Is excessive yawning a problem?
Adults yawn about nine times a day on average. But some people yawn up to 20 times a day, and that’s normal for them. Healthcare providers consider excessive yawning as more than three yawns per 15 minutes several times a day. Some people with excessive yawning claim upwards of 100 instances.
Excessive yawning can be a symptom of certain conditions. It can interrupt your day-to-day. Some cultures consider yawning to be rude, which can also negatively impact your life.
Causes of excessive yawning
Excessive yawning can be a symptom of certain conditions or situations, including:
- Conditions related to excessive daytime sleepiness (hypersomnia), like narcolepsy, sleep deprivation and obstructive sleep apnea.
- Opioid withdrawal syndrome.
- Certain medications, like SSRIs, apomorphine and naloxone.
Many neurological conditions are linked to excessive yawning, too, including:
If you have excessive yawning over a few days, talk to your healthcare provider. If you have excessive yawning and other signs of stroke, like sudden numbness or weakness in your face, arm or leg, get emergency medical care.
Why does my throat hurt when I yawn?
If your throat hurts when you yawn, it’s likely because your throat is irritated with an infection, injury or dryness. Your throat stretches and opens up significantly when you yawn, which can cause more inflammation, and thus, pain. A lot of air is moving through your throat, as well. The dryness can make existing irritation worse.
Possible reasons for throat soreness when you yawn include:
- Viral respiratory infections, like a cold, flu or COVID-19.
- Bacterial respiratory infections, like strep throat.
- Tonsilitis (when your tonsils become infected and swollen).
- Throat injury, like a scratch from swallowing sharp food.
Why do my ears hurt when I yawn?
Yawning opens the tiny tubes that run from the middle ears to the back of your nose and throat called eustachian tubes. They’re normally closed.
One role of your eustachian tubes is to drain excess fluids and secretions from your middle ear. If your eustachian tubes are clogged (eustachian tube dysfunction), you may experience pain in your ears when you yawn
On the flip side, yawning can relieve the ear discomfort and hearing problems you may experience during rapid altitude changes, like in airplanes and elevators. This happens because your eustachian tubes open, fixing the amount of air pressure on either side of your eardrum.
Why do my eyes water when I yawn?
When you yawn, several muscles in your face tense and stretch. Sometimes, this can pull on and stimulate your lacrimal glands, which leads to tears and watery eyes.
Tiredness and fatigue can lead to dry eyes. So, you may just be experiencing yawning (because you’re sleepy) and your eyes’ reaction to dry eyes — lacrimation — at the same time.
A note from Cleveland Clinic
Yawning is a common — yet mysterious — human function and behavior. If you find yourself yawning a lot, first try to figure out why. Are you bored or tired? Have you read a lot about yawning (like this article)? If nothing seems to make sense, talk to your healthcare provider. Excessive yawning can be a symptom of certain conditions and a side effect of certain medications. Together, you can figure out the cause.
