Hiccups – How to get rid of them

Hiccups – How to get rid of them | Coda Pharmacy

Colin Dang
November 20, 2019

Click on the video above to see how you can stop hiccups 

Hiccups – And How To Stop Them

Hiccups can be very annoying. We all know the old tricks of scaring someone suddenly or drinking a glass of water in an unusual position to try and stop them, but in this blog, we explore what they are, why you get them and some things you can try to stop or prevent hiccups. Luckily for most Hiccups does not affect your health.

So, just what are hiccups? Well, they’re sudden, involuntary contractions of the diaphragm muscle. As the muscle contracts repeatedly, the opening between the vocal cords snaps shut to check the inflow of air and makes the hiccup sound. Irritation of the nerves that extend from the neck to the chest can cause hiccups.Although associated with a variety of ailments (some can be serious such as pneumonia or when harmful substances build up in the blood for example from kidney failure), hiccups are not serious and have no clear reason for occurring.

 What causes hiccups? Irritation of the nerves that extend from the neck to the chest can cause hiccups. Many conditions are associated with hiccups, but none has been shown to be the cause of them. Here are a few ways you can get them:

• If someone eats too fast, he or she can swallow air along with food and end up with the hiccups.
• Smokingor chewing gum also can cause a person to swallow air and get hiccups.
• Any other practices that might irritate the diaphragm such as eating too much (especially fatty foods) or drinking too much (alcoholor carbonated drinks) can make a person prone to having hiccups.
• In these instances, the stomach, which sits underneath and adjacent to the diaphragm, is distended or stretched. As they occur in relation to eating and drinking, hiccups are sometimes thought to be a reflex to protect a person from choking.
• Strokes or brain tumours involving the brain stem, and some chronic medical disorders (such as renal failure) are reported to cause hiccups; trauma to the brain, meningitis, and encephalitisalso may cause hiccups.
• Noxious fumes can also trigger hiccup symptoms.
• A baby may hiccup after crying or coughing. This is common in babies in the first year. In some instances, babies with gastroesophageal reflux (GERD) could be more prone to hiccups.
• Anxiety and stresscan induce both short and long-term hiccups

  Although many people find some of these tips on how to deal with hiccups useful, they may not work for everyone.

Do:

• breathe into a paper bag (don’t put it over your head!)
• pull your knees up to your chest and lean forward
• sip ice-cold water
• swallow some granulated sugar
• bite on a lemon or taste vinegar
• hold your breath for a short time

Don’t

• do not drink alcoholic, fizzy or hot drinks
• do not chew gum or smoke – these can cause you to swallow air
• do not eat spicy food
• do not eat food very quickly
• do not eat or drink something very cold immediately after something hot

Hiccups are rarely a cause for concern, but if hiccups become frequent, chronic and persistent (lasting more then 3 hours), if they afftect sleeping patterns, interfere with eating, cause reflux of food or vomiting, occur with severe abdominal pain, fever, shortness of breath, spitting up blood or feeling as if the throat is going to close up see a doctor. Your GP will want to find out if your hiccups are caused by a health condition or medication you’re taking – treating the condition or changing your medicine should stop your hiccups.

If there’s no obvious cause, they might be able to prescribe medicine to treat your hiccups. This doesn’t work for everyone.

We hope you found this blog useful, please share it if you did – and look out for our vlog on hiccups coming to you soon!

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The Coda Team

Facts You Probably Didn’t Know About Hiccups

• Hiccups, though quite common, are rather mysterious to scientists.
• They can be caused by anything from stress to changes in temperature to smoking cigarettes. 
• Humans aren’t the only ones to get hiccups — animals can as well. 

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Hiccups can be incredibly frustrating — especially since they seemingly come out of nowhere. Despite being a common occurrence, scientists still aren’t entirely sure why hiccups happen or how to cure them. 

They do know, however, that the sensation occurs when a person tries to breathe in but an involuntary diaphragm spasm causes their vocal cords to instead, snap shut. 

