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On and Off Hiccups: Understanding Symptoms, Causes, and When to Seek Medical Attention

by alexxlab

What causes hiccups and when are they a sign of a serious condition. How can you effectively get rid of hiccups. When should you seek medical attention for persistent hiccups.

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The Physiology of Hiccups: Understanding the Mechanism

Hiccups are a common physiological phenomenon that most people experience from time to time. But what exactly happens in our body when we hiccup? Hiccups occur when the diaphragm, the muscle separating the chest cavity from the abdomen, contracts involuntarily. This sudden contraction causes a quick intake of air, which is then abruptly stopped by the closure of the vocal cords, producing the characteristic “hic” sound.

The spasm originating from the diaphragm or the nerves controlling it is the root cause of hiccups. While they may seem to come from the chest, the underlying mechanism involves a complex interplay of muscles and nerves in the respiratory system.

The Role of the Vagus and Phrenic Nerves

Two key nerves play a crucial role in the hiccup mechanism:

  • The vagus nerve: Part of the autonomic nervous system, it helps regulate heart rate and breathing.
  • The phrenic nerve: Responsible for controlling the diaphragm’s movements.

Understanding the involvement of these nerves is essential when considering various methods to stop hiccups, as many techniques aim to stimulate or reset these neural pathways.

Common Triggers: What Causes Hiccups?

Hiccups can be triggered by various factors, ranging from everyday activities to more serious medical conditions. Identifying the cause can help in finding an effective solution or determining if medical attention is necessary.

Everyday Triggers

Some common causes of hiccups include:

  • Eating too quickly or consuming large portions
  • Experiencing sudden emotions like excitement, nervousness, or fear
  • Drinking carbonated beverages or excessive alcohol consumption
  • Experiencing stress
  • Exposure to sudden temperature changes
  • Swallowing air while chewing gum or eating candy
  • Irritation of the esophagus, often due to gastroesophageal reflux (GERD)

These triggers are generally harmless and result in short-lived hiccup episodes that resolve on their own or with simple remedies.

Medical Causes of Persistent Hiccups

While most hiccup episodes are benign, prolonged or recurrent hiccups can sometimes indicate underlying medical conditions. These may include:

  • Post-surgical irritation of the phrenic or vagus nerves
  • Cancers affecting the chest or neck region
  • Neurological disorders, including brain tumors or strokes
  • Cardiovascular diseases
  • Side effects of certain medications

In some cases, persistent hiccups may occur without an apparent cause, a condition known as idiopathic hiccups.

Effective Remedies: How to Get Rid of Hiccups

Are you tired of persistent hiccups disrupting your day? Numerous remedies claim to stop hiccups, but their effectiveness can vary from person to person. Here are some popular and scientifically-backed methods to try:

Breathing Techniques

  1. Hold your breath: This simple technique can help disrupt your breathing pattern and potentially stop the hiccups.
  2. Valsalva maneuver: Attempt to exhale while closing your mouth and pinching your nose shut. This action stimulates the vagus nerve, potentially interrupting the hiccup reflex.

Physical Interventions

  • Apply ice to the back of the neck or consume ice chips
  • Gently press on your closed eyes
  • Pull on your tongue

Dietary Remedies

Certain foods and eating methods may help alleviate hiccups:

  • Consume a spoonful of sugar to stimulate the back of the throat
  • Eat peanut butter from a spoon to relax the throat muscles
  • Suck on a lemon wedge

While these remedies are generally safe, it’s important to avoid potentially dangerous methods, such as scaring someone to stop their hiccups. The sudden fright could lead to accidents or exacerbate underlying health conditions.

When Hiccups Become a Concern: Recognizing Serious Symptoms

While most hiccup episodes are harmless and self-limiting, there are situations where they may indicate a more serious underlying condition. Recognizing these scenarios is crucial for seeking timely medical attention.

Duration as a Factor

Persistent hiccups that last for an extended period can be cause for concern. If your hiccups continue for more than 48 hours, it’s advisable to consult with your primary care provider. Prolonged hiccups can lead to:

  • Sleep disturbances
  • Difficulty eating or drinking
  • Emotional distress and fatigue

Your healthcare provider can help rule out underlying medical causes and may prescribe medications if traditional methods fail to stop the hiccups.

