If you often yawn reasons. Why a person often yawns: reasons. Signs and superstitions

When people sit in one position for a long time, have not had enough sleep or are very tired, then they start.

It turns out that everything the above has a positive effect on the body. Hard to believe ?

Why do people yawn?

It turns out that yawning is a conditioned reflex. It lies in the fact that involuntary breathing occurs. The mouth opens wide and a very deep breath is taken. At the same time, the mouth and throat expand, followed by a sharp exhalation and a specific sound. When yawning occurs, the auditory tubes overlap and hearing deteriorates. The pharynx in this case becomes very wide open so that air can reach the stomach.

The fetus in the mother's stomach also yawns. Animals, birds, amphibians and fish also yawn. Some animals yawn and show their teeth. This means they are hungry. Or maybe it's a command to the flock that it's time to sleep. Scientists believe that evolution has developed a change of biorhythms with the help of yawning.

But what is the cause of a person's yawning?

There are many reasons for this. If we are very tired, then we begin to yawn. When we are overstressed or bored, we also yawn. If we are overcome by sleep, then we also yawn. When we are overcome by hunger or after overeating, we have a desire to yawn. Yawning is a signal that the excited organism is moving into a state of lethargy. As a result, the performance nervous tissue. This is followed by inhibition of certain physiological processes and functions of the body. It's mostly about breathing. It becomes superficial and slow. This results in the accumulation of metabolic products such as toxic substances and carbon dioxide in the blood. All this stimulates an attack of yawning. When a person yawns, a deep breath takes place and the blood is enriched with oxygen. This stimulates its accelerated movement through the vessels of the whole body and the vessels of the brain. Indeed, when yawning, there is tension in the muscles of the neck, face and mouth. Thus, by yawning, we wake up our brain and keep it from sleeping. But this activation will not last long. The stronger the yawn, the more tired our brain.

Until recently, it was believed that yawning occurs from an insufficient amount of oxygen in the room. But scientists have now disproved this.

Interesting facts were noted

• Often yawning is observed before the upcoming human activity. Thus, the body gathers strength and.
• Boring activities make people yawn, and this invigorates the body a little.
• It has been observed that those who yawn little have a tougher temperament. They can afford to be tactless and incorrect.
• You need to choose a husband for yourself from those who yawn sweetly.
• Yawning can also infect neighbors. About 60% of people who are close to a yawner begin to yawn too. Such people can often empathize with others.

Yawning that promotes health

Scientists have proven that those who yawn a lot are smarter, have fewer wrinkles and get more oxygen. This has a positive effect on the skin and tissues of the body.

Yawn:

• stimulates brain cells
• relieves fatigue
• relax and unload.

It has been proven that yawning helps relieve nervous tension, normalize blood pressure, and.

Yawning, maybe.

In order to make an important decision or relax, you need to start opening your mouth, imitating yawning and yawning will soon come to you. If you yawn, you can notice how changes in your well-being will occur.

Sipping is good for health

If you woke up or sat in a tense position for a long time, then your muscles will become numb, and lactic acid will accumulate in them. That's it then it will be necessary to disperse. This will help activate performance and increased tone.

When sipping, we turn on the muscles to work, bring the body into working condition and improve our mood.

A great way to deal with stress and bad mood is sweet sipping. After all, stress stimulates the occurrence of problems with the heart and increased pressure.

Active sipping can help to actively engage in work, as it stimulates blood circulation in the vessels and improves cerebral circulation.

It is necessary to allocate time in the morning for leisurely sipping. In this case, you need to use your legs and arms. Only then can you get out of bed. In the morning, you must definitely yawn. This stimulates the development of facial muscles and enrichment of the body with oxygen.

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Each of us has personal experience with yawning. But few people understand what this process is, what function it performs in the body, and whether yawning is as safe as many people think. In this article, we will take a closer look at why people yawn, as well as consider many other issues related to such a common and familiar phenomenon.

