Insights: Why Yawning Happens Before Migraine Pain

Why does excessive yawning sometimes appear before a migraine attack even begins?

In this episode of Migraine Heroes Podcast, host Diane Ducarme explores one of the most overlooked early warning signs of migraine: uncontrollable yawning. Far from being “just tiredness,” yawning can be a neurological signal that your brain is already shifting into a migraine state long before the pain arrives.

Blending neuroscience with practical migraine awareness, this episode helps you understand what your body may be trying to tell you—and how to respond before the migraine escalates.

You’ll discover:
💡 How repeated yawning can act as an early migraine warning sign, giving you a chance to intervene sooner
💡 What changes inside the brain during this phase, and why yawning is linked to dopamine and nervous system activity
💡 Simple actions you can take in the moment to calm the migraine cascade and potentially reduce its intensity

This episode is about learning to recognize the subtle signals your brain sends before the storm fully hits. Because sometimes, the earlier you listen, the more power you have to change the outcome.

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References:

• The Migraine Generator Revisited (Schulte & May, 2016): This paper revisits the concept of the migraine generator and suggests that hypothalamic and brainstem changes occur throughout the migraine cycle. Read more here.
• Pathophysiology of Migraine (Goadsby et al., 2017): This review explains migraine as a disorder of sensory processing, involving trigeminovascular pathways, altered excitability, and brain-network dysfunction. Read more here.
• Migraine Prodromes Separated from the Aura (Blau, 1980): This paper distinguishes prodromal migraine symptoms from aura, describing early changes in mood, wakefulness, appetite, bowel activity, and fluid balance before headache begins. Read more here.
• Yawning in Neurology (Teive et al., 2018): This review explores yawning as a neurological phenomenon, including its links with brainstem, hypothalamic, and neurotransmitter systems. Read more here.
• Yawning and Dopamine (Mogilnicka & Klimek, 1984: This study examines how dopamine agonists such as apomorphine induce yawning, supporting the role of dopaminergic pathways in yawning behavior. Read more here.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not substitute for providing medical advice. Always consult your healthcare professional before making any health-related decisions.

For women, men, and children who suffer from migraine disease, Migraine Heroes is your go-to resource for understanding, managing, and overcoming migraine attacks.

We cover all types of migraines and related headaches, including primary and secondary migraines, chronic migraines, and cluster migraines. We dive deep into the complexities of migraine with aura and migraine without aura, as well as rarer forms like hemiplegic migraine, retinal migraine, and acephalgic migraine (silent migraine). Our discussions also extend to cervicogenic headaches, ice pick headaches, and pressure headaches, which often mimic migraine or contribute to overall migraine burden.