Accompanying Symptoms

More important than duration is the presence of additional symptoms that coincide with the onset of hiccups. Seek immediate medical attention if your hiccups are accompanied by:

  • Sudden numbness or coordination issues
  • Difficulty speaking or swallowing
  • Facial droop
  • Changes in speech
  • Vision changes, such as partial loss of vision
  • Weakness on one side of the body

These symptoms could indicate a stroke or other serious neurological conditions that require urgent evaluation and treatment.

The Link Between Hiccups and Gastrointestinal Issues

Hiccups and gastrointestinal problems often go hand in hand. Understanding this connection can help in managing both conditions effectively.

Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) and Hiccups

GERD is a common cause of persistent or recurrent hiccups. The reflux of stomach acid into the esophagus can irritate the phrenic nerve, triggering hiccups. Managing GERD through lifestyle changes and medication can often help reduce the frequency of hiccup episodes.

Other Gastrointestinal Triggers

Several other gastrointestinal factors can contribute to hiccups:

  • Overeating or eating too quickly
  • Consuming spicy or acidic foods
  • Swallowing air while eating or drinking
  • Gastroparesis (delayed stomach emptying)

Addressing these underlying issues can help in preventing recurrent hiccups and improving overall digestive health.

Hiccups in Special Populations: Pregnancy and Infants

Hiccups can affect people of all ages, but they present unique considerations in certain populations, particularly pregnant women and infants.

Hiccups During Pregnancy

Pregnant women may experience an increase in hiccup frequency due to:

  • Hormonal changes affecting the digestive system
  • Increased pressure on the diaphragm from the growing uterus
  • Higher incidence of acid reflux during pregnancy

While usually harmless, persistent hiccups during pregnancy should be discussed with a healthcare provider to rule out any underlying issues.

Infant Hiccups

Hiccups are common in newborns and infants, often occurring during or after feeding. They are generally not a cause for concern and usually resolve on their own. However, if hiccups are frequent and seem to cause distress to the baby, consult with a pediatrician.

Medical Treatments for Persistent Hiccups

When home remedies fail to provide relief from persistent hiccups, medical interventions may be necessary. Healthcare providers have several options at their disposal to treat chronic hiccups.

Pharmacological Interventions

Several medications can be prescribed to manage persistent hiccups:

  • Baclofen: A muscle relaxant that can help reduce diaphragm contractions
  • Chlorpromazine: An antipsychotic medication that can also suppress hiccups
  • Metoclopramide: Primarily used for nausea, but can also help with hiccups
  • Gabapentin: An anticonvulsant that may be effective in some cases

The choice of medication depends on the underlying cause of hiccups and the patient’s overall health status.

Surgical Options

In rare cases where hiccups are severe and unresponsive to other treatments, surgical interventions may be considered:

  • Phrenic nerve block: A procedure to temporarily or permanently block the nerve signals causing hiccups
  • Implantation of a vagus nerve stimulator: A device that sends electrical impulses to the vagus nerve to regulate its activity

These procedures are typically reserved for cases where hiccups significantly impact quality of life and all other treatment options have been exhausted.

The Psychological Impact of Chronic Hiccups

While occasional hiccups are a minor nuisance, chronic or recurrent hiccups can have a significant psychological impact on individuals. Understanding and addressing these effects is crucial for comprehensive patient care.

Emotional and Social Consequences

Persistent hiccups can lead to various psychological and social challenges:

  • Anxiety and stress about the unpredictability of hiccup episodes
  • Embarrassment in social situations
  • Disruption of daily activities and work performance
  • Sleep disturbances leading to fatigue and irritability
  • Social isolation due to fear of hiccupping in public

Coping Strategies

For individuals dealing with chronic hiccups, developing coping strategies is essential:

  • Seeking support from friends, family, or support groups
  • Practicing relaxation techniques to manage stress associated with hiccups
  • Working with a mental health professional to address anxiety or depression related to the condition
  • Educating others about the condition to increase understanding and reduce social stigma

Healthcare providers should consider the psychological aspects of chronic hiccups when developing treatment plans, potentially incorporating mental health support alongside physical interventions.

Hiccups in Medical Research: Current Studies and Future Directions

The seemingly simple phenomenon of hiccups continues to intrigue medical researchers. Ongoing studies aim to deepen our understanding of hiccups and develop more effective treatments.