What is a yawn

First of all, you need to understand what a yawn really is. Many believe that they can control this process. In fact, this is a reflex respiratory act, which is characterized by a deep long inhalation and a short exhalation, often accompanied by a characteristic sound.

At first glance, it seems that there is nothing special about yawning, and the problem is not worth considering. However, in 2010, an International Medical Congress was held in France, the theme of which was precisely yawning. The luminaries of medical science in many countries shared their opinions about why a person constantly yawns, why this process is necessary for the body, and when this reflex act becomes a symptom of a disease.

To date, there are no exact, verified and confirmed answers to the questions posed, but there are still certain assumptions. We will describe them in detail below.

When do people yawn and why is it necessary

There are several hypotheses about why people yawn and how this process is reflected in the health of the body. Let's look at them in more detail.

1. The most common reason people yawn in medical circles is the lack of oxygen in the brain tissue. It is reliably known that during a deep breath, a greatly increased amount of oxygen enters the bloodstream, in contrast to normal breathing. In addition, during a yawn, the respiratory passages open wide: the pharynx, the glottis, the volume of the nasopharynx and pharynx increases. As you know, when the body is saturated with oxygen, blood flow and metabolism are accelerated. This, in turn, leads to an improvement in human well-being, tone. Therefore, in various situations, when the oxygen balance is disturbed, stagnation of blood flow occurs, a person experiences yawning. So, after sleep, long monotonous work, a person yawns. Such a respiratory act helps to cheer up, bring the body into tone.
2. Another version of the cause of yawning is the need for the body to cool the brain. This hypothesis is closely related to the previous one, since its essence lies in the same saturation of the brain with a large volume of oxygen.
3. Why do people often yawn during a flight? In this way, the body regulates the pressure in the middle ear. This happens due to the fact that the channels that connect the pharynx and the Eustachian tubes straighten out.
4. Also, yawning is necessary to relieve muscle tightness. Often the act of breathing is accompanied by pandiculation of the body. So the body is invigorated and tuned to productive activity. The fair sex will be interested to know the fact that during yawning, facial muscles are massaged, tightening them and improving skin turgor.
5. Why do people often yawn? The reason may be a serious illness. Let's take a closer look at this issue and offer a list of health problems that can cause frequent yawning below.
6. Among other things, such a reflex respiratory act tends to calm and relax the body. That is why people yawn before going to bed or during an exciting event, such as before an exam, competition, or an important meeting.

Why do children yawn

Yawning in children is considered an indicator of normal lung development. A reliable fact has been recorded that children yawn even before they are born. Such a respiratory act can be observed using ultrasound in the fetus for a period of 11-12 weeks of pregnancy. But, if yawning often helps an adult to cheer up, then such a process exclusively calms a child, becomes a harbinger of sleep.

If parents notice that the baby yawns too often, you need to pay attention to this. Perhaps the crumbs do not have enough oxygen and there is a need to increase the duration of walks in the fresh air. Frequent yawning in children can also indicate problems with the nervous system. In this case, an examination by a neurologist is required.

Why do people yawn in church

You have come to church for spiritual peace, when suddenly you begin to yawn. You become uncomfortable in front of others, and you have to leave the temple. Why does a person yawn in church? We hasten to reassure - this situation happens quite often and does not depend on the age, state of health of the parishioner. It is not difficult to explain this phenomenon, knowing the mechanism of yawning. In the church, several reasons appear simultaneously for which such a respiratory process occurs: a stuffy room, muffled light, monotonous prayer. All these factors contribute to the inhibition of various body processes, including blood flow. Therefore, there is a lack of oxygen, which contributes to an involuntary reflex act.

