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Why do I yawn excessively?

Dr Irwin Ziment
Professor of Medicine,
University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), USA

Q: I am 36 years old, my height is 5 feet 9 inches and I weigh 82 kg. I have a problem of excessive yawning. When I sit in an AC room, I feel sleepy while attending training and review meetings. It looks very awkward. I find it difficult to concentrate due to this. Though yawning is considered normal but in my case I yawn more as compared to others. I have nasal allergy also.

A:Excessive yawning can result from tiredness and sleep deprivation, which are not always related, or from being distracted by tangential thoughts when at a potentially boring meeting. The solutions include adequate sleep at night and a scheduled nap or time dedicated to meditation during the day, accompanied by a daily routine that includes adequate exercise and the avoidance of heavy meals. Deliberate deep breathing exercises during inactivity will stretch the lungs and decrease the desire to yawn. If the employment routine of meetings is boring, take notes, ask frequent questions, stand up or move around as much as possible or consider seeking another job.