From the strange things that might cause them to their technical term, here are seven things you probably never knew about hiccups.

The technical term for hiccups is ‘singultus’

The technical term for hiccups is singultus which comes from the Latin word “singult” meaning to catch your breath while sobbing.

Hiccups can be caused by anything from stress to changes in temperature

Stress might cause hiccups.

Artotem/Flickr

Although hiccups can seemingly come out of nowhere, chances are there’s a reason you’re experiencing the annoying condition. According to Harvard Health Blog, hiccups can be caused by heightened emotions such as excitement or stress, smoking cigarettes, or even abrupt changes in either external or internal temperatures. 

They can also be brought on when you eat too much food or drink too much alcohol — both of which expand the stomach and irritate the diaphragm. It’s also possible to get hiccups by swallowing too much air.

Chronic hiccups may be a sign of disease

For most people hiccups last no longer than a couple of minutes and are nothing more than an annoyance. There are, however, instances where hiccups can last days, weeks, and even years. Dubbed chronic hiccups, they can signify a greater medical problem.

For example, chronic hiccups could indicate pancreatitis, pregnancy, bladder irritation, liver cancer or hepatitis. They could also be a sign of pneumonia, bowel diseases, or alcoholism. Because the list of potential diseases is so long, it’s best to consult your healthcare provider if you’re experiencing prolonged hiccups. 

Medications can reduce hiccups

Medications are an option for people dealing with hiccups.

Jamie/Flickr

Though you’ve likely heard of hiccup home remedies such as hugging your knees, breathing into a bag, or popping your ears, there are some actual medications specifically given to people dealing with hiccups. 

Read more: 10 hiccup remedies that actually work

According to a 2011 review from The College of Family Physicians of Canada antipsychotic medications are often prescribed to treat hiccups. These include chlorpromazine (the only FDA-approved medication for hiccups) and haloperidol — both of which prevent the excess of dopamine. Defoaming agents are also sometimes prescribed, especially metoclopramide, which helps to empty the stomach. 

The longest bout of hiccups lasted from 1922 until February 1990

According to BBC, Anthon, Iowa-native Charles Osbourne hiccuped for a total of 68 years. The story goes that he first hiccuped while attempting to weigh a hog. He reportedly hiccupped up to 40 times a minute at one point, later slowing down to 20 times a minute.

Human babies can hiccup in the womb

According to Healthline, it’s possible for a baby to hiccup in the womb during the second or third trimester of pregnancy. Although doctors aren’t entirely sure why this happens — or why people hiccup in general — it’s thought that fetal hiccups could play a role in a baby’s lung maturation. 

Animals can get the hiccups as well

Kittens do get hiccups, though you might not hear them.

iStock

Like humans, animals can also get hiccups — and likely for the same reasons humans do. Just as irritation to the diaphragm causes humans to hiccup, animals with similar breathing systems can experience the same sensation. These hiccups, however, might sound different depending on the animal. Kittens, for example, hiccup quietly but horses get particularly loud hiccups. 

Hiccups when smoking causes – Quit.Online

Despite the fact that hiccups are not a very pleasant phenomenon, in general, they are not at all dangerous for the body. In most cases, hiccups are a completely normal physiological reaction, which is observed even in unborn babies in the mother’s stomach.

The mechanism of hiccups

The mechanism of hiccups is quite simple: it is a rhythmic contraction of the diaphragm caused by irritation of the vagus nerve. The so-called vagus nerve connects many internal organs. Its irritation can occur when the stomach is full, with a hasty meal, a sharp breath. The stomach, full of food or excess air, props up the diaphragm and causes it to contract. The diaphragm, contracting, often pushes air out of the esophagus. This happens with a characteristic sound. In rare cases, hiccups occur due to problems with the central nervous system (encephalitis, stroke, etc.) or tumor diseases in the stomach, esophagus, or respiratory organs.

