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constant yawning

hi, i was wondering if anyone can help me..... im a fit 29 year old woman and i have no health problems other then i have a problem with constant yawning and its driving me nuts! my first memory of it was when i was a young teen about to start a running race i would get the urge to yawn and i would just get it out before the race started (thankgod) so i would put that down to nerves but as an adult i have been getting the constant yawning problem back alot more freqeunt and i could yawn 50 times a day and it usually takes me 3 or 4 go's to get a propper yawn out that i feel satisfied. it comes on randomly and not in nervous situations just everyday at home etc and always when im in a areobics class and its not that im short of breath at all its just the urge to yawn!!!!! i class myself as being a very fit,active, happy and not anxious or nervous person  i am at an ideal weight and im healthy! i would love to get to the bottom of this CAN ANYONE HELP???????????????


This discussion is related to Yawning and Shortness of Breath.
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Avatar universal
hi, did you find out what the breathing issue is
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I don't know if we have the same thing but for me, I only get this yawning phase when I think about yawning or I start naturally yawning and remembering about it, at no other times. And so when I do get it occasionally, I try my best holding it in, perhaps yawning a 1 or 2 times to relieve some pressure but otherwise holding it in and focusing my mind on something else until I forget about yawning. This could be like turning your full attention to watching tv or a household chore etc etc..
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Avatar universal
CHLOROXYGEN: I started taking this dietary supplement for body odor (breath/sweat) but quickly discovered that it also works really well on getting more oxygen into your body. Please google this product its been helping me tons. I have hypoglycemia which causes horrible smelling sweat... BUT I ALSO have asthma and since I started taking this stuff starting Early March 2015 I haven't had any asthma symptoms. Now I have exercise induced asthma but this can be triggered from simple things like going up a flight of stairs. I always without fail yawn while singing ect ect which is how I found this post after whistling I got light headed and yawned prompting me to see who else goes through this type of thing. I don't have any cures but NATURAL food markets and Natural websites carry a variety of supplements that help your body's intake of Oxygen hope this helps.                
(NOTE: Theres a Mint flavor and a Plain flavor ChlorOxygen, I take the mint flavored one but I rarely ever taste anything when I add it to plain water. BUT my boss tried it and said it was a strong mint flavor to her but thats because she never drinks tea and to her thats what it reminded her of)
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I sometimes yawn to the point of extreme discomfort.  It seems to happen especially after eating.  Even if I have a small piece of fruit, it starts.  I think sweets are the worst.  I thought maybe there is a link to diabetes.  Does anyone else experience this?
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Avatar universal
i use kelp, stay away from idling cars/indoor airpollution.../co... also i do squats and increased my fiber and stay away from processed foods if possible.. stay away from gatorade and artificial sugars...when sleeping at night make sure bed is comfy and room is neither dark nor noisy..and good air circulation/negative ions willl be a plus...be careful with too much soy protein, do take whey protein powder but be careful there is an antidepressant in some of them...drink more tea and less coffee... do perform yoga/cobra technique...perform jumping jacks for lymphatic system...breath from the gut not the chest when possible... listen to your favorite music... brush and floss more often... stay away or avoid chloramine in household water or even contaminated water from unknown leaky sources...take ricola herbal drops to help with indigestion or inflammation problems. black licorice/pineapple are good as well... chew nuts slower but stay away from the raw ones... be careful with gluten...  eat plain yogurt after spicy food or anytime!  don't eat four hours before going to bed... take vitamin B, take Calcium and zinc, but don't supplement Calcium if your taking Kelp as it has 10x more Calcium than milk, it also has iron, iodine, make sure it's from clean water...ocean minerals are far superior to land based minerals... rub/massage your thyroid/accupressure/accupuncture are a must!!!  take your favourite class of martial arts/wrestling/pilates/yoga/... meet more positive people on random hikes,hehe...buy Skecher shoes or Nike for less stress on the body...  perform KHT,(Korean Hand Therapy) old class offered at Cal Berkely..stretch while reaching for the stars....take your mind to happy places not sad ones... eliminate negative energy around you... believe in yourself not others!!! no blue lights 2 hours prior to bed time... try light therapy... try Reishi mushrooms to lower blood pressure... eat raw chopped garlic after 20 minutes of crushing... try Valerian Root tea or Melatonin... try superfood combinations like avacado/citrus or even black walnuts and banana....pomegranite and prickly pear... salt scrubs and moisturizers... filtered water for the shower...try a more alkalinic diet as opposed to acidic, but don't go crazy as the stomach will balance the ph anyhow... 30mg fiber a day at a minimum...clouded minds usually stem from overexposure to CO, seek treatment of decompression or O2 treatment in oxygen bar... or do 30/30 intervals of your own pace hikes away from traffic, preferably around trees or your favorite park... spray your favorite fragrance at night while sleeping... hope all of this digressing on a tangent has helped you, it has helped me tremendously... and thank you...
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Avatar universal
Hi! I am having this problem, too. Same as you - fit 29 year old woman. I have noticed lately that I've been clenching my jaw in my sleep.(*note-i've been getting a lot more sleep than usual). I wake up doing it sometimes and I can feel that my jaw is super tight / stressed out. I wonder if it is a reaction to the tightness in the jaw that creates the need to yawn, or stretch the jaw muscles. I also feel like now that I've started to yawn, it's almost a mental addiction- like I think about it before it happens, and if I really want, I can suppress the urge. Do you think you could be clenching, too?
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Avatar universal
I had heart surgery about 3 months ago, with all five by passed.  My vessels were really blocked, like 1-100%, 2-98%, and 2-80%.  Obviously I had major energy issues, so the yawning didn't bother me that much.  The 3 years leading up to the operation, I was getting little sleep.  Often about 3-5 hours.

