Why is yawning getting me high
January 7, 2010 9:34 AM Subscribe
Why is yawning getting me high?
Every time I have a big yawn, usually when stretching after sitting a while, I get a huge wobbley head rush and feel dizzy. Everything gets fuzzy for a few seconds and then refocuses and back to normal. I can only assume it's all the oxygen escaping my brain via the yawn, but it seems like there should be enough to go around. Is there a known medical mechanism that makes it happen? And can it lead to fainting? It's a really uncomfortable feeling and I always worry that I'm about to black out. I'm not really asking OMG WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME, more so what is happening and does it happen to other perfectly healthy people.
It's the closest thing to a whippet I've ever legally done, and I'm too old to want to, so this is pretty intriguing if not plain annoying.
Every time I have a big yawn, usually when stretching after sitting a while, I get a huge wobbley head rush and feel dizzy. Everything gets fuzzy for a few seconds and then refocuses and back to normal. I can only assume it's all the oxygen escaping my brain via the yawn, but it seems like there should be enough to go around. Is there a known medical mechanism that makes it happen? And can it lead to fainting? It's a really uncomfortable feeling and I always worry that I'm about to black out. I'm not really asking OMG WHAT IS WRONG WITH ME, more so what is happening and does it happen to other perfectly healthy people.
It's the closest thing to a whippet I've ever legally done, and I'm too old to want to, so this is pretty intriguing if not plain annoying.
Seconding brainmouse. This happened to me quite a bit when I was in high school, although I eventually grew out of it. For a while there, though, my friends just kind of got used to my abruptly just kind of going limp and winding up on the floor if I was standing. Most of the time I didn't completely black out, although it did happen occasionally. I would get tunnel vision, which would go to black, and then would slowly open back up (usually framing a group of concerned faces staring down at me...). I did a full round of tests with the doctor, even wore a heart monitor for a while, and the diagnoses ultimately came down to hypotension. No idea why it hit me young and then went away, which is apparently the opposite of normal.
posted by Lokheed at 9:51 AM on January 7, 2010
posted by Lokheed at 9:51 AM on January 7, 2010
are you on zoloft? if so, it's a recognized side-effect. so is, um, dryly orgasming. i can verify.
posted by mr. remy at 10:32 AM on January 7, 2010
posted by mr. remy at 10:32 AM on January 7, 2010
Response by poster: Not on Zoloft, but after reading mr. remy's link about the woman who "experienced a three-hour, sudden-onset spontaneous orgasm while shopping" I kind of wish I was.
I have to wonder if the "blood pooling in the lower extremities" is somehow ramped up by SSRIs, causing the random "yawning orgasms" and/or orthostatic hypotension. I read on another forum that someone's doctor attributed their episodes to "good blood supply in the pelvic area". I wonder if doing 100 kegels and then standing up really fast would kill me.
The only medicine I take is Synthroid which is for hypothyroid, but I don't think it is in any way related hypotension, unless someone knows otherwise. My blood pressure has always been perfect or very close.
posted by Juicy Avenger at 10:59 AM on January 7, 2010
I have to wonder if the "blood pooling in the lower extremities" is somehow ramped up by SSRIs, causing the random "yawning orgasms" and/or orthostatic hypotension. I read on another forum that someone's doctor attributed their episodes to "good blood supply in the pelvic area". I wonder if doing 100 kegels and then standing up really fast would kill me.
The only medicine I take is Synthroid which is for hypothyroid, but I don't think it is in any way related hypotension, unless someone knows otherwise. My blood pressure has always been perfect or very close.
posted by Juicy Avenger at 10:59 AM on January 7, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by brainmouse at 9:39 AM on January 7, 2010 [1 favorite]