“Why do I keep yawning all the time – even when I’m not tired?” A GP explains

A woman yawning at work

Credit: Getty

Strong Women


“Why do I keep yawning all the time – even when I’m not tired?” A GP explains

By Lauren Geall

11 months ago

4 min read

A GP explains the main reasons why we yawn – including the factors that can lead to excessive yawning (apart from tiredness).

Welcome back to Just Curious, Strong Women’s weekly series exploring all the random health and fitness questions you’ve always wondered about but never got the answer to.

This week, we’re finding out what factors can trigger yawning outside of pure tiredness, and what causes excessive yawning. 


A good yawn can be incredibly satisfying, but when you’re yawning your head off in the office, on the train, at the dinner table and everywhere in between, it can quickly become a bit of a burden – especially when you’re not even feeling tired or run down.

But despite popular belief, these aren’t the only reasons why we yawn. While researchers aren’t quite clear why yawning happens, we do know it can be triggered by a variety of factors, many of which have nothing to do with our energy levels. 

And in some cases, these triggers lead to something known as ‘excessive yawning’. The average person yawns up to 28 times a day, but excessive yawning is typically defined as doing more than three yawns within 15 minutes several times a day.

So, what causes this excessive yawning besides good-old tiredness? And is there anything you can do to get your yawning under control? We asked a GP to explain. 


What causes yawning? 

Cat yawning

Credit: Getty

While the research isn’t conclusive, experts believe yawning is a mechanism our body uses to keep us awake and ‘with it’.

“Yawning often occurs when we’re tired – likely as a mechanism to increase oxygen intake and regulate brain temperature,” explains Dr Ann Nainan, a GP and founder of The Travelling Doctor. “Essentially, it helps to enhance alertness.”

In this way, yawning mostly occurs when we’re feeling tired or sleepy in a bid to keep us awake. But yawning’s ability to increase oxygen intake and enhance alertness can also explain many of its other triggers.

1. Boredom

Boredom, for example, is a common trigger, because it can leave you feeling drowsy, lethargic and in need of a boost. So, if you’re having a particularly boring day at work, you might find yourself yawning a lot for one day out of the blue.

2. Stress and anxiety

Stress and anxiety have also been linked to increased yawning. Studies have shown that fish, reptiles, birds and mammals all tend to yawn more before and after stressful situations, but experts don’t quite understand why this happens.  

Some have suggested that it’s a way for our bodies to counteract the shallow breathing that typically occurs when we’re under pressure, while others think it’s an example of ‘displacement behaviour’ – ie behaviours we do out of context during moments of frustration or conflict, such as scratching our heads or putting our hands on our hips.

3. ‘Catching’ a yawn

Hearing, thinking or seeing someone else yawn can make you yawn too. It’s not understood why it happens, but some experts believe it’s a form of social mirroring – something we do unconsciously to mimic the behaviour of those around us – or a learned group behaviour.

It’s not unlikely that you’ve yawned multiple times while reading this article. If not, you might have some sort of anti-yawning superpower.

4. Air pressure changes

A change in air pressure (for example, when you’re on a flight) can also trigger a yawn, because yawning can help to relieve pressure build up in the ears.

5. Brain temperature

Some of the research into why yawning happens has pointed at its ability to cool the brain, with one study suggesting that people yawn more during winter than in summer, when the air outside is cool enough to make a difference.  

What causes excessive yawning? 

Woman yawning at work

Credit: Getty

Excessive yawning can be short or long-term and is influenced by a range of factors. In most cases, it’s the result of one of the factors mentioned above, a period of bad sleep or tiredness, or a particularly stressful time at work.

Because of this, the best way to address excessive yawning is to identify any potential root causes. “Ensuring adequate sleep, managing stress and checking for medication side effects are great starting points,” Dr Nainan says.

Other potential triggers for excessive yawning include:

1. Sleep deprivation

“Excessive yawning can be triggered by sleep deprivation,” Dr Nainan explains. It’s for this reason that people with insomnia or sleep apnoea might also experience excessive yawning.

2. Medication side effects

Some medications can trigger excessive yawning, including antihistamines, some pain medications and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs).

While part of the reason why this happens is due to the drowsiness these medications can induce, research has shown that yawning as a result of taking SSRIs and other anti-anxiety medications has nothing to do with increased daytime sleepiness.

3. Other underlying health issues

In rare cases, excessive yawning can be a sign of a bigger problem.

“While usually not serious, excessive yawning could be a sign of underlying health issues, particularly if this continues for a long time [without explanation] or if you have added symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath, chest pain, headaches or muscle weakness.”

Health issues linked to excessive yawning include heart attacks, epilepsy and neurological disorders (such as multiple sclerosis).

If you’re worried that your excessive yawning may be linked to a bigger issue, speak to your GP, who will be able to advise on the next steps. 


Images: Getty

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