Why do people yawn while talking

Are you talking to a person, and he suddenly starts yawning? Do not rush to accuse the interlocutor of ingratitude and indifference, and yourself - of the lack of oratory and emotionality. The case is exactly the opposite. Yawning overcame the listener just because of the increased work of brain activity. The opponent listened attentively to your story, so his oxygen metabolism was disturbed, and in order to replenish his strength and continue the active work of the brain, the body was saturated with oxygen with the help of a yawn. Now you can safely continue your story.

In the same way, one can explain why a person yawns when talking - overexertion contributes to a decrease in the amount of oxygen in the bloodstream, and yawning as a protective mechanism replenishes the spent energy.

Is yawning contagious?

It has been noticed that yawning is “contagious” - as soon as one person yawns, others around him also begin to reflexively repeat. Why do people yawn even when they are just watching a video of a person yawning or reading an article about yawning? The answer lies in the cerebral cortex. Are you yawning now? This is your mirror neurons, which are located in the cerebral cortex. They are responsible for empathy and are the cause of contagious yawns on an emotional level. It has been noted that categories of people who have less developed parts of the brain responsible for feelings are not prone to contagious yawning. These people include children under 5 years old (although there are exceptions), autistic people and those suffering from schizophrenia.

Signs and superstitions

There are such beliefs among the people about yawning:

1. They cover their mouth with their hands during a yawn so that the devil does not fly into the soul.
2. Residents of Turkey believe that if you do not have time to cover your mouth during a yawn, the soul can fly out of a person.
3. The Indians believe that yawning is a call to death or the devil, and in order to scare away the unclean, you need to snap your fingers.
4. In our open spaces, folk healers claim that the evil eye comes out in the process of yawning. And if a person yawns while talking with another, the soul is protected from unfavorable energy.

When yawning becomes a dangerous symptom

Why do people yawn so often? Frequent yawning is a signal to the body that it lacks oxygen. In this case, ventilate the room, but rather organize a walk in the fresh air.

Frequent yawning may indicate fatigue. Set aside time for rest and good sleep, alternate vigorous activity with breaks for relaxation. We found out why a person yawns, but how to deal with such a process when it takes us by surprise at the most inopportune moment, for example, during a business meeting or a date with a loved one? How to cope with the reflex act and, as they say, not lose face in front of others? There are some actionable tips:

1. Fresh air will saturate the body with oxygen, and the need for the body to yawn will disappear.
2. Daily morning jogging or other active sports will help minimize the chances of yawning during the day.
3. Do not forget about proper rest and sleep.
4. While working at the computer, sit straight - this way the diaphragm is not squeezed, and the air saturated with oxygen enters in the required volume.
5. Learn proper deep breathing.
6. Cold drink or food will eliminate the attack of yawning.
7. Express method for suppressing the reflex - as soon as you feel the urge to yawn, lick your lips.
8. It also helps to hold back a yawn by taking a deep breath in through the nose and a short breath out through the mouth.

So, we found out why a person yawns. It turns out that such a simple process has important functions in the work of the whole organism. Therefore, it should not be taken lightly. With prolonged and frequent yawning, be sure to undergo an examination of the heart and blood vessels under the supervision of a doctor.

Each of us has personal experience with yawning. But few people understand what this process is, what function it performs in the body, and whether yawning is as safe as many people think. In this article, we will take a closer look at why people yawn, as well as consider many other issues related to such a common and familiar phenomenon.

What is a yawn

First of all, you need to understand what a yawn really is. Many believe that they can control this process. In fact, this is a reflex respiratory act, which is characterized by a deep long inhalation and a short exhalation, often accompanied by a characteristic sound.

At first glance, it seems that there is nothing special about yawning, and the problem is not worth considering. However, in 2010, an International Medical Congress was held in France, the theme of which was precisely yawning. The luminaries of medical science in many countries shared their opinions about why a person constantly yawns, why this process is necessary for the body, and when this reflex act becomes a symptom of a disease.

To date, there are no exact, verified and confirmed answers to the questions posed, but there are still certain assumptions. We will describe them in detail below.

