What causes hiccups. How can you stop hiccups quickly. Are hiccups ever a sign of a serious medical condition. What are some surprising facts about hiccups that most people don’t know. How do hiccups affect different species.

The Science Behind Hiccups: Understanding the Involuntary Reflex

Hiccups are sudden, involuntary contractions of the diaphragm muscle, followed by a quick closure of the vocal cords. This process creates the characteristic “hic” sound we all know. But why do hiccups occur in the first place?

The primary cause of hiccups is irritation of the phrenic and vagus nerves, which extend from the neck to the chest. This irritation can be triggered by various factors, including:

• Eating too quickly
• Swallowing air while eating or drinking
• Consuming carbonated beverages
• Smoking
• Sudden temperature changes
• Stress or excitement

Interestingly, hiccups may serve an evolutionary purpose. Some researchers theorize that hiccups are a remnant of our amphibious ancestors’ gill-breathing mechanism. This could explain why fetuses and newborns hiccup more frequently than adults.

Common Triggers: What Causes Those Pesky Hiccups?

While the exact mechanism of hiccups isn’t fully understood, several common triggers have been identified. Are you prone to hiccups after certain activities or in specific situations? Consider these potential culprits:

Dietary Factors

Many hiccup episodes are related to eating and drinking habits:

• Consuming large meals, especially those high in fatty foods
• Eating too quickly, which can lead to swallowing excess air
• Drinking carbonated beverages
• Consuming very hot or very cold foods and drinks in rapid succession
• Alcoholic beverages, particularly when consumed quickly

Lifestyle and Environmental Triggers

Beyond dietary factors, certain lifestyle choices and environmental conditions can contribute to hiccups:

• Smoking or chewing gum, which can increase air swallowing
• Sudden changes in temperature
• Exposure to noxious fumes
• Intense emotional states, such as excitement or anxiety

Do hiccups run in families? While there’s no strong evidence for a genetic predisposition to hiccups, some individuals may be more susceptible due to factors like esophageal sensitivity or diaphragm muscle tone.

Effective Remedies: How to Stop Hiccups in Their Tracks

When hiccups strike, you want relief fast. While there’s no guaranteed cure, several methods have shown promise in stopping hiccups quickly. Here are some techniques you can try:

Breathing Techniques

• Hold your breath for 10-15 seconds, then exhale slowly
• Breathe into a paper bag (never place it over your head)
• Practice slow, deep breathing exercises

Physical Interventions

• Pull your knees up to your chest and lean forward
• Gently press on your eyeballs for a few seconds (be careful not to apply too much pressure)
• Stick out your tongue

Dietary Remedies

• Sip ice-cold water slowly
• Swallow a teaspoon of granulated sugar
• Bite on a lemon or taste vinegar
• Eat a spoonful of peanut butter

Can you stop hiccups by holding your breath? This method often works by increasing carbon dioxide levels in the blood, which can help relax the diaphragm. However, it’s important not to hold your breath for too long, as this can be dangerous.

When Hiccups Persist: Understanding Chronic Hiccups

While most hiccup episodes are brief and harmless, persistent hiccups can be a sign of an underlying medical condition. But when should you be concerned about your hiccups?

Chronic hiccups are defined as episodes lasting longer than 48 hours. If you experience hiccups that persist for more than three hours or interfere with eating, sleeping, or daily activities, it’s time to consult a healthcare professional.

Persistent hiccups may be associated with various medical conditions, including:

• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• Brain tumors or infections affecting the brain stem
• Strokes
• Kidney failure
• Certain medications

In rare cases, chronic hiccups can lead to complications such as weight loss, exhaustion, and depression. Early intervention is key to managing these cases effectively.

Hiccups Across Species: Not Just a Human Phenomenon

Humans aren’t the only creatures that experience hiccups. Many mammals, including cats, dogs, and even horses, can get hiccups. But why do animals hiccup, and how does it affect them?

In animals, hiccups serve similar purposes as in humans. They may help remove air from the stomach or stimulate the development of breathing muscles in young animals. Some interesting facts about animal hiccups include:

• Horses can experience hiccups, but they’re often silent due to their anatomy
• Cats may hiccup after eating too quickly or swallowing hairballs
• Some fish species exhibit a hiccup-like behavior called “gulping”

Do all mammals hiccup? While most mammals can experience hiccups, not all do. Some species, like mice, rarely hiccup due to their unique diaphragm structure.

