Could excessive sighing or yawning be linked to a heart or brain problem?

Excessive yawning is generally caused by tiredness, and it is less commonly indicative of heart or brain issues, according to MedlinePlus. In rare instances, bleeding outside the vagus nerve from the aorta increases the chance of a heart attack or aorta dissection and induces uncontrollable yawning.

Doctors administer tests such as MRIs or EEGs to detect underlying issues that induce excessive yawning not caused due to a lack of sleep, according to Healthline. The act of involuntarily inhaling deep breaths of air represents a symptom of a potential spinal cord or brain issue such as epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, stroke or tumor.