Re: Excessive yawning - OT?

[Guest guest]

There is an interesting theory here:

<http://www.sunday-times.co.uk/news/pages/sti/2000/12/03/stinwenws03006.html>

Seems like you have to make some adjustments to your training (:-))

Niels

----- Original Message -----

From: " VoodooChile " <raelsixty4@...>

> I apologize if this is off-topic, but I hope someone can at the very least

> steer me in the right direction, if not give me an answer to my

> question/dilemma. Not sure if there are any MDs on the list, but I figure

> someone may have heard of such thus have an opinion...

>

> I yawn when I workout. Not occassionally, not pretty often, but seemingly,

> every minute or so. As an example, if i do 5 sets of bent-over rows, i can

> pretty much guarantee i am going to yawn between each set once, maybe even

> twice. And I do this between *every* set of *every* exercise (more or

> less). When i try to do compound sets and/or supersets, i have to " get a

> yawn in " before i continue or it hits me during the set which is pretty

> damned destracting at the very least. I rarely feel as if I'm short of

> breath, per se (only when on a treadmill, and that (yawning) is only

> occasionally...quite infrequently), but the yawning is irritating, as well

> as worrisome. I breath properly (as far as i know) when exercising, and

> don't seem to yawn like this at any other time. Don't smoke if that is a

> question (quit about 3 years ago and have been given a clean bill of

> health, i.e. a " typical " physical).

>

> Granted, common sense tells me to see a doctor, but my wallet suggests

> otherwise before selling furniture to do so...

>

> Has anyone heard of such an " ailment " ? have a suggestion(s)?

>

> And again, my apologies if OT...

[Guest guest]

I will see the occasional patient who yawns and/or sighs frequently

throughout the day and during different activities. Often these individuals

exhibit signs that they may be overbreathing - apical or upper chest

breathing, frequent, shallow breaths, tight accessory muscles of respiration

( esp. scalenes, levator scapulae). If this situation becomes chronic they

may begin to exhale too much CO2, causing the body to become alkalotic. The

yawning may be a sign of an increased drive to breath due to altered

chemoreceptors. Longer term complaints may include asthma symptoms, coldness

of the extremities, achy muscles, panic attacks, poor sleep patterns,

altered digestion, heart palpitations.

You left no indication of any of these other signs but if you think any of

them fit it may be worthwhile to search under the heading of " chronic

hyperventilation " . The International Society for the Advancement of

Respiratory Psychophysiology (ISARP) is promoting research in this

interesting area. Professor Buteyko (many sites under Buteyko Technique)

also has some interesting theories about chronic hyperventilation,

especially regarding asthma.

Hope this helps. I do have a few old papers around somewhere that relates

this condition to other diagnoses ranging from chronic fatigue syndrome to

soldier's heart and post-traumatic stress disorder.

JR Justesen

Physiotherapist

, BC