{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"Picture this: My friend and I are catching up on ","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{"uri":"https://www.wellandgood.com/health/abbott-elementary-autistic-coding"},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[{"type":"italic"}],"value":"Abbott Elementary ","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"hyperlink"},{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"at her apartment one night. It’s getting late, and I keep yawning—which, for some reason, leads to my eyes tearing up. Out of the corner of her eye, she sees me wipe away those tears and asks if I’m okay.","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"},{"data":{"target":{"sys":{"id":"108o77P4GYIzflO5khGBfv","type":"Link","linkType":"Entry"}}},"content":[],"nodeType":"embedded-entry-block"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"At first, I feel confused—sure, the show has its emotional moments, but it’s a comedy. What am I doing that makes her think I’m upset? And then I realize: She probably thinks I’m crying. “Oh yeah, I’m good!” I respond quickly. “My eyes water ","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{"uri":"https://www.wellandgood.com/health/why-is-yawning-contagious"},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"when I’m yawning","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"hyperlink"},{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":".” While it’s the truth and I know she trusts me, I worry she thinks I’m lying to save face. After all, doesn’t it seem kind of random that yawning basically makes you cry?","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"If this has happened to you, rest assured that it’s not as weird (or worrisome) as it may sound. Basically, when your eyes scrunch up during a yawn, they push out tears. “[The] tightening of the facial muscles around the eyes when we yawn causes the pool of tears that normally coat our eyes (i.e. our tear film) to ‘overflow,’” explains ","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{"uri":"https://www.nvisioncenters.com/our-surgeons/dagny-zhu/"},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"Dagny Zhu, MD","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"hyperlink"},{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":", a Harvard-trained specialist in cornea, cataract, and laser refractive surgery and a surgeon with ","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{"uri":"https://www.nvisioncenters.com/"},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"Nvision Eye Centers","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"hyperlink"},{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":". “Facial muscles also put pressure on the lacrimal gland, which ‘squeezes’ out tears.”","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"While the tearing doesn’t have a clear evolutionary purpose, Dr. Zhu did share an interesting scientific fact that could be behind this. “","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{"uri":"https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnevo.2011.00003/full"},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"Some studies","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"hyperlink"},{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":" show yawning is a way for our brains to ‘cool off,’ which can be accomplished by [the] secretion of tears, similar to sweating,” she says.","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"Why it might not happen every time, or to every person","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"heading-2"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"However, you may be reading this and thinking, “Why don’t my eyes water when yawning?” or “This only happens to me on occasion—what does that mean?” A couple of fair questions! Personally, I’ve noticed the eye-watering is worse at certain times, and for seemingly no reason.","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"According to Dr. Zhu, there’s no definitive explanation, but she does have some theories. “Some people with","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{"uri":"https://www.wellandgood.com/health/autoimmune-diseases-treat-naturally-women"},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":" autoimmune diseases","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"hyperlink"},{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":" have impaired tear production due to inflammatory damage causing dry eye,” she says. “Counterintuitively, other people with ","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{"uri":"https://www.wellandgood.com/health/natural-remedies-for-dry-eyes"},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"dry eye disease","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"hyperlink"},{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":" may actually tear more as a reflexive response: Because their eyes are at a constant state of dryness, their tear production is always in overdrive.”","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"For reference, the other ","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{"uri":"https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/what-are-common-symptoms-of-autoimmune-disease"},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"signs of autoimmune diseases ","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"hyperlink"},{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"include things like fatigue, swollen glands, digestive issues, joint pain, and more. As far as ","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{"uri":"https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/dry-eyes/symptoms-causes/syc-20371863"},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"dry eye disease","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"hyperlink"},{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":", you may notice additional symptoms such as eye burning or itching, eye redness, sensitivity to light, feeling like something is stuck in your eye, and blurred vision. Several other ","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{"uri":"https://health.osu.edu/health/eye-health/causes-of-eye-watering"},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"causes of watery eyes","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"hyperlink"},{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":" that are unrelated to yawning, but potentially still at play, are allergies, seasonal changes, makeup, and problems with contact lenses.","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"In any case, it’s best to talk with a trusted health-care provider if you’re concerned that your eyes watering might be something more than an occasional thing. Otherwise, there’s not really a reason to worry, regardless of whether your eyes water (or not) mid-yawn.","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"Can you stop your eyes from watering when yawning?","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"heading-2"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"While it’s not a problem, let’s face it: Eye-watering (and yawning) can be ill-timed, a little awkward, and annoying, even in the most comfortable of situations. Is there a way to prevent it? “There’s no real way to stop our eyes from tearing when yawning, but it’s generally a good thing to keep our eyes lubricated,” Dr. Zhu says. So, in most cases, I suppose it’s more a matter of reframing your perspective than fixing a physical issue.","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"},{"data":{},"content":[{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"However, if you experience excessive, constant tearing; eye burning; or other eye problems like the ones listed above, “it can be a sign of disease and should be evaluated by an ophthalmologist,” Dr. Zhu adds. In other words, keep an eye on it (pun ","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{},"marks":[{"type":"italic"}],"value":"fully ","nodeType":"text"},{"data":{},"marks":[],"value":"intended) and you should be just fine.","nodeType":"text"}],"nodeType":"paragraph"}],"nodeType":"document"}