The Longest Hiccup Record: A Tale of Endurance

While most hiccup episodes are short-lived, some individuals have endured extraordinarily long bouts of hiccups. The Guinness World Record for the longest attack of hiccups belongs to Charles Osborne, an American man who hiccupped continuously for 68 years, from 1922 to 1990.

Osborne’s case began when he was attempting to weigh a hog before slaughter. He fell and ruptured a small blood vessel in his brain, which is believed to have affected the part controlling the hiccup reflex. Despite this incredible duration, Osborne led a relatively normal life, getting married twice and fathering eight children.

While Osborne’s case is extreme, it highlights the potential impact of chronic hiccups on daily life. Some interesting facts about long-term hiccups include:

• They can occur up to 60 times per minute
• Chronic hiccups can lead to sleep disturbances and weight loss
• In severe cases, they may require medical intervention or even surgical procedures

How do doctors treat chronic hiccups? Treatment options may include medications to relax the diaphragm, nerve stimulation techniques, or in rare cases, surgical intervention to disable the phrenic nerve.

Hiccups in Popular Culture: From Superstitions to Remedies

Hiccups have fascinated humans for centuries, leading to a wealth of cultural beliefs, superstitions, and folk remedies. These vary widely across different societies and can provide interesting insights into cultural attitudes towards this common phenomenon.

Superstitions and Beliefs

In many cultures, hiccups are associated with various superstitions:

• In some parts of the United States, it’s believed that hiccups mean someone is thinking about you
• In Japan, hiccups are sometimes thought to indicate that someone is gossiping about you
• Some Latin American cultures believe that unexpected hiccups are a sign of good luck

Folk Remedies

Traditional remedies for hiccups often involve surprising or startling the person affected:

• In ancient Greece, Plato suggested that sneezing could cure hiccups
• Some cultures advocate pulling on the tongue or pressing on specific pressure points
• In parts of Eastern Europe, a common remedy involves someone else covering the hiccuping person’s ears while they drink water

While many of these remedies lack scientific backing, they demonstrate the universal human desire to find quick solutions to this annoying phenomenon.

The Future of Hiccup Research: Promising Developments

As our understanding of the human body grows, so does our knowledge about hiccups. Recent research has shed new light on the mechanisms behind hiccups and potential treatments for chronic cases. What groundbreaking discoveries are on the horizon for hiccup research?

Neurological Insights

Scientists are delving deeper into the neurological basis of hiccups:

• Studies using functional MRI are mapping the brain regions involved in the hiccup reflex
• Researchers are exploring the connection between hiccups and the development of the nervous system in fetuses
• New theories suggest that hiccups may play a role in coordinating breathing and swallowing reflexes in infants

Innovative Treatments

For those suffering from chronic hiccups, new treatment options are being developed:

• Electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve shows promise in stopping persistent hiccups
• Researchers are investigating the potential of certain medications to modulate neurotransmitters involved in the hiccup reflex
• Non-invasive techniques, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation, are being explored as potential treatments

As research progresses, we may soon have more effective ways to prevent and treat hiccups, improving quality of life for those affected by chronic cases.

In conclusion, hiccups remain a fascinating and sometimes perplexing aspect of human physiology. From their evolutionary origins to their cultural significance, hiccups continue to intrigue scientists and laypeople alike. As we’ve explored, these involuntary contractions can be triggered by a wide range of factors, from dietary habits to neurological conditions. While most hiccup episodes are brief and harmless, chronic cases can significantly impact quality of life and may require medical intervention.

The variety of remedies and cultural beliefs surrounding hiccups highlight our enduring fascination with this common yet mysterious phenomenon. As research continues to uncover the underlying mechanisms of hiccups, we may soon develop more effective treatments and prevention strategies. Whether you’re dealing with an occasional bout of hiccups or a more persistent case, understanding the science behind this reflex can help you manage it more effectively.

Remember, while hiccups are usually benign, prolonged or severe cases should be evaluated by a healthcare professional. By staying informed about the latest research and treatment options, we can continue to demystify this quirky aspect of human biology and improve our ability to manage hiccups effectively.

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!

Share this blog

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 • Why do people get hiccups while smoking?

Articles
Health and smoking

20.09.2016

63803

Not often, but still there is a paradoxical (is it paradoxical?) reaction to smoking – hiccups. It can occur both at the moment of tightening, and during and after smoking. Many are afraid of this phenomenon, someone even begins to think about not so good health – and not in vain. Why does hiccups occur when smoking, is there any prevention, how to stop an unpleasant phenomenon?