Recent Advancements

Several areas of research are showing promise in the field of hiccup treatment:

  • Neurostimulation techniques: Non-invasive methods to stimulate the phrenic and vagus nerves
  • Pharmacological innovations: Development of new drugs targeting specific neural pathways involved in hiccups
  • Genetic studies: Investigating potential genetic predispositions to chronic hiccups

Future Research Directions

Looking ahead, researchers are focusing on several key areas:

  • Understanding the neurological mechanisms of hiccups at a deeper level
  • Developing more targeted and personalized treatment approaches
  • Exploring the potential links between hiccups and other neurological or gastrointestinal disorders
  • Investigating the long-term effects of chronic hiccups on overall health and quality of life

As research progresses, we can expect more effective and less invasive treatments for those suffering from persistent hiccups.

Hiccups Across Cultures: Myths, Beliefs, and Folklore

Hiccups have been a part of human experience throughout history, leading to a rich tapestry of cultural beliefs, myths, and remedies across different societies.

Cultural Interpretations

Various cultures have unique interpretations of what hiccups signify:

  • In some Western cultures, hiccups are thought to occur when someone is talking about you
  • Certain Asian cultures believe hiccups are a sign of growth in children
  • Some African traditions associate hiccups with spiritual messages or omens

Traditional Remedies

Different cultures have developed their own unique remedies for hiccups:

  • In India, eating a spoonful of sugar or drinking water from the opposite side of a glass is a common cure
  • Japanese folklore suggests pulling on one’s tongue to stop hiccups
  • In parts of Eastern Europe, biting into a lemon is believed to be effective

While many of these traditional remedies lack scientific backing, they often involve actions that may inadvertently stimulate the vagus nerve or disrupt breathing patterns, potentially explaining their perceived effectiveness.

Hiccups in Animals: A Comparative Perspective

Hiccups are not unique to humans; many animals also experience this phenomenon. Studying hiccups in animals can provide valuable insights into the evolutionary origins and physiological mechanisms of this common occurrence.

Mammalian Hiccups

Several mammals are known to experience hiccups, including:

  • Cats and dogs
  • Horses
  • Rats and mice
  • Non-human primates

The mechanism of hiccups in these animals is similar to that in humans, involving involuntary contractions of the diaphragm.

Evolutionary Perspective

Some researchers propose that hiccups may be an evolutionary remnant from our aquatic ancestors. This theory suggests that the hiccup reflex might have originated as a mechanism to prevent water from entering the lungs while breathing in a liquid environment.

Implications for Human Health

Studying hiccups in animals can provide valuable insights for human medicine:

  • Understanding the neurological pathways involved in hiccups across species
  • Developing animal models for testing new hiccup treatments
  • Exploring the potential adaptive functions of hiccups in different environments

As research in this area continues, it may lead to new perspectives on treating persistent hiccups in humans and a deeper understanding of this common physiological phenomenon.

When are hiccups serious? | Ohio State Medical Center


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Hiccups. They can be annoying or embarrassing, but we typically don’t think of them as concerning. They’re usually short-lived, although in rare cases, they can persist. When they last more than a of couple days, or if other symptoms occur at their onset, they can be a sign of a more serious medical condition.

What causes hiccups?

Hiccups seem to come from the chest–a quick influx of air that hits your vocal cords and causes a little sound. The spasm that causes a hiccup is really coming from your diaphragm or the nerves that control it. Some common causes include:

  • Eating too much or too fast
  • Feeling excited, nervous or scared
  • Drinking carbonated beverages or too much alcohol (sometimes in excess)
  • Stress
  • A sudden change in temperature
  • Swallowing air while chewing gum or sucking on candy
  • Irritation of the esophagus

Esophageal reflux is a common cause of hiccups. Prolonged hiccups, though, could be caused by direct post-surgical irritation of the phrenic or vagus nerves. Irritation can also be caused by cancers of the chest or neck. Rarely, hiccups can be associated with disorders of the brain–including tumors and strokes, among others—or cardiovascular disease. Some medications can trigger long-term hiccups, too.

Finally, hiccups can also persist without an apparent cause.

What really gets rid of hiccups?

Before we worry too much about serious conditions, let’s consider some of the many recommendations to get rid of your hiccups. One of the most common is temporarily holding your breath to disrupt your breathing pattern. It can be helpful, and it doesn’t carry much risk to try.

As mentioned, the vagus and phrenic nerves affect your diaphragm. They’re part of your autonomic nervous system, which controls your heart rate and breathing.

Maneuvers that affect the nerve reflex may knock out your hiccups. The Valsalva maneuver is performed by attempting to exhale while closing your mouth and pinching your nose shut at the same time. You’ll bear down a bit as well, trying to (unsuccessfully) expel air, as if blowing up a balloon.

