Excessive Yawning and Constant Need to Breathe Deep

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For the past few days, I've been yawning a lot, much more than average (once every few minutes I feel the need). If I'm not yawning I'm breathing in as deep as I can to get similar "satisfaction". Often I cannot get the "satisfaction" from these and so the urge grows and grows, meaning it can get quite uncomfortable. When I do manage it, the urge is back a few seconds later. This is whether I'm tired or not, almost all day. 

I'm not particularly anxious about anything in particular, and get the same amount of sleep as before this started. 

This also happened at some point within the past year which continued for a month or two if I remember correctly. 

Does anyone have any idea what it is or how to make it a bit better? 

Thanks.

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  • Edited

    Like most, I've suffered from the same incessant yearning to have a 'proper' breath of air, resulting in frequent yawning and often gasping for air. It's hard to get across how utterly tortuous this can be. It's compounded by the sheer frustration of not being able to do something so simple, so innate, something that you've done without thought or trouble for the x amount of years up until now where suddenly, seemingly out the blue, you're desperately trying to squeeze out your fifth yawn in as many minutes, just to feel like you're not drowning for air.

    Like most here, I have no other symptoms and am otherwise very healthy. Though, while I don't feel consciously anxious about anything in particular, anxiety's in my genes, and I think I probably suffer from a mild form of undiagnosed GAD.

    I put this issue down to some sort of, underlying anxiety issue, when I realised that I didn't have this problem when I was asleep, nor when I was drunk, and neither when I was focused on something - clearly, for me at least, this is not an underlying respiratory condition. And thank god I found this forum when I did as my GP was intent on having me put through all the physical tests....

    I cannot stress the following enough - the Buteyko Method has cured this within DAYS!! I started trying to apply the basic nasal breathing principles, breathing less, gradually shallower and did this all using diaphragmatic breathing. It was uncomfortable to begin with, not just overcoming the apparent need to breathe more air, but the mental block that comes with it, and coming to terms with the fact that you're probably breathing too much and your body doesn't need the oxygen you think it does. (FYI i'm not a doctor, i am - at best - an idiot with wifi, so please do not interpret this as a war against oxygen.)

    Please watch YouTube vids, read up on it, check studies etc etc. I can't recommend this enough, it has single handedly pulled me through this. One week later and I'm still practising this breathing method, still improving, and still feeling a thousand times better. Sorry for the small essay, but it's a huge relief to get off my chest (literally) and I owe it all to this forum.

    best of luck

  • Posted

    symbicort and zoloft have resolved this issue for me. Lung function test didnt show asthma but my pulmonologist said it doesnt always show up on it.

    • Posted

      how long were you taking them for ?

      did you get rid of it completely?

  • Posted

    does anyones shortness of breath air hunger get worse at certain times throughout the month mine flares up twice a momth but is comstant 24/7 gasping no

    matter what. the end of the month and the middle of the month is the absolute worst days of my air hunger and gaspimg for deep breaths i literally have gasp every minute for deep breaths for 3 years

  • Posted

    Vocal Cord Dysfunction. I have experienced the same thing for years and finally found an answer. a pulmonologist or ENT can help diagnose. Then, you will work with a speech pathologist. Breathing exercises can help. Good Luck!

  • Posted

    Hi, I had exactly your problem many years ago. I went through all the test needed so I can rule out heart or lungs problems. It was terrible thinking that I will not be able to breathe and was afraid to go to sleep and insomnia kicks in and for three days three nights without sleeping. I almost falls into depression and phobia of going to sleep. I am married with two kids and don't want them to worried about seeing me like this so was out most of the time after work, lying at the park. But luckily, I have a very good girl college who helped me and see me through thick and thin. I seek counseling and Chinese traditional medical consultation. It's Anxiety of some sort and it's a mind thing believe me. I became a Catholic and praying the Rosary helps alot. Now I am still having it but I learned to control myself. Hope this help you and don't worry, it's going to be fine, just tell yourself you are not alone and you not going to die because when you sleep, you are not aware of it right? God bless you dear.