What is hiccups?

Hiccups are a physiological reaction on the part of the respiratory organs and the diaphragm in response to some unfavorable factors. It always arises involuntarily, it practically does not lend itself to volitional regulation. The reason is the use of a large amount of food, especially dry food, drinking alcohol and smoking (intoxication hiccups), hypothermia, mental reactions.

There is also pathological hiccups, as a rule, it develops against the background of some serious diseases of the central nervous system, including infectious (encephalitis, meningitis), pathologies of an organic nature (disturbances or underdevelopment of the development of the central nervous system), tumor processes.

Often, pathological hiccups accompany diseases of the gastrointestinal tract (irritable stomach syndrome, reflux esophagitis, pancreatitis, biliary dyskinesia, helminthic infestations, and others).

The mechanism of hiccups is as follows: air entering the stomach overstretches its walls, causing pathological impulses in the phrenic and vagus nerves. Getting to the “hiccup center” of the spinal cord, the impulses, in turn, cause a chaotic contraction of the diaphragm.

A typical sound is formed due to simultaneous contraction of the muscles of the larynx with the push of the hiccups, incomplete closure of the glottis. Air literally squeezes through the vocal cords, causing a thin and abrupt sound familiar to many.

Hiccups when smoking

This hiccups refers to non-physiological conditions, it occurs due to intoxication (that is, irritation of the nerves by the combustion products of a cigarette and nicotine), and also – in more rare cases – when a large amount of air enters the stomach while smoking and using food, drink, conversation.

This is called toxic hiccups, and it can also occur during general anesthesia, with agony, severe infection with general intoxication.

The pathogenesis of toxic hiccups is similar to that of ordinary hiccups, but it may indicate that the body does not tolerate the ingestion of a toxic substance.

Hiccups after smoking

The same causes – air, intoxication – lead to hiccups that occur after a time after smoking a cigarette. It’s also toxic hiccups – most of the time. However, the regularity of its occurrence can be considered a symptom, and it is recommended to undergo a full examination by narrow specialists: a gastroenterologist, an endocrinologist, a neuropathologist, a pulmonologist.

How to deal with hiccups

Usually, hiccups go away on their own or after simple manipulations – a few deep breathing movements, maximum breath holding, drinking a small amount of water. Breathing into the bag also helps: carbon dioxide released during breathing reduces irritation of the vagus nerve.

From folk remedies, decoctions or infusions of soothing herbs – valerian, peony, motherwort, hop cones – have proven themselves well. It is enough to take half a glass of decoction and hiccups recede.

However, persistent hiccups require medical intervention, selection of drug therapy and, of course, simultaneous treatment of the disease that caused pathological hiccups. It can be muscle relaxants (for example, with hiccups on the background of anesthesia) and blockers of dopamine and serotonin receptors (metoclopramide).

And, finally, toxic hiccups that occur during smoking will definitely recede if you stop smoking. And it will be useful not only for hiccups.

Then go through a smoking cessation plan.

It will make quitting much easier.

Why does it appear? How to get rid? Tips

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

At first glance hiccups seems funny , but if she 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?

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What causes 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.

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

Usually hiccups accompany smokers with a long history of using tobacco products.

In some cases, the cause is a large difference in temperature. Sufficiently hot tobacco smoke, getting into the lungs, causes irritation, provoking contraction of the diaphragm and causing severe coughing. 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.

To receive an individual reason , 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.

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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 .

This reaction of the body is caused by the following reasons:

1. Expansion of the walls of the stomach with air, which can only be removed from the body by contraction of the diaphragm;
2. Effects of chemicals 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 a time, then the cause of hiccups can be considered intoxication of the body.

Persistent and prolonged hiccups after cigarettes can be a sign of pneumonia.

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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;
• an allergic reaction to a filler or liquid for smoking;
• 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.

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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.

Medicines


The use of pills and other drugs is a last resort in the treatment of hiccups from smoking. Usually, funds are prescribed by a doctor when hiccups are identified as a symptom of another disease , therefore, treatment must be carried out very carefully.

The main drugs include:

• Phenytoin;
• Diazepam;
• Chlorpromazine;
• Metoclopromide.

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

Before use, consult with your doctor.

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 accumulated over the years, so the following ways to deal with hiccups from tobacco 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 you can 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.

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Doctors’ advice


Doctors do not remain indifferent and therefore make their own recommendations.

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

1. It is advisable to avoid smoking outdoors during cold weather ;
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.