putting their arms under your crossed arms. The "bigger person' behind you lifts you off your feet while compressing you in a tight 'hug.' This generally produces a popping noise. That's sometimes all I need to get 'adjusted' and gradually I felt the inability to get a good breath drift away. The anxious feeling was gone as it improved.  I cried reading several sites with many so despondent.  It is a horrible feeling. I believe it is more than anxiety, anxiety is a natural symptom for this which is due to spine out of place. Hope and pray this helps many.

[mikel111]

Thanks to all who posted.  I was in the middle of a major panic attack over this issue and reading the posts brought me out.  Many blessings to all who post.