    • Posted

      you never took any medicine for it? if yes, which type of meds?

    • Posted

      As I had mentioned I seek Tradition Chinese Medical help so I took some chinese medicine but I donno what is it.

  • Posted

    for the last few days ive been fine but everytime i feel sick or start sneezing and my nose starts running and having a little sore throat i automatically assume covid-19 & i get in this panic and my anxiety races and i get hot flashes and my eyes kinda of dazes off! last night i had a really runny nose and i was sneezing and i produced a sore throat (mind you i have allergies and i always sneeze and have a running nose) but its like i know that my mind still thinks the worse and idk why! i only slept 2hours last night & im back feeling how i was weeks ago! today i experience some sterum pain again and some pain in my chest again! i even protect myself when i have to go to grocery stire inwear a mask,gloves, i was my hands when i get home, wash all the stuff i bought down, take off my clothes & change! and i wash my hands all over again i think im losing my mind every few days! & im scared

  • Posted

    Don't be afraid. Try to breathe slowly and deeply in and hold for 10 secs every morning. If you do not feel pain or cough then it's OK. Take multi vitamins and avoid junk food. Read Joshua 1:9

  • Edited

    does anyone feel this 24/7? i feel it 24/7 and it gets very bad twice a month otherwise its just very bad. and does anyone else on here get panic attacks when it gets very bad?

    • Posted

      i dont get excessive yawning but i do feel breathless and tight chested as though im struggling to breath every day this has now been going on since march. docs thought it was my asthma but now saying its stress and anxiety., i have been put on sertraline for anxiety , im on week 3 no difference yet. have not seen a doctor only spoken on phone. i have to take deep breaths all the time and find it settles at levels from feeling breathless and heavy chest but can function with it to being bad to the point you feel you are going to panic as you feel you cant breath at all, obviously i can Getting really fed up with it now as running out of ideas, i do have GERD and did wonder if that was anything to do with it.

    • Edited

      I have most of the time kinda. but sometimes especially at night or even when I'm laying down I feel it get bad and have to get up when it gets bad I don't have a panic attack but I do get panicky because I feel like I need togo to the ER

    • Posted

      Yes GERD is one of the cause. It's chained reaction that lead you to hyperventilate and the whole cycle repeats.

    • Posted

      Hey everyone - so after suffering from shortness of breath for over 6 months, I think I discovered yesterday that for me the problem may be mostly due to diet and GERD. I have had bad acid reflux for several years, I just never thought it would affect my breathing. But after reading some comments about GERD on here I did some research and found that there's actually a large correlation between acid reflux and asthma symptoms. I first went to a pulmonologist and cardiologist and both gave me a clean bill of health last year when these symptoms first started. After several more months of this gasping for air I went to another pulmonologist who also said I breathe as if I have asthma but have no other symptoms of it. I also did an allergy test (since a lot of food allergies can cause these symptoms), but aside a low allergy to some pollen I have nothing else.

      So yesterday I went to a gastroenterologist who said if my heart and lungs are okay, then this could definitely be diet-related.

      So for the last 36 hours I have cut off all acidic foods and drinks, unhealthy fats, dairy (just in case), sweets, fried food, and spices. Yes, my meals have been a little plain, but I feel the best I've felt in MONTHS!

      The gastro prescribed me Almacon and Omeprazole. Just wanted to put that out there in case anyone else may experience acid reflux or notice you burp a lot after meals and this could possibly be the cause for you too.

    • Posted

      Suzanne, if you do have GERD I HIGHLY suggest you bring this up to your gastroenterologist. I had an appointment yesterday because I suffer from bad acid reflux for years and have been having severe shortness of breath and excessive yawning the past 6 months. I cut off a foods that are not GERD friendly and am taking Almacon and Omeprazole and feel SO MUCH BETTER.

      My doctors were also all confused saying it seems like asthma but isn't, and it's probably anxiety, etc. My gastroenterologist was a huge help here!

      Google "GERD and asthma" and you'll see they're very much related.

      I hope you feel better soon!

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