This motion stimulates the vagus nerve, called a vagal nerve response, and it can interrupt the hiccups. I like to think of it as rebooting your nervous system; sort of a reset for the irritated nerves.

Ingesting ice or applying mild pressure to your closed eye might also reboot this nervous system response.

You also may get rid of hiccups with a spoonful of sugar to stimulate the back of your throat (which also might cause a vagal nerve response). Eating peanut butter from a spoon might relax the back of your throat and could help. Interestingly, some patients have had success getting rid of hiccups by eating a lemon wedge.

The one common recommendation to be cautioned against is the tradition of scaring someone to rid them of hiccups. While the gasp of fright may induce a vagal nerve response that interrupts the spasm, it also risks dangerous side effects: If you scare someone, they could lose their balance and fall, and being startled may also negatively impact an underlying heart condition.

When should you seek medical attention?

There are two scenarios that should send you for medical care. First, if hiccups persist more than a couple of days, you should seek care with your primary care provider. This is important especially if the hiccups are preventing you from sleeping. Your provider can rule out other medical causes and may prescribe medications if more traditional methods of stopping your hiccups aren’t working.

More important than the duration, though, is the onset of additional symptoms with the hiccups. You may need to seek emergency care if your hiccups are accompanied by symptoms such as the sudden onset of numbness or coordination issues. These could indicate a stroke, which is serious and needs immediate treatment. Other symptoms of stroke include the sudden onset of difficulty speaking or swallowing, facial droop, speech change, vision changes (losing part of your vision) or weakness on one side of your body.

Pay attention to your body. If the onset of hiccups includes any cardiovascular symptoms, go to an emergency department and get evaluated right away.

But if you’re not experiencing anything else, give it a couple of days. Transient hiccups are usually part of the normal spectrum of life.

 

J. Chad Hoyle is a neurologist specializing in neuromuscular disorders and electromyography at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.

Visit Ohio State Health & Discovery for more stories on health, wellness, innovation, research and science news from the experts at Ohio State.

Check out health.osu.edu


How to Make Them Stop and More

Hiccups are caused by the diaphragm involuntarily contracting. Some common causes for this contraction include drinking carbonated beverages, eating a large meal, swallowing too much air, or stress.

Hiccups are repetitive, uncontrollable contractions of the diaphragm, the muscle structure just below your lungs.

The diaphragm marks the boundary between your chest and abdomen, and it also regulates breathing. When your diaphragm contracts, your lungs take in oxygen. When your diaphragm relaxes, your lungs release carbon dioxide.

The diaphragm contracting out of rhythm is what causes hiccups. Each spasm of the diaphragm makes the larynx (voice box) and vocal cords close suddenly. This results in a sudden rush of air into the lungs. Your body reacts with a gasp or chirp, creating the sound characteristic of hiccups.

There’s no way to anticipate hiccups. With each spasm, there’s usually a slight tightening of the chest or throat prior to you making the distinctive hiccup sound.

Most cases of hiccups start and end abruptly, for no noticeable reason. Episodes generally last only a few minutes.

Did you know?

The medical term for hiccups is singultus.

Numerous causes of hiccups have been identified. However, there’s no definitive list of triggers. Hiccups often come and go for no apparent reason.

Common causes of short-term hiccups may include:

  • overeating
  • eating spicy food
  • consuming alcohol
  • drinking carbonated beverages, like sodas
  • consuming very hot or very cold foods
  • a sudden change in air temperature
  • aerophagia, which is swallowing too much air
  • swallowing air while chewing gum
  • excitement or emotional stress

There are several factors that can increase your likelihood of developing hiccups. You may be more susceptible if you:

  • are male
  • experience intense mental or emotional responses, ranging from anxiety to excitement
  • have had surgery, especially abdominal surgery
  • have received general anesthesia

Hiccups and your baby

Hiccups can occur at any age. They can even occur while a fetus is still in the womb.

Hiccups are also normal in newborns, are rarely bothersome for them, and don’t typically require home remedies or treatment.

Was this helpful?

Most hiccups aren’t an emergency or anything to worry about. However, a prolonged episode can be uncomfortable and disruptive to your daily life.

Contact a doctor if you have hiccups that last longer than 2 days. The doctor can determine the severity of your hiccups in relation to your overall health and other conditions.

There are numerous options for treating hiccups. Typically, a short-term case of hiccups will take care of itself. However, the discomfort may make waiting out hiccups unbearable if they last longer than a few minutes.

