There’s a ‘catastrophic sleep-loss epidemic,’ and it’s cutting lives short, expert says

Yawning may be a symptom of a host of problems more severe than a bad night’s sleep. That’s because losing shut-eye doesn’t just make it hard to get through the day without a nap – it can also heighten the risk of heart attacks, strokes, cancer and dementia, potentially shortening our lives, according to a top sleep expert.