The next time you go to a board meeting or are talking to friends, pretend to yawn and then wait to see how long it takes before others suddenly start yawning. Yawning is both incredible and bizarre all at once. According to Wikipedia, a yawn is a reflex of deep inhalation and exhalation of breath. It is often associated with tiredness, stress, overwork, lack of stimulation or boredom.

Unsolved Mystery

The exact cause for what makes us yawn is still not clear although many people and researchers alike have their share of educated guesses. Yawning seems to almost come second nature and research shows that even human fetuses have been shown to yawn. However, humans aren’t the only ones who yawn. The next time your dog or cat wakes up from a nap, watch them. Chances are that they’ll get up, stretch and have a nice, long yawn.

Even more bizarre is the fact that yawning is contagious. It’s a reflex, so if you yawn, it will cause another person to “sympathetically” yawn (Wikipedia). Research shows that if we see another person yawn, look at pictures of people yawning or hear someone yawn, we will eventually yawn as a result even if we’re not tired, bored or stressed out. In fact, I have yawned several times now since I’ve been writing this!

Fun Facts to Yawn Over

• The average yawn lasts approximately six seconds.
• Olympic athletes often yawn before a competition.
• Reading about yawning will make you yawn.
• 55% of people will yawn within 5 minutes of seeing someone else yawn.
• Your heart rate can rise as much as 30 percent during a yawn.

Now that you’ve read this, how many times have you yawned? And don’t say because it was boring!
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Tags: Health //