Table of contents:
- Why are we yawning?
- Tears came out while yawning, apparently because ...
- Is it normal for the eyes not to water when they yawn?
Have you ever been reprimanded by someone who was worried why suddenly your eyes were wet like you had just cried? In fact, you can swear that the last thing you do is just yawn because you are sleepy after having eaten your fill. Curious, why do some people shed tears when they yawn?
Why are we yawning?
The exact cause why you yawn is still a mystery. Some experts theorize that humans yawn because they are tired or feel bored.
When you are tired or bored, your body's systems deliberately slow down to store energy. Breathing also slows down so that less oxygen is inhaled. So because of that, the subconscious "reminds" you to start yawning in order to get more oxygen so that all body functions can still function normally.
Unfortunately, this theory is not entirely correct. When there is enough oxygen in the body, you can still yawn. Vice versa. High carbon dioxide levels also do not cause a person to evaporate more often.
Another theory explains that yawning is stretching the lungs and their tissues. These stretches can flex muscles and joints, increasing your heart rate and increasing blood flow throughout your body. Then, you will be more "alert" and literate.
Tears came out while yawning, apparently because …
Tears not only come out when you cry, but also when you yawn. Tears are lubricants for the eyes that are produced by the lacrimal glands (tear glands). This eye lubricant contains not only water, but also oil and mucus which functions as eye protection from foreign substances, such as dust.
Now, every time you blink, the eyelid movement will trigger tears from the lacrimal gland to the surface of the eye and then flatten it all over. Then, why do we shed tears when we yawn?
Dr. Cheryl G. Murphy, an eye health expert and author on the Huffington Post page explains that when you yawn, your mouth will open, your cheeks will lift up, and your eyes will squint. This movement makes the muscles around the face tighten and contract.
The contraction of the muscles around the face puts pressure on the lacrimal glands which are under the eyelids (just below the browbones). This pressure causes a small amount of tear deposited in the lacrimal gland to escape and wet the surface of the eye.
That's why a few seconds after yawning, your eyes will feel wet like you've been crying.
Is it normal for the eyes not to water when they yawn?
Not everyone will automatically cry when they yawn. You also won't always shed tears every time you yawn.
You can just yawn without tears and that's normal. This can happen if you have a large enough tear duct.
When you evaporate for the first time, the tears that are deposited in the lacrimal glands pass through the tear ducts more easily to the surface of the eye. As a result, the lacrimal glands dry temporarily. When you yawn a second time, it's natural that no tears come out.
Apart from the size of the tear ducts, dry eye conditions can also cause you to yawn without tears. For example, when you are on a beach that tends to be windy, there is a problem with your lacrimal glands, or a blocked tear duct.
However, if your eyes are really dry, you should immediately check with your doctor to find out the exact cause and the right treatment.