Home remedies

Not all of these have been proven to stop hiccups, but you can try the following potential treatments for hiccups at home:

  • Breathe into a paper bag.
  • Eat a teaspoon of granulated sugar.
  • Hold your breath.
  • Drink a glass of cold water.
  • Pull on your tongue.
  • Lift your uvula, which is the fleshy piece of tissue that’s suspended above the back of your throat, with a spoon.
  • Attempt to purposefully gasp or belch.
  • Bring your knees to your chest and maintain this position.
  • Try the Valsalva maneuver by shutting your mouth and nose and exhaling forcibly.
  • Relax and breathe in a slow, controlled manner.

Medications

Treating any underlying causes of your hiccups will usually make them go away.

If your hiccups last for a while and have no obvious cause, a doctor may recommend several anti-hiccup medications. The more commonly used medications include:

  • antipsychotic medications chlorpromazine and haloperidol
  • benzodiazepines, a class of tranquilizers
  • seizure medications, such as gabapentin (Neurontin)
  • diphenhydramine (Benadryl), an antihistamine
  • metoclopramide (Reglan), an anti-nausea drug
  • baclofen, a muscle relaxant
  • nifedipine (Procardia, Procardia XL), a blood pressure medication

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hasn’t approved any prescription medications for the treatment of hiccups. If a doctor recommends any of the prescription medications above, it’ll be an example of off-label drug use.

Off-label drug use

Off-label drug use means a drug that’s approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for one purpose is used for a different purpose that hasn’t yet been approved.

However, a doctor can still use the drug for that purpose. This is because the FDA regulates the testing and approval of drugs, but not how doctors use them to treat their patients. So your doctor can prescribe a medication however they think is best for your care.

Massage

A doctor may perform a carotid sinus massage to help stop long lasting hiccups. This involves rubbing the main carotid artery in the neck.

Invasive procedures

There are also more invasive options, which can be used to end extreme cases of hiccups. They include:

  • nasogastric intubation, which is the insertion of a tube through your nose into your stomach
  • gastric lavage (stomach pumping)
  • an anesthetic injection to block the phrenic nerve, which is located in the diaphragm
  • surgical implantation of a diaphragmatic pacemaker, a battery-powered device that stimulates your diaphragm and regulates breathing

Hiccups that last longer than 48 hours are considered persistent. Hiccups that last longer than 2 months are considered intractable, or difficult to manage.

These types of long-term hiccups are categorized by the type of irritant that caused the episode.

Nerve injury or irritation

The majority of persistent hiccups are caused by injury or irritation to either the vagus or phrenic nerve. The vagus and phrenic nerves control the movement of your diaphragm. These nerves may be affected by:

  • irritation of your eardrum, which may be caused by a foreign object
  • throat irritation or soreness
  • goiter
  • gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
  • an esophageal cyst or tumor

Central nervous system (CNS) damage

Other causes of hiccups may involve the central nervous system (CNS). The CNS consists of the brain and spinal cord. If the CNS is damaged, your body may lose the ability to control hiccups.

CNS damage that may lead to persistent hiccups includes:

  • stroke
  • multiple sclerosis (MS)
  • tumors
  • head trauma or brain injury
  • meningitis and encephalitis, which are infections that can cause swelling in the brain
  • hydrocephalus, or the accumulation of fluid on the brain
  • neurosyphilis and other brain infections

Other causes

Hiccups that last for longer periods can also be caused by:

  • misuse of alcohol
  • tobacco use
  • a reaction to anesthesia after surgery
  • certain classes of medications, including barbiturates, steroids, and tranquilizers
  • electrolyte imbalance
  • diabetes
  • kidney failure
  • arteriovenous malformation, a condition in which arteries and veins are tangled in the brain
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • cancer and chemotherapy treatments

Medical procedures

Sometimes, a medical procedure can accidentally cause you to develop long-term hiccups. These procedures are used to treat or diagnose other conditions and include:

  • use of catheters to access the heart muscle
  • placement of an esophageal stent to prop open the esophagus
  • bronchoscopy, in which a doctor uses a thin, lighted tube with a camera on the end to examine your lungs and airways
  • tracheostomy, or the creation of a surgical opening in the neck to allow breathing around an airway obstruction

Diagnosis

If the cause of your hiccups is unclear, a doctor may recommend tests. These can help detect any underlying disease or condition.