Why hiccups when smoking

Special attention deserves hiccups when smoking. It usually occurs in those who smoke for a long time and in large quantities. Such hiccups begin almost every time a person lights up, and can continue for a long time. In an attempt to overcome such hiccups, smokers try to change brands of cigarettes, but this does not bring any relief.

Smoking hiccups can occur for several reasons.

• Irritation of the vagus nerve due to changes in ambient temperature and hot smoke that a person inhales when smoking.
• Ingestion of air into the stomach by smoking. This air stretches the walls of the stomach, and they irritate the diaphragm.
• Nicotine from tobacco smoke relaxes the sphincter of the esophagus, gastric juice enters the esophagus. The walls of the esophagus are irritated and react with spasm, which in turn acts on the vagus nerve and provokes contractions of the diaphragm.

How to deal with hiccups

If nothing is done, hiccups may not go away for a long time. And the cat of smokers is inhibited by the same methods that are used if the contraction of the diaphragm is caused by overeating or other factors not related to smoking.

• Holding the breath to relax the diaphragm muscle. Usually the breath is held for 10-15 seconds.
• Rapid breathing “like a dog”. Stimulates the larynx and relaxes the muscles of the diaphragm.
• Warm water to drink in small sips.
• A teaspoon of sugar to neutralize acid in the esophagus. It is advisable not to drink sugar with water.
• Massage of biologically active points located above the collarbone.

After the hiccups have passed, you need to wait at least about 15 minutes before the next cigarette. However, no one succeeds in permanently getting rid of hiccups when smoking. All of these methods help to stop hiccups only in a specific situation.

Since not all heavy smokers suffer from hiccups, this phenomenon should be treated very carefully. Without tests and examination by a doctor, we cannot know for sure that smoking caused the hiccups. To exclude the possibility of hiccups due to cancer, it is worth getting an examination.

Smoking hiccups are not as uncommon as they might seem. The appearance of this phenomenon can sometimes have a regular character. If the smoker is susceptible to this symptom, then changing the brand of cigarettes will not lead to positive results, because hiccups will appear again and again. Why does hiccups occur after smoking or during it and how to get rid of this phenomenon? You will learn about this in our article.

Causes of hiccups

This phenomenon may appear both after smoking and during it. Whether you smoke or not, hiccups are an organic reflex of the body that occurs when it is necessary to expel air from the gastric cavity. This phenomenon occurs due to the contraction of the smooth muscle fibers of the diaphragm. In most cases, such a reaction of the body may occur due to the fact that an irritating effect was exerted on the vagus nerve. The appearance of this irritant effect can have various reasons. The cause may be overeating, hypothermia, alcoholic beverages, smoking, nervous system disorder and others.

If this phenomenon occurs often enough, it indicates that the hiccuping person has developed gastritis, oncological processes have appeared in the tissues of the stomach, esophagus or other structures of the gastrointestinal tract. In itself, this phenomenon is not dangerous, but it can indicate the occurrence of serious diseases.

The main causes of this symptom are:

• eating a large amount of dry food, which caused stomach overload;
• disorders of the nervous system;
• drinking alcohol;
• hypothermia.

If a person often asks himself “why do I hiccup all the time?”, then this symptom has a pathological form and the causes of its occurrence can be meningitis, hernia, tumor formations, encephalitis, pancreatitis, irritation and inflammation of the stomach, nervous disorders and others.

Hiccups can occur for a variety of reasons, so it is not certain that tobacco smoking is the trigger.

Hiccups during and after smoking

What causes hiccups when smoking? This happens due to the following mechanism:

• first, air enters the stomach, which stretches its walls;
• this leads to a neuromuscular response in the vagus nerve, resulting in a sharp contraction of the diaphragm;
• these contractions contribute to the expulsion of excess air through the esophagus, during this process a characteristic sound appears, and this happens when the air overcomes the ligamentous apparatus.

This phenomenon can hardly be called pleasant, especially when it lasts for a long time.

In addition, hiccups during smoking can occur due to intoxication of the body, which occurs due to poisoning by the combustion products of tobacco, as well as the nicotine contained in it.