When do people yawn and why is it necessary

There are several hypotheses about why people yawn and how this process is reflected in the health of the body. Let's look at them in more detail.

1. The most common reason people yawn in medical circles is the lack of oxygen in the brain tissue. It is reliably known that during a deep breath, a greatly increased amount of oxygen enters the bloodstream, in contrast to normal breathing. In addition, during a yawn, the respiratory passages open wide: the pharynx, the glottis, the volume of the nasopharynx and pharynx increases. As you know, when the body is saturated with oxygen, blood flow and metabolism are accelerated. This, in turn, leads to an improvement in human well-being, tone. Therefore, in various situations, when the oxygen balance is disturbed, stagnation of blood flow occurs, a person experiences yawning. So, after sleep, long monotonous work, a person yawns. Such a respiratory act helps to cheer up, bring the body into tone.
2. Another version of the cause of yawning is the need for the body to cool the brain. This hypothesis is closely related to the previous one, since its essence lies in the same saturation of the brain with a large volume of oxygen.
3. Why do people often yawn during a flight? In this way, the body regulates the pressure in the middle ear. This happens due to the fact that the channels that connect the pharynx and the Eustachian tubes straighten out.
4. Also, yawning is necessary to relieve muscle tightness. Often the act of breathing is accompanied by pandiculation of the body. So the body is invigorated and tuned to productive activity. The fair sex will be interested to know the fact that during yawning, facial muscles are massaged, tightening them and improving skin turgor.
5. Why do people often yawn? The reason may be a serious illness. Let's take a closer look at this issue and offer a list of health problems that can cause frequent yawning below.
6. Among other things, such a reflex respiratory act tends to calm and relax the body. That is why people yawn before going to bed or during an exciting event, such as before an exam, competition, or an important meeting.

Why do children yawn

Yawning in children is considered an indicator of normal lung development. A reliable fact has been recorded that children yawn even before they are born. Such a respiratory act can be observed using ultrasound in the fetus for a period of 11-12 weeks of pregnancy. But, if yawning often helps an adult to cheer up, then such a process exclusively calms a child, becomes a harbinger of sleep.

If parents notice that the baby yawns too often, you need to pay attention to this. Perhaps the crumbs do not have enough oxygen and there is a need to increase the duration of walks in the fresh air. Frequent yawning in children can also indicate problems with the nervous system. In this case, an examination by a neurologist is required.

Why do people yawn in church

You have come to church for spiritual peace, when suddenly you begin to yawn. You become uncomfortable in front of others, and you have to leave the temple. Why does a person yawn in church? We hasten to reassure - this situation happens quite often and does not depend on the age, state of health of the parishioner. It is not difficult to explain this phenomenon, knowing the mechanism of yawning. In the church, several reasons appear simultaneously for which such a respiratory process occurs: a stuffy room, muffled light, monotonous prayer. All these factors contribute to the inhibition of various body processes, including blood flow. Therefore, there is a lack of oxygen, which contributes to an involuntary reflex act.

Why do people yawn while talking

Are you talking to a person, and he suddenly starts yawning? Do not rush to accuse the interlocutor of ingratitude and indifference, and yourself - of the lack of oratory and emotionality. The case is exactly the opposite. Yawning overcame the listener just because of the increased work of brain activity. The opponent listened attentively to your story, so his oxygen metabolism was disturbed, and in order to replenish his strength and continue the active work of the brain, the body was saturated with oxygen with the help of a yawn. Now you can safely continue your story.

In the same way, one can explain why a person yawns when talking - overexertion contributes to a decrease in the amount of oxygen in the bloodstream, and yawning as a protective mechanism replenishes the spent energy.

Is yawning contagious?

