Explanation of the yawning reflex

Yawning is often a sign of sleepiness, and it can reduce pressure in the ears and help cool the brain.

Humans begin yawning while still in the womb. After birth, each person tends to yawn about 25 times a day, and the frequency decreases with age. Many people yawn when they are tired and upon waking up after a night's sleep. Below are the reasons behind this phenomenon.

Respiration

Yawning is a reflex that involves taking a deep breath, opening the jaw wide, and exhaling quickly. This action increases lung capacity and improves blood flow to the heart, which is beneficial for respiration. Researchers suggest that yawning may reposition muscles to widen the airways, increasing the amount of oxygen in organs and tissues.

Reduce pressure in the ear.

When we yawn, we inhale a large amount of air into our lungs, causing the Eustachian tubes in our ears to open. These tubes are responsible for balancing the pressure between the middle ear and the outside environment. The opening of the Eustachian tubes during yawning can relieve pressure buildup in the middle ear, thereby improving hearing. This action can also remove earwax or debris, preventing blockages in the ear canal.

Yawning helps to induce sleepiness and relaxes the brain. (Image: Freepik) — Yawning is often a sign of sleepiness. Photo: *Freepik*

Relax your brain.

The act of yawning forces the muscles in the face and neck to move. This movement can stimulate the carotid artery, leading to an increased heart rate and the release of hormones that promote alertness. Therefore, yawning is triggered to help maintain a state of wakefulness.

Lower the temperature.

When you yawn, your facial muscles move and contract, increasing blood flow to your face, where heat can dissipate more easily. The tearing that causes yawning can also release heat. Scientists at the University of Vienna (Austria) found that yawning typically occurs at temperatures around 20 degrees Celsius, the ideal temperature for cooling the blood and brain.

Yawning is usually harmless, but excessive yawning can be a sign of stress, insomnia, sleep apnea, narcolepsy, or conditions such as heart attack, brain tumor, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, etc. According to the Cleveland Clinic , people who yawn accompanied by sudden numbness or weakness in the face, arms, or legs should go to the hospital immediately as it could be a sign of stroke.

Huyen My (According to Medical News Today, Verywell Health )

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