Insomnia
A yawn feels refreshing and like one has taken a deep breath. Most people yawn several times a day without realizing it. However, excessive yawning, characterized by yawning for an extended period, could signify chronic sleep deprivation due to sleeplessness or insomnia.
A disruption in the body’s circadian rhythm can also lead to insomnia. For instance, graveyard shift work, travel across time zones, or vision loss can impair the body’s natural clock. The release of melatonin governs the circadian system. Therefore, when there is a lack of natural melatonin in the bloodstream, sleep disturbances may occur, resulting in insomnia if left untreated.
While it may seem normal for most people, excessive yawning may be alarming. Therefore, doctors usually ask questions about an individual’s sleeping patterns to determine whether excessive yawning is caused by insomnia or another medical condition. This is followed by various diagnostic tests, including an electroencephalogram (EEG) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Excessive yawning caused by insomnia is usually treated by prescription sleeping aids and other treatment types, including therapies and behavior modifications.