It has been noticed that yawning is “contagious” - as soon as one person yawns, others around him also begin to reflexively repeat. Why do people yawn even when they are just watching a video of a person yawning or reading an article about yawning? The answer lies in the cerebral cortex. Are you yawning now? This is your mirror neurons, which are located in the cerebral cortex. They are responsible for empathy and are the cause of contagious yawns on an emotional level. It has been noted that categories of people who have less developed parts of the brain responsible for feelings are not prone to contagious yawning. These people include children under 5 years old (although there are exceptions), autistic people and those suffering from schizophrenia.

Signs and superstitions

There are such beliefs among the people about yawning:

1. They cover their mouth with their hands during a yawn so that the devil does not fly into the soul.
2. Residents of Turkey believe that if you do not have time to cover your mouth during a yawn, the soul can fly out of a person.
3. The Indians believe that yawning is a call to death or the devil, and in order to scare away the unclean, you need to snap your fingers.
4. In our open spaces, folk healers claim that the evil eye comes out in the process of yawning. And if a person yawns while talking with another, the soul is protected from unfavorable energy.

When yawning becomes a dangerous symptom

Why do people yawn so often? Frequent yawning is a signal to the body that it lacks oxygen. In this case, ventilate the room, but rather organize a walk in the fresh air.

Frequent yawning may indicate fatigue. Set aside time for rest and good sleep, alternate vigorous activity with breaks for relaxation. We found out why a person yawns, but how to deal with such a process when it takes us by surprise at the most inopportune moment, for example, during a business meeting or a date with a loved one? How to cope with the reflex act and, as they say, not lose face in front of others? There are some actionable tips:

1. Fresh air will saturate the body with oxygen, and the need for the body to yawn will disappear.
2. Daily morning jogging or other active sports will help minimize the chances of yawning during the day.
3. Do not forget about proper rest and sleep.
4. While working at the computer, sit straight - this way the diaphragm is not squeezed, and the air saturated with oxygen enters in the required volume.
5. Learn proper deep breathing.
6. Cold drink or food will eliminate the attack of yawning.
7. Express method for suppressing the reflex - as soon as you feel the urge to yawn, lick your lips.
8. It also helps to hold back a yawn by taking a deep breath in through the nose and a short breath out through the mouth.

So, we found out why a person yawns. It turns out that such a simple process has important functions in the work of the whole organism. Therefore, it should not be taken lightly. With prolonged and frequent yawning, be sure to undergo an examination of the heart and blood vessels under the supervision of a doctor.

Many studies have been devoted to the phenomenon of yawning, but scientists still cannot agree on the main purpose of this phenomenon. Let's try to understand the most common hypotheses, among which there are quite original ones.

lack of oxygen
For a long time it was believed that with the help of yawning, the body, as it were, takes a breath of air and compensates for the lack of oxygen in the blood. In the end, this theory was refuted, because a person who was given more oxygen or placed in a freshly ventilated room does not stop yawning. So, it's not about oxygen and its quantity.

brain cooling
According to another theory, a person allegedly yawns in order to cool the brain. Experiments conducted by American scientists showed that those subjects who applied cold compresses to their foreheads yawned less frequently when watching videos with yawning people than subjects without compresses or with warm compresses on their foreheads. If the subjects were asked to breathe only through their nose, they also yawned less often, because in this case, when breathing, the brain receives cooler blood than when breathing through the mouth.

Warm up
Presumably, another purpose of yawning may be the need for the body to stretch and relax tired and tight muscles. First of all, this applies to the muscles of the pharynx and tongue, but also to the muscles of the whole body: this is why a person often stretches when yawning. Perhaps such a kind of muscle warm-up with simultaneous cooling of the brain will help to cheer up the body and come to a state of readiness.

That is why frequent yawning, the reasons for which have not yet been determined, can “attack” a person before any important event: an artist can yawn before a performance, a student before exams, a skydiver before a jump. When a person is bored or wants to sleep, he also yawns, because the process of yawning will help invigorate numb muscles and a sleepy brain.

