Does Asthma Make You Yawn a Lot?

If you have asthma or yawn a lot, you might wonder if asthma makes you yawn more often or if there is some other reason. Yes, asthma can make you yawn. However, yawning more often is not always because of asthma. In this blog post, we will look at the connection between yawning and asthma.

Why Does Asthma Make You Yawn?

When you have asthma, your airway gets smaller. Less air flows in and out. Your brain picks up on the lower oxygen levels. A yawn is one way your body tries to fix the balance. Your lungs work harder to give your body the oxygen it needs. Yawning can sometimes be an early sign of asthma. Or it might tell you when your asthma is acting up.

Reasons You Might Yawn a Lot

Asthma is not always the reason you yawn. Sometimes asthma is part of the reason and, other times, asthma has nothing to do with it.

A common reason for yawning is being tired. Perhaps you did not get enough sleep the night before or woke up earlier than usual in the morning. You might also have a sleep condition like sleep apnea.

Stress and anxiety can also make you yawn more. When you feel anxious, your breathing may change. You might take shorter breaths, which can lead to more yawning. This is true whether or not you have asthma.

That's why yawning alone does not mean you have asthma. However, asthma might play a role. Asthma might keep you up at night, making you tired. Even one rough night of sleep can lead to more yawning the next day. Asthma might also work together with another condition, like vocal cord dysfunction, to cause you to yawn.

When Should You See a Provider for Yawning?

Yawning is a normal body function but it can also possibly be a sign of something more serious.

Here are some reasons you should see a provider for yawning:

• You yawn much more than usual.
• You start sighing more often.
• You have other asthma symptoms, such as coughing or chest pressure.
• You have shortness of breath or other trouble breathing.
• Yawning is getting in the way of your regular routine.

If you experience any of these signs of asthma, please contact your Baptist Health primary care provider. If you do not have a Baptist Health primary care provider, you can find one by going to our online provider directory.