In addition, the difference in temperatures between the inhaled tobacco smoke and the ambient air can cause this phenomenon. If a smoking person also discusses while initiating a bad habit, then he absorbs large volumes of air, which leads to a contraction of the diaphragm. Also, a similar reaction can occur when smoking in a sitting position.

After a smoke break, this symptom may appear for the same reasons as during. The hiccup reflex often occurs in people who smoke for many years.

In case of prolonged and frequent attacks of hiccups, it is necessary to urgently consult a doctor, as this may indicate serious health problems.

How to get rid of hiccups

In the case when this phenomenon occurs due to addiction to tobacco products, there is only one way out – to stop smoking. But not many smokers will choose this method, even if they often have bouts of hiccups. There are other methods that can help during the occurrence of this phenomenon. These include:

1. Fright. The most ancient, but nevertheless very effective method. If a hiccuping person is suddenly frightened, then his attention will switch to fright and the diaphragm will stop contracting.
2. Warm water. Drinking warm water helps to relieve irritation of the mucous membrane and reduce the concentration of gastric acid. In addition, warm water helps excess air to quickly leave the body.
3. Sugar. A teaspoon of sugar will help to quickly reduce the concentration of acid in the stomach. The main thing is not to drink it with anything.
4. Holding the breath. Another well-known way. You need to hold your breath for a few seconds a couple of times.
5. Herbal infusions. If hiccups often bother you, then it is recommended to take herbal infusions from herbs such as valerian, lavender, hops or motherwort.
6. Breathing in a bag. Using this method will relieve muscle spasms and their excessive activity, as well as fill the blood with carbon dioxide.
7. Acupuncture. To remove an attack of hiccups will help the impact on special bioactive points.

You can also take medicines. They are able not only to relieve an attack of hiccups, but also to remove the cause of its occurrence. But before taking it, be sure to consult a doctor. It is he who must prescribe the appropriate medicine and its dosage. You should not self-medicate and with prolonged and frequent bouts of hiccups, you must undergo the necessary examinations.

What causes cigarette hiccups?

Hiccups are a rather specific human respiratory disorder. Sharp the contraction of the diaphragm at the moment of inhalation leads to the appearance of that very abrupt and slightly funny sound “i-i”.

At first glance, hiccups seem funny , but if it accompanies a smoker every time he smokes, then he will obviously not be laughing. Why does hiccups occur from smoking, and how to get rid of it?

Contents:

Origin of hiccups from smoking

Causes of hiccups while smoking?

When such a symptom occurs, a natural question arises in a person, why do you hiccup when you smoke. Scientists from different countries have been looking for an answer for a long time. By comparing normal hiccups and those from cigarettes, the researchers found the reason why a person hiccups while smoking.

Video taken from the channel: About the most important thing

The cause of a common attack is physiology , when smoking, a similar reaction occurs due to intoxication, that is, the origin has a non-physiological state.

In some cases, the cause is a large difference in temperature. Sufficiently hot tobacco smoke, entering the lungs, causes irritation, provoking contraction of the diaphragm and causing a strong cough. Especially often occurs when smoking in the cold season on the street.

Please note that cigarette hiccups are not a normal condition of the body.

In some cases, an attack may be a symptom of the following diseases:

• irritable stomach syndrome;
• infectious diseases: encephalitis, meningitis;
• tumor development in the gastrointestinal tract;
• pancreatitis;
• disorders of the central nervous system.

For individual reasons make an appointment with a specialist. The doctor will carefully examine the person, give his own recommendations and make an accurate diagnosis and prescribe treatment.

Hiccups after smoking a cigarette

Why does a person hiccup after smoking?

It is not uncommon for hiccups to occur immediately after smoking, and may also be accompanied by chest pain .

Such a reaction of the body is caused by the following reasons:

1. Expansion of the walls of the stomach with air, which can be removed from the body only when the diaphragm contracts;
2. Effects of chemicals contained in cigarettes on the vagus nerve;
3. The involuntary impulse from the smell of cigarettes acts on the phrenic nerves, leading to their contraction.

