What Causes Excessive Yawning?

Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a sleep disorder that causes the patient to stop breathing while they are sleeping. This lack of breathing causes the patient to wake up many times during the night, and it can prevent the patient from getting enough air. Individuals with this sleep disorder tend to be very tired during the day because they do not get enough sleep and oxygen at night, and this tiredness leads to excessive yawning. There are two different types of sleep apnea: obstructive and central. Obstructive means there is something blocking the throat while the individual is asleep. This can be caused by obesity, allergies, or abnormally large adenoids or tonsils. The central type is caused by a neurological failure; essentially, the brain forgets to tell the lungs to breathe. Both types of sleep apnea should be taken seriously. If individuals suspect they may have sleep apnea, they should consult a doctor to get tested for it. There are a variety of treatments available.

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