Yawning helps the ears
When flying on an airplane, it is very useful to yawn: this will help get rid of congestion in the ears, which occurs when there is a difference in pressure outside and inside the head behind the eardrum. Since the middle ear cavity communicates with the pharynx through special channels, yawning, by opening these channels, helps to equalize the pressure in the ears.

Mirror neurons
Yawning is incredibly contagious. A person begins to yawn not only when seeing people yawning in real life, but even when viewing photos and videos of yawning people. Often, just thinking or reading about yawning is enough to start yawning uncontrollably yourself. However, not everyone has the ability to mirror yawn. Children under five years of age are resistant to mirror yawning because they do not yet have the ability to empathize with other people, and children with autism do not become infected with yawning - neither seen in reality, nor when watching videos of yawning. How to explain this phenomenon?

The contagiousness of yawning is created by the so-called mirror neurons, which are located in the cerebral cortex, not only in humans, but also in primates and some birds. Mirror neurons have empathy, firing when a person watches someone else do something. It is mirror neurons that determine the ability to imitate - it is well traced, for example, when learning a foreign language and empathy: we seem to not only notice the state of another person, but also experience it ourselves in fact. One of the clearest examples of imitative behavior is mirror yawning.

Animals also yawn
Scientists believe that imitative yawning appeared in primates when the actions of group members were coordinated: if one of the primates yawned in danger, his state was transmitted to the rest, and the group quickly came to a state of readiness for action.

Yawning is not only transmitted from person to person, but also from person to dog. It is noticed that the dog begins to yawn at the sight of a yawning owner and other people. At the same time, it is impossible to deceive a dog: if you simply open your mouth, imitating a yawn, it will not yawn in response. Next to a yawning person, the dog becomes relaxed and sleepy, that is, it copies not only the behavior of the owner, but also his physiological state.

Yawning as a sign of intimacy
Italian scientists found in 2011 that the contagiousness of a yawn demonstrates a measure of emotional closeness between people, since it most often occurs among friends and close relatives of the yawner. Distant acquaintances and strangers are much less likely to become infected with yawning.

Yawning as a symptom of illness
Frequent prolonged yawning can be a sign of a variety of diseases - from body thermoregulation, high blood pressure, arterial thrombosis and brain stem damage to sleep problems. Also, frequent yawning occurs with depression and anxiety (in the blood, this increases the level of the stress hormone - cortisol).

If you are suddenly "attacked" by incessant yawning, you should consult a doctor and check the pressure, heart and blood vessels. But first, it doesn’t hurt to stop being nervous and get a good night’s sleep - suddenly the yawning will disappear by itself.

No scientist can unequivocally answer the question: why does a person yawn? There is no exact evidence in science. The most complete review of existing hypotheses: choose the best one.

Reason for yawning. Version 1: oxygen

Although a lot of research has been devoted to studying the causes of yawning, scientists still cannot agree on what its main purpose is. For a long time it was believed that yawning occurs as a result of a low oxygen content in the blood: with the help of a deep breath, the body takes a breath of oxygen. However, scientists eventually refuted this theory: it turned out that if you give a yawning person more oxygen or ventilate a stuffy room, he will not stop yawning.

Reason for yawning. Version 2: brain cooling

According to another theory, a person yawns to cool the brain. Experiments conducted by American scientists showed that subjects who had a cold compress applied to their forehead yawned less often when watching videos of yawning people than subjects with or without a warm compress (about the contagiousness of yawning - a little lower). Those participants in the experiment who were asked to breathe only through their nose also yawned less often: with such breathing, cooler blood enters the brain than with mouth breathing.

Reason for yawning. Version 3: warm up

Another purpose of yawning is to stretch and relax tired or tight muscles. First of all, these are the muscles of the pharynx and tongue, but also the muscles of the whole body: that is why a person often stretches simultaneously with yawning. Such a warm-up for the muscles, combined with a cooling of the brain, helps to invigorate the body and bring it into a state of readiness for action. Therefore, yawning often occurs when people are nervous before some important event: students yawn before exams, skydivers before a jump, and artists before a performance. For the same reason, people yawn when they are sleepy or bored: yawning helps to invigorate a sleepy brain and numb muscles.

