Wordless Wednesday – Why Do We Yawn?

tsunami-the-big-yawn-ww

Welcome To Wordless Wednesday At Create With Joy!

Why Do We Yawn?

I’m sure that when you were young, you were taught that it’s impolite to yawn in front of others – and that if you do, you should have the courtesy of covering your mouth with your hands. But what if you do not have hands – and your parents forgot to tell you to cover your mouth with your paws?

Did you know that yawning is not unique to humans – or even cats and dogs – but it occurs in most vertabrates? Popular to common belief, yawning isn’t just a sign of boredom (although research shows that people do tend to yawn more when bored). Yawning is an essential bodily function that helps us to cool down our brains and increase oxygyn levels to the brain. Beware of excessive yawning, however, as this can be a sign of one of several serious medical conditions!

It might surprise you to learn that humans begin to yawn after 11 weeks of conception – in other words, babies begin yawning while still in the womb! The average yawn lasts for 6 seconds, with men yawning longer than women.

Our heart rates can increase significantly while we are yawning – by as much as 30%. And, yawning is contagious – studies have shown that when someone in a room yawns, within the next 5 minutes, as many as half of the people in the room might be inclined to follow!

Many people believe that there may be more to a cat’s yawn than just these basic biological functions, Cats may use yawning as a form of communication to diffuse conflict and to help protect themselves when they are in potentially threatening situations.

Cats may also yawn as part of their comfort routine when they stretch themselves, as yawning for them involves the movement of a good part of their bodies. A few animal observers have noted that cats tend to yawn and stretch when they wake up but rarely yawn when they are tired.

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Have you ever yawned at an inopportune moment?
Please share your thoughts in the comments –
Inquiring minds would love to know!

Wordless Wednesday – Week of November 15, 2016

Wordless Wednesday

Happy Wordless Wednesday, dear friends! It’s time to share your favorite family-friendly photos – with or without words – at the friendliest party in town!

To participate, please link directly to your Wordless Wednesday post – leave a comment – then visit your fellow photography buffs! You’ll make some wonderful friends and see some fabulous photographers along the way!

Please spread the word about this party by displaying our beautiful Wordless Wednesday button and linking back to this post (the code is on my sidebar!) It would also be great if you could use the social media buttons below the post to spread the word!

Enjoy the party and have a fabulous week!




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31 Responses to “Wordless Wednesday – Why Do We Yawn?”

Read below or add a comment...

  1. Carol says:

    I always enjoy your photos of your cute cat. Have a great day!

  2. Teresa from NanaHood
    Twitter: thenanahood
    says:

    I always enjoy visiting your blog. Happy Thanksgiving and have a great weekend!

  3. Fascinating! I did not know all that about yawning.

  4. Vanessa says:

    I often yawn when people are talking to me – moreso this year while I’ve been struggling with low iron. Then I need to explain to them that it’s not them!

  5. meowmeowmans says:

    Yawning is definitely contagious. I yawned just from looking at that awesome photo in your post. Ha! 🙂

    Thanks, as always, for hosting, Ramona. Have a great day!

  6. Jay @CraftySpices
    Twitter: CraftySpices
    says:

    It’s nice to stop by and see your Cat pictures. As for yawning I have to say that it is very interesting to watch animals yawn, not to mention just as you say they really can’t cover their mouth.

    On another not I think I have yawn about 3 or 4 times since I started reading your post LOL.
    Have a great rest of the week!

  7. Marie Moody
    Twitter: Xmasdolly
    says:

    oH My every time I look at your kitty’s picture I YAWN! They are so contagious. Well Happy Wednesday! And have a wonderful day my friend! hugs Sure hope you can stop by too. Bring a friend! 🙂

  8. That’s a lovely yawning picture, Megallan. Granny loves to see me yawning, but not when I just have eaten…don’t ask me why…MOL 😀 Pawkisses for a Happy Wordless Wednesday 🙂 <3

  9. Alicia O'Brien
    Twitter: alleychook
    says:

    I’m not sure if it’s a getting older thing, but my yawns seem to be a bit more vocal than they used to be 🙂

  10. ha ha! I yawned just reading this!
    interesting facts and a great model to boot!

  11. Just learned a lot from this. Very nice, thank you very much.

  12. Looks like someone either just woke up from their nap or is ready for a nap. Happy Wordless Wednesday.

  13. I thinks i shall… yaawwwnnnn… take a nap.
    -Katie Kitty Too

  14. Heather Reid says:

    lol. I’m doing everything I can not to yawn. Those are really great facts. six seconds is a surprisingly long time. As for important moments – I have a horrible habit of yawning every time I start to sing (even on stage), and I’m not at all tired.

  15. I love finding out about useful facts like that.

  16. Charles says:

    Yawwnn…. thanks for posting. I need a nap. : )

  17. Robin says:

    If only human yawns were as cute as kitty yawns! I love photos of kitty yawns. 🙂 Your kitty is absolutely adorable.

  18. Ellen Pilch says:

    Interesting post, I didn’t know we yawn in the womb.

  19. vanessa says:

    Great information on yawning and love that it’s not always because you are bored. Thank you for sharing at Dishing it and Digging it link party.

  20. Melissa says:

    I’m yawning now just reading about yawning! LOL

  21. Rhonda Albom says:

    Cat yawns always look very fierce to me.

  22. Paula Kiger says:

    Hmmmm great food for thought. Not a single yawn as I read it! 😉

  23. speedyrabbit says:

    Did you no that Bunnies do the cutest yawns?Love you Kitty Selfie today,xx Speedy

  24. Wait?! Yawning is good for the brain? WooHooo I love it.

    Happy Sunday selfie to you all and may Thanksgiving be good to you this year.

  25. So much handsome ferociousness!

  26. A delightful selfie yawn and one that has made me yawn too! I think that proves a point! purrs ERin

  27. Jean Dion says:

    That’s such a sweet photo. Have you ever tried to get your cats to “catch” your yawns? I have, and it totally works. Funny, right?

    Jean from Welcome to the Menagerie

  28. Timmy Tomcat says:

    Yawning is just the most fun. Best if you can yawn and get someone else to yawn with you! MOL

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