After the operation and a couple of weeks recovery I felt awesome.  But in spite of the energy increase, the yawning only got worse.  Even though I'm not tired, the yawning actually convinces me that I should take a nap.  Before the operation, getting up in the morning was harsh.  If the house was burning, I'm not sure I would be motivated.  Granted, I was really depressed to, but the heart issues sort of explain that.

Since the operation, I wake up at 5:30 ready to go, full of energy and ambition, but the yawning really takes me down.  It just won't stop.  Obviously, there has been a major shift in how oxygen my body is getting, but it has INCREASED.  I did start taking a lot of drugs for the blood issues.  I still have serious Cardiovascular Disease, but still feel 500%.

But someone mentioned taking Vitamin D.  I am very fair and burn like flash paper in the sun, which would suggest Vitamin D issues all of my life, since I go in the sun much.  But taking Vitamin D, (although it be very good for you) was started at the same time as the yawning.  I am going to take it out my pill line up for a while and see what happens.
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Avatar universal
When I was 12 I had my first episode of constant yawning, it lasted the entire months of July and August. Once I started my new Junior High School in September it stopped immediately, it was clearly a nervous condition. Since then, whenever I have an episode, I realize there is something that I'm nervous about and I just let it go until it goes away, and it always does. Most of the time I have no idea what I was nervous about until it's over.
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Avatar universal
I have excluded possible causes: liver and  pancreas problems (normal ALAT and amylase), hemoglobinopahthy (hemoglobin fractions and morphol. examination of blood cells), hyperventilation (with some equiment which measured CO2 from my nose). There is still some conditions without exclusion: possible esophagus or stomach/duodenum problems (gastritis, ulcus?), constriction of smaller coronary arteries and anxiety. I think that the cause must be in my upper abdomen. It feels sometimes as it were bloated and prevents normal breathing.
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Avatar universal
I too have ya yawning problem. Regularly I keep on yawning. And I have a sinus problem too.
Pls suggest a good doctor.
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Avatar universal
What about shortage of iron or hemoglobinopathies.? I have not iron deficiency. Hemoglobinopathies may be very rare, but a doctor said me yesterday, that I may have exceptional hemoglobin. I have only now and then yawning and difficult breathing. If my hemoglobinopathy were the cause, then I should possibly have the symptom all the time.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hemoglobinopathy
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Avatar universal
I don't think these symptoms have anything to do with hyperventilating.
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I got yawning and sighing when I increased vitamin D intake. My upper abdomen was swollen, and it made respiration difficult. I have also had discomfort behind my eyes at the same time. These symptomms began in December 2012 and are still sometimes present. I got atrial fibrillaltion on 6 January. I'll have cardioversion after three weeks' coumarin use.