Who else?

Not only people yawn, but also other mammals, birds and even fish. For example, baboons yawn to show threat, while exposing their fangs. In addition, male baboons always yawn at the sound of thunder (scientists have not yet figured out why). Male fighting fish also yawn to demonstrate threat - they yawn when they see another fish or look in the mirror and are often accompanied by an aggressive attack. Other fish can also yawn, usually when the water is too hot or there is a lack of oxygen. Emperor and Adélie penguins yawn during their courtship ritual. And snakes yawn to straighten their jaws and straighten their trachea after swallowing large prey.

Reason for yawning. Version 4: Ear Help

It is also useful to yawn while flying on an airplane. This helps to get rid of the stuffy ear sensation that occurs during takeoff or landing due to the pressure difference on either side of the eardrum. Since the pharynx is connected to the middle ear cavity by special channels, yawning helps equalize the pressure in the ears.

Reason for yawning. Version 5: mirror neurons

Yawning is highly contagious. People begin to yawn not only when they see others yawning, but also when watching videos or photos of people yawning. Moreover, often it is enough for a person to read or think about yawning in order to start yawning himself. However, not everyone has the ability to mirror yawn: studies of children with autism have shown that, unlike healthy children, they do not become infected with yawning when watching videos of other people yawning. Also, children under the age of five, who are not yet able to empathize with others, are not prone to mirror yawning. What explains the relationship between susceptibility to infection by yawning and the capacity for empathy?

The contagiousness of yawning is based on the so-called mirror neurons. These neurons, located in the cerebral cortex of humans, other primates, and some birds, have a kind of empathy: they fire when a person observes the actions that someone else is doing. Mirror neurons determine the ability to imitate (for example, when learning new languages) and to empathize: thanks to them, we not only notice the emotional state of another person, but actually experience it ourselves. Mirror yawning is one example of such imitative behavior. According to scientists, imitative yawning arose in the evolution of primates to coordinate the actions of social groups. When one of the group members yawned at the sight of danger, his state was transmitted to everyone else, and the group came into a state of readiness for action.

four legged friends

Yawning can be transmitted not only from person to person, but also from person to dog. So, scientists from Sweden and the UK have shown that dogs yawn at the sight of yawning people, and the tendency to such mirror behavior depends on the age of the dog: animals under seven months old are resistant to infection by yawning. At the same time, dogs are not deceived - if a person does not yawn for real, but simply opens his mouth, depicting a yawn, the dog will not yawn in response. Scientists have also shown that dogs become more relaxed and sleepy when they see a yawning person - that is, they copy not only human behavior, but also the physiological state that underlies it.

Reason for yawning. Version 6: a sign of closeness

In 2011, Italian scientists showed that the contagiousness of yawning serves as a measure of people's emotional closeness. In experiments, mirror yawning most often occurred in close relatives and friends of the yawner. Distant acquaintances were less likely to become infected by yawning, and very rarely did mirror behavior occur in people unfamiliar with the yawning person. At the same time, gender and nationality did not affect the tendency to yawn infection.

Reason for yawning. Version 7: a symptom of the disease

Long-term frequent yawning can be a sign of various diseases - for example, violations of the body's thermoregulation, sleep problems, high blood pressure, arterial thrombosis, or damage to the brain stem, where the respiratory center is located. In addition, too frequent yawning can occur with increased anxiety or depression - while there is an increased level of cortisol, the stress hormone, in the blood. Therefore, if you are overcome by constant yawning, you should consult a doctor - check your heart, blood vessels and pressure. And for starters, you can try to get a good night's sleep and stop being nervous.