An unusual case of yawning during sleep associated with sleep bruxism and obstructive sleep apnea–a case report

The current case report presents an unusual coincidence of yawning and sleep bruxism during sleep in a patient with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Both conditions were previously defined in the literature as challenging, multidisciplinary problems with complex and little-known pathogenesis. A 71-yea...

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Main Authors: Monika Michałek, Karol Marschollek, Wiktor Kuliczkowski, Marta Waliszewska-Prosół, Anna Wojakowska, Katarzyna Madziarska, Helena Martynowicz
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-06-01
Series:Frontiers in Medicine
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1596512/full
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author Monika Michałek
Karol Marschollek
Wiktor Kuliczkowski
Marta Waliszewska-Prosół
Anna Wojakowska
Katarzyna Madziarska
Helena Martynowicz
author_facet Monika Michałek
Karol Marschollek
Wiktor Kuliczkowski
Marta Waliszewska-Prosół
Anna Wojakowska
Katarzyna Madziarska
Helena Martynowicz
author_sort Monika Michałek
collection DOAJ
description The current case report presents an unusual coincidence of yawning and sleep bruxism during sleep in a patient with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Both conditions were previously defined in the literature as challenging, multidisciplinary problems with complex and little-known pathogenesis. A 71-year-old man with a history of coronary artery disease underwent video-polysomnography (vPSG) due to the suspicion of OSA. vPSG results confirmed severe obstructive sleep apnea, sleep bruxism, and frequent episodes of yawning during sleep. Therapeutic intervention included positive airway pressure therapy and resulted in the resolution of apneic events. Interestingly, PAP titration also reduced the frequency of episodes of sleep bruxism and yawning. Results of the current case report suggest a temporal relationship between desaturation and yawning episodes, thus indicating the hypoxic basis for this behavior. Resolution of yawning after PAP therapy appears consistent with this theory. An instrumental approach to OSA diagnosis supplemented by video-recording allowed the diagnosis of the unusual presence of yawning during sleep.
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institution Kabale University
issn 2296-858X
language English
publishDate 2025-06-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Medicine
spelling doaj-art-ed787e60c2ac4d3781a5d123783109b92025-08-20T03:30:34ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Medicine2296-858X2025-06-011210.3389/fmed.2025.15965121596512An unusual case of yawning during sleep associated with sleep bruxism and obstructive sleep apnea–a case reportMonika Michałek0Karol Marschollek1Wiktor Kuliczkowski2Marta Waliszewska-Prosół3Anna Wojakowska4Katarzyna Madziarska5Helena Martynowicz6Department of Diabetology, Hypertension and Internal Diseases, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, PolandDepartment of Neurology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, PolandClinical Department of Cardiology, Department of Cardiology, Institute of Heart Diseases, Faculty of Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, PolandDepartment of Neurology, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, PolandDepartment of Diabetology, Hypertension and Internal Diseases, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, PolandDepartment of Diabetology, Hypertension and Internal Diseases, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, PolandDepartment of Diabetology, Hypertension and Internal Diseases, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, PolandThe current case report presents an unusual coincidence of yawning and sleep bruxism during sleep in a patient with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Both conditions were previously defined in the literature as challenging, multidisciplinary problems with complex and little-known pathogenesis. A 71-year-old man with a history of coronary artery disease underwent video-polysomnography (vPSG) due to the suspicion of OSA. vPSG results confirmed severe obstructive sleep apnea, sleep bruxism, and frequent episodes of yawning during sleep. Therapeutic intervention included positive airway pressure therapy and resulted in the resolution of apneic events. Interestingly, PAP titration also reduced the frequency of episodes of sleep bruxism and yawning. Results of the current case report suggest a temporal relationship between desaturation and yawning episodes, thus indicating the hypoxic basis for this behavior. Resolution of yawning after PAP therapy appears consistent with this theory. An instrumental approach to OSA diagnosis supplemented by video-recording allowed the diagnosis of the unusual presence of yawning during sleep.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1596512/fullyawningsleep bruxismobstructive sleep apneapolysomnographycase report
spellingShingle Monika Michałek
Karol Marschollek
Wiktor Kuliczkowski
Marta Waliszewska-Prosół
Anna Wojakowska
Katarzyna Madziarska
Helena Martynowicz
An unusual case of yawning during sleep associated with sleep bruxism and obstructive sleep apnea–a case report
Frontiers in Medicine
yawning
sleep bruxism
obstructive sleep apnea
polysomnography
case report
title An unusual case of yawning during sleep associated with sleep bruxism and obstructive sleep apnea–a case report
title_full An unusual case of yawning during sleep associated with sleep bruxism and obstructive sleep apnea–a case report
title_fullStr An unusual case of yawning during sleep associated with sleep bruxism and obstructive sleep apnea–a case report
title_full_unstemmed An unusual case of yawning during sleep associated with sleep bruxism and obstructive sleep apnea–a case report
title_short An unusual case of yawning during sleep associated with sleep bruxism and obstructive sleep apnea–a case report
title_sort unusual case of yawning during sleep associated with sleep bruxism and obstructive sleep apnea a case report
topic yawning
sleep bruxism
obstructive sleep apnea
polysomnography
case report
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1596512/full
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