If a person has smoked more than 2 cigarettes at one time, then intoxication of the body can be considered the cause of hiccups.

If hiccups occur after smoking electronic devices?

If hiccups are caused by smoking el. cigarettes, vape, iQOS, hookah?

Electronic cigarettes, vaping, iQOS and other modern smoking devices can also cause hiccups. Despite the claims of manufacturers that electronic cigarettes do less harm to the body, the principle of their effect remains similar to smoking a regular cigarette.

Therefore, the main reasons are:

• temperature difference;
• intoxication;
• allergic reaction to excipient or smoking liquid;
• retention of tobacco smoke in the stomach.

Hookah stands apart from all the above devices. Hookah is a traditional oriental smoking tool.

Since hookah filters are able to purify tobacco smoke from impurities only 40% , the most common cause should be considered intoxication.

Ways to get rid of hiccups after smoking

How to get rid of “tobacco” hiccups?

It is believed that the attack resolves on its own within 10-20 minutes . But if it has not stopped, then you need to turn to proven means .

Video taken from the channel: Vladimir Yachmennikov

Currently, not only special gymnastics has been developed to relieve diaphragm contractions, but also medicinal products and traditional medicine.

Medications

The use of tablets and other drugs is a last resort in the treatment of hiccups from smoking. Typically, remedies are prescribed by a doctor when hiccups are identified as a symptom of another disease , therefore, it is necessary to carry out the treatment very carefully.

The main drugs include:

The scheme of use is signed personally after a thorough study of the characteristics of the body.

Traditional medicine

Alternative medicine is based on the use of biologically pure components. The only thing that reduces the effectiveness is the individual reaction of the body to the components used.

Folk wisdom has been accumulated over the years, so the following ways to deal with hiccups from smoking have been preserved:

1. Take ground pepper and inhale. Through sneezing, excess air will be removed from the body;
2. Chew on a sour lemon. Citric acid is a strong irritant, so the receptors will switch from the diaphragm to the stomach, due to increased salivation.
3. Sip a glass of clean water.
4. Take a plastic bag. Close their mouth and nose. Breathe into the bag.

Remember that traditional medicine is an addition to the main treatment .

Special exercises

It is the special exercises that have gained popularity that allow you to restore the natural position of the diaphragm and relieve tension:

1. Stick out your tongue, pull the tip as hard as possible for 5 seconds. Repeat 5-10 times. The method relaxes the vagus nerve.
2. Close your eyes, press your ears lightly with your palms. Inhale deeply and hold your breath for 10 seconds. Exhale, repeat until the attack completely disappears.
3. Bend over. Try to stretch your neck when tilting. Lock your hands behind your back, breathe deeply. Stand up straight and drink a glass of water.

What do doctors say about hiccups after smoking?

Doctors’ advice

Doctors do not remain indifferent, and therefore give their own recommendations.

The following tips are mostly preventive measures to prevent an attack:

1. It is advisable to avoid smoking outdoors during the cold season of ;
2. Do not talk while smoking, as talking increases the amount of air you breathe;
3. Do not combine drinking and eating with cigarettes as this promotes hiccups;
4. Do not smoke while sitting or lying down , because the wrong position affects the diaphragm, causing contraction.
5. Try to avoid stress .
6. More drink pure water to remove tobacco combustion products from the body.

Conclusion of the article “Hiccups from smoking”

Conclusion

Hiccups from smoking can manifest itself as an independent attack or as a symptom of other diseases . To understand the true cause, it is necessary to undergo a medical examination.

Remember that the body of each person is individual, and therefore requires careful study.

Write in the comments how you deal with hiccups after smoking. We hope that the article was useful and informative.

Best regards Amanda Harshman!

warm water, a spoonful of sugar and other traditional recipes

Every smoker knows about the dangers of smoking. However, over time, a person may discover phenomena in himself that did not bother him before.

One such problem is hiccups. It is important to understand why hiccups can occur when smoking.