The following tests may be useful in determining the cause of persistent or intractable hiccups:

  • blood tests to identify signs of infection, diabetes, or kidney disease
  • liver function tests
  • imaging of the diaphragm with a chest X-ray, CT scan, or MRI
  • echocardiogram to assess heart function
  • endoscopy, in which a doctor uses a thin, lighted tube with a camera on the end to investigate your esophagus, windpipe, stomach, and intestine
  • bronchoscopy

A long-term episode of hiccups can be uncomfortable and even harmful to your health. If left untreated, prolonged hiccups can disturb your sleeping and eating patterns, leading to:

  • sleeplessness
  • exhaustion
  • malnutrition
  • weight loss
  • dehydration

There’s no proven method for preventing hiccups. However, if you experience hiccups frequently, you can try to reduce your exposure to known triggers.

Following this advice may also help reduce your susceptibility to hiccups:

  • Try not to overeat.
  • Avoid carbonated beverages.
  • Protect yourself from sudden temperature changes.
  • Don’t drink alcohol.
  • Remain calm, and try to avoid intense emotional or physical reactions.

Hiccups have a wide range of possible triggers, from drinking soda and eating certain foods to medication use and underlying conditions. A number of possible treatments are also available.

In rare instances, hiccups can last longer than 48 hours. If your hiccups last longer than 48 hours, don’t respond to treatment, or you aren’t sure what’s causing them, see a doctor for a diagnosis.

Also, see a doctor or seek emergency help if you’re having numbness and coordination issues alongside your persistent hiccups. These may be symptoms of a stroke.

Causes and Quick Remedies

Hiccups: Causes and Quick Remedies

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  • Hiccups: Causes and Quick Remedies

Hiccuping is an uncontrolled physiological reaction, in the development of which the phrenic nerve, vagus nerve, and centers of the brain are involved. During hiccups, the intercostal and diaphragmatic muscles tighten, as when inhaling, but the airways overlap, so there is a short breath hold. People hiccup with a characteristic sound, which is caused by the sharp closing of the vocal folds.

Why hiccups occur

Hiccups help to remove excess air from the stomach, so its periodic appearance is not considered a problem. It can occur with a hasty meal, talking while eating. Also, the symptom occurs during laughter, accompanied by a series of quick breaths and overflow of the stomach with air.

The second physiological reason for the appearance of hiccups is irritation of the fibers of the phrenic and vagus nerves, which triggers a specific reflex. The situation most often occurs when the stomach is overdistended with a large amount of food, when swallowing large pieces that hardly pass through the esophagus, after taking spicy, too hot or cold food. In some people, hiccups are provoked by hypothermia, stress, and drinking alcohol.

Long-term hiccups that occur frequently and without association with typical precipitating factors usually indicate a health problem. Possible causes of an unpleasant symptom:

● gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), diaphragmatic hernia and other diseases of the esophagus;

● diseases of the liver, pancreas, stomach and intestines;

● diseases of the chest organs – pleurisy, pneumonia, pericarditis, myocardial infarction;

● pathology of the nervous system: encephalitis, intracranial hypertension, traumatic brain injury, tumors of the posterior cranial fossa.

How to deal with hiccups

There are quite a few ways to quickly eliminate hiccups:

● breath holding for 20-30 s;

● a series of deep and slow breaths;

● drinking several sips of water;

● torso tilt forward;

● sucking on an ice cube;

● eating a piece of lemon or other product with a sharp taste;

● inhalation of ammonia;

● pulling the tongue forward for a few seconds.

These simple actions have one of two goals: to stimulate the vagus nerve to stop pathological impulses, or to increase the concentration of carbon dioxide in the blood, as a result of which the nervous regulation of the respiratory system normalizes. Usually a person needs to try several methods and choose the most suitable for himself.

Short-term hiccups pass without a trace and do not have a negative effect on the body, so it is not at all necessary to use the above methods. The person may simply wait a few minutes for the symptom to subside and then return to daily activities.

When to see a doctor

Hiccups that last for several hours and do not disappear after all the methods described in the previous section may be one of the first signs of an organic disease. In such a situation, patients are advised to visit a doctor in order to exclude or confirm the presence of a pathology, to start treatment on time.

The initial consultation is conducted by an ID-Clinic therapist who receives patients at the clinic and provides online consultations via video link. The doctor will analyze the symptoms, ask clarifying questions, refer you for an extended examination and consultation of highly specialized specialists, if necessary.

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