The yawning and the following AF coincided with the vitamin D increasing.
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Avatar universal
ive noticed the same problem with myself. Most people on this thread say that they are athletic just like myself, but can't seem to figure out what the problem here. This is my take on it since i have experienced the same thing. I originally started taking weight loss supplements like ( BSN HYPER SHREAD OR HYDROXY CUT)  so that i could wrestle in the (160-175 pounds) weight class. i was 182 pounds and 6'1 at the time. i simply wanted to loose the fat and replace it with muscle. AS you can see, i didn't really need fat loss supplements as i wasn't obese. I started with one bottle of fat loss supplements and at the time everything was fine. About a month after i started having breathing problems like, yawning too much or taking big gulps of air even when they weren't necessary. i went to the doctor and he told the the same thing; " You have stress, anxiety because i was in university doing engineering" he sent me to a breathing specilist and he did a bunch of tests. after 3 months my results came back and everything was fine. i even stopped  yawning.

So i stopped yawning when i finished the first bottle of fat loss supplements. At that time i wasn't aware of the fact that the pills caused me to do this. Eventually after 6 months the next season rolled my and i decided to cut a few pounds of fat and reach 8% body fat. As soon as i started taking the pills, the yawning stated again.

So i believe that the supplements might have caused me to breathe improperly.
if anyone can relate to this, i would love to hear back from you.
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Avatar universal
I am in the same exact boat! And its beyond frustrating!!! I am 23, female athlete, into raw organics, super foods,  extremely healthy and I yawn beyond beyond belief. I do Yoga everyday and meditate so anxiety is out of the question. WHAT IS WRONG! The only thing i'm on is birth control, but Ive had this issue since i was in diapers. Somebody please figure this out....
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Avatar universal
I have had this yawning problem since I was 7. It seems like the more I think about it the more it frustrates me. Try to be preoccupied with things all the time and you wont even notice it. Now the biggest thing that I noticed in the 13 years that I had this yawning problem is that lack of sleep aggrivates it. I try to get 8 hours of sleep at night. With school starting again I have had less sleep and began to yawn again. The awful feeling of an unsuccessful yawn is mind blowing sometimes.
Hope that helped someone.
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Avatar universal
Have you had your oxygen level tested?  That is what it sounds like to me.  
I put my air conditioning down to 70 when I have this problem and that seems to help.  I have had radiation pneumonia so I may see a physician in the morning if I still have this problem.  I can not breath right when I lay down, I have to sit up all night with the air down.  
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Avatar universal
I empathize with your struggle.  I am hypothyroid (the autoimmune type) and can relate to the process of just gaining a diagnose over 10 years ago.  I try to learn all I can myself and manage as much as I can, consulting with a doctor(s) as needed to advance my understandings.  

I have had 3 or 4 episodes over the last 3 years and they usually come with some exhaustion.  I attribute it to an immune flare up, but am never sure.  I worry that it is my heart as heart probs run in the family.  I am healthy and into nutrition and amino acids and have managed to make great strides from where I was 10 years ago (sleeping 15 hours a day).