Hiccups are a physiological phenomenon that every person has encountered at least once in their life, regardless of whether they smoke or not.

This is a reaction of the respiratory organs, in which there is an involuntary contraction of the muscles of the diaphragm.

Most often this happens in response to external stimuli, which can be completely different.

Most often, hiccups do not give in to the conscious efforts of a person to stop this condition. The process may be accompanied by discomfort and anxiety.

There are two types of hiccups: physiological and pathological

There are physiological and pathological hiccups. In a physiological state, the problem is caused by non-dangerous factors. But sometimes the condition is provoked by internal diseases.

Physiological hiccups can be triggered by the following factors:

1. overeating;
2. drinking alcohol;
3. dry food abuse;
4. smoking;
5. hypothermia;
6. emotional stress.

The pathological form of hiccups is often caused by a number of diseases of internal organs and systems. The phenomenon worries patients during meningitis, encephalitis, with congenital or acquired dysfunction of the central nervous system. The problem may occur in patients with cancer.

Very often the cause of the problem is related to the state of the digestive system.

The following diseases can provoke an unpleasant phenomenon:

• pancreatitis;
• reflux esophagitis;
• irritable stomach syndrome;
• biliary dyskinesia;
• parasitic infections.

Sometimes, in order to understand how hiccups occur during smoking, it is worth paying attention to the mechanism of development of this process, regardless of the reasons.

Mechanism of development

Hiccups occur when air enters the stomach. As a result of this, its walls are stretched.

Because of this, the vagus and phrenic nerves receive signals that stimulate them to contract.

The impulse reaches the “hiccup center”, which is located in the spinal cord. As a result, a sharp push of air against the background of contraction of the diaphragmatic muscles leads to the appearance of a characteristic sound and shudder. The sound is formed by the flow of air passing through the incompletely closed vocal cords.

Development of hiccups due to cigarette smoking

Hiccups while smoking cigarettes are a phenomenon familiar to many smokers. Sometimes the condition is provoked by the usual physiological factors, just coinciding in time with smoking. But most often the problem is caused precisely by the processes that have arisen against the background of smoking.

Hiccups are the body’s response to the toxic effects of cigarette smoke on the body

It is important to understand why hiccups occur while smoking. The main reason is intoxication caused by the ingestion of combustion products into the body.

Nicotine and tar, together with the air flow, get inside, affecting the nerve endings. This leads to the appearance of pathological hiccups.

This type of hiccup is called toxic. A similar condition sometimes appears in patients who are under anesthesia, in agony. Diseases accompanied by severe intoxication can also have this symptom.

Such a reaction of the body as hiccups may indicate a poor tolerance of the body of substances coming from outside. These signals cannot be ignored.

Hiccups after smoking are of the same character. Air that has entered the stomach, or poisonous compounds that irritate the nerve endings, cause an unpleasant condition. Such hiccups are toxic.

When the condition occurs rarely or once, there is no cause for concern. If this symptom bothers you regularly, continues for a long time, you need to visit a doctor. The necessary studies can be carried out by a gastroenterologist, pulmonologist, endocrinologist and neuropathologist.

How to quickly deal with hiccups after smoking

If hiccups occur while smoking, the best way to deal with the problem is to end the addiction.

This will not only save you from an unpleasant condition, but also save your health and money. If after that the problem does not disappear, the cause should be looked for further.

Drinking warm water can sometimes help relieve hiccups. It helps to relax the muscles, reduce the concentration of acid in the stomach and soothe the mucous membranes.

Drinking helps to free the body from accumulated air, which stops hiccups. It is important to refrain from smoking for at least a few minutes after drinking water.

To stop hiccups, it is recommended to try to hold your breath.

If hiccups begin while smoking, simple tips will help relieve the unpleasant condition. You need to breathe often with your tongue hanging out.

This strange action stimulates the posterior pharyngeal wall, as a result of which tension is removed from the vagus nerve and hiccups stop. After a few breaths, you need to hold your breath, and then start breathing again quickly.