Why do i get frequent hiccups: Hiccups – Symptoms and causes

10.01.202120.07.2023 by alexxlab

Why Do I Keep Getting Hiccups? 7 Causes

Jump to

Main content
Search
Account

Insider logoThe word “Insider”.

ReviewsThe word Reviews
Account iconAn icon in the shape of a person’s head and shoulders. It often indicates a user profile.
Account iconAn icon in the shape of a person’s head and shoulders. It often indicates a user profile.

Why do I keep getting hiccups?
What is a hiccup?
1. Eating too much or too fast
2. Swallowing air
3. Acid reflux
4. Drinking too much alcohol
5. Pregnancy
6. Stress
7. Damage to your central nervous system
How to get rid of hiccups
When to see a doctor
Insider’s takeaway

Back to Top
A white circle with a black border surrounding a chevron pointing up. It
indicates ‘click here to go back to the top of the page.’

Reviews

Health

Save Article IconA bookmarkShare iconAn curved arrow pointing right.
Read in app

This article was medically reviewed by Jason R. McKnight, MD, MS, a family medicine physician and clinical assistant professor at Texas A&M College of Medicine.

Medically Reviewed

Reviewed By Check Mark IconA check mark. It indicates that the relevant content has been reviewed and verified by an expert

Our stories are reviewed by medical professionals to ensure you get the most accurate and useful information about your health and wellness. For more information, visit our medical review board.

Drinking alcohol can irritate the lining of your stomach, causing hiccups.

nicoletaionescu

Why do I keep getting hiccups?
What is a hiccup?
1. Eating too much or too fast
2. Swallowing air
3. Acid reflux
4. Drinking too much alcohol
5. Pregnancy
6. Stress
7. Damage to your central nervous system
How to get rid of hiccups
When to see a doctor
Insider’s takeaway

You may keep getting hiccups if you eat too much too fast or are under a lot of stress.
Drinking carbonated water, chewing gum, and smoking can all cause hiccups from swallowing air.
Chronic hiccups that don’t disappear after 48 hrs can be from a serious medical condition like diabetes.

Why do I keep getting hiccups?

Hiccups can be annoying, especially if you get them on a regular basis.

Most of the time, hiccups are caused by everyday behaviors, like eating too quickly or drinking alcohol, and they usually go away on their own within a few minutes to several hours.

But in some cases, hiccups can last a lot longer — more than two days — and may be a sign of an underlying issue like acid reflux or damage to your central nervous system, which may require medical treatment.

There is no certain method that can stop hiccups. In fact, the longest known and recorded bout of hiccups lasted 68 years. However, some over-the-counter or prescription medications may help if your hiccups persist for more than two days.

Here are seven reasons why you might get the hiccups, what you can do to stop hiccupping, and when it’s time to see a doctor about them.

What is a hiccup?

“Hiccups are caused by spasms of the muscles that control breathing,” says Troy Madsen, MD, a professor of emergency medicine at the University of Utah.

Specifically, your diaphragm, the large muscle at the base of your lungs, and the muscles in your chest can spasm suddenly. This is “similar to a muscle spasm you might feel in your calf muscle,” Madsen says.

When these muscles spasm, this leads you to breathe in rapidly and causes your throat to close off very briefly, leading to the “hic” sound of hiccups.

1. Eating too much or too fast

Eating too much or too quickly can cause your stomach to expand beyond its normal size.

As your stomach expands, it can press on or irritate your diaphragm, which sits at the top of your abdomen, Madsen says. This then leads to your diaphragm sharply spasming or contracting, triggering a hiccup.

“Chewing your food well prevents air from being trapped within the food particles, thus reducing the chance of hiccups,” says Subhankar Chakraborty, MD, PhD, a gastroenterologist at The Ohio State Wexner Medical Center.

If you have hiccups from overeating, you may need to wait until the food is digested until you feel better. But in the meantime, you can take a walk to help your stomach empty more quickly. Also, make sure not to lie down, as this can slow stomach emptying.

2. Swallowing air

Your stomach can also expand from swallowing air, which pushes on your diaphragm and triggers hiccups. This can happen in several different ways, including:

Chewing gum: Even if you don’t realize it, you may be swallowing air as you chew