It seems the heavy, can't get a deep enough breath feeling, and constant yawning is associated with oxygen.  I only assume this because I've started taking a supplement amino in a certain form for my cardio (as I struggle with lower heart rates).  I just had an episode of exhaustion and yawning that started 3 weeks ago with no unusual activities to trigger it. I have been progressively tired for 2-3 weeks and haven't been working out.  Mostly in bed and napping and on the computer, as this was mostly what I could handle.  The supplement is a form of L-Arginine, (A-AKG).  It's supposed to help with oxygenation, according to what I've read.  I don't know the details, but it worked within 20 minutes.  The brand I used is Force Factor, but other brands with that amino form may work as well as be less costly.  

It'd be nice to know if someone can comment on the technical reasons this works.  I am just happy to function.  

Thank you everyone for sharing and I hope that my experience might be useful to someone as well.

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Avatar universal
Im 16 & I have been having the same problem (yawning excessively) I dont feel like im  running out of breath and cant breath, I just feel like I need more air in me, like.. It feels empty. And I've noticed when I try to take in a deep breath my stomach feels very heavy, as if I just ate and I'm really full, but didn't. And im in shape, fit, so this just has me really confused on why it could be happening.
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Hi im 12 going on 13 AND I KEEP YAWNING FOR NO REASON since like a week ago i started to yawn constantly and i dont know why can someone help me? oh also i  really like this boy and everytime i see him i get all hyped up lolzzz okai can someone pleaseeeee help me ITS ANNOYING MEEE :''''( I HATE IT
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Avatar universal
I read this post several months ago because I too was yawning constantly and also had a constant feeling of butterflies in the stomach/nerves even though temperamentally I am a relatively laid back individual. I am also a reasonably fit and active early thirties female, no health problems etc. I am an animal nutritionist though and I was reading about magnesium deficiency in horses and the symptoms it creates. It got me thinking and I tried magnesium myself ... my yawning has stopped and the nervous feeling has gone, though if I forget to take my magnesium for several days in a row it comes back. I can put magnesium deficiency down to low dietary intake, losses through sweat and also losses via pregnancy and breastfeeding (which really increased the constant feeling of nerves - and I must stress it was only a physical feeling, mentally I was fine and wondering why on earth I felt like I did. Anyway, just thought I would let you know in case it helps. I took 650 mg of magnesium for several weeks and now take 325/day which keeps me feeling good. Obviously talk with your GP first.
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Avatar universal
Has anyone had their iron levels tested? I have been having this constant "need to yawn" sensation off and on for a few weeks now. I started taking iron a few weeks ago, and noticed that it helped. I stopped after a couple of weeks, and now it's two weeks later and the yawning is back. I was reading that low iron levels can cause SOB. I was diagnosed with anemia as a teenager, but haven't had a problem with it for the past decade. I'm going to start taking my iron supplements again to see if it helps a second time. If it does then I'll just stay on them and probably make a doctor's appointment to get a blood work up done.

Anyone else on here diagnosed with anemia and/or has tried iron supplements?
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Wow...I have been having the excessive yawning..I am in medical menopause, have hypothyroidism, smoke and take phentermine...Wtf..which one causes the yawning!
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Wow!  I am so glad I decided to look this subject up.  I am a 48 year old woman, who has had all the same symptoms as everyone mentioned above. Mine happen out of the blue with no apparent trigger.  I can go for several years without experiencing them and then the yawning starts.  What stresses me is the not being able to complete the yawn.  And even when I finally complete it, the urge to yawn again occurs.  Sometimes albuterol inhaler (for asthma) seems to help.  Other times it doesn't do anything.  I've wondered if I was hyperventilating, so have tried breathing into a bag, which sometimes has helped.  I do feel a tightness in my ribs, and wonder if it is an inflammation in the lining of the rib cage that gives that feeling of tightness and the urge to yawn, and or to take deep breaths.  I've never thought about going to a dr. about this because I never thought yawning could be a symptom of something serious.  Now I'm not so sure.  It feels good though knowing that others out there are experiencing the same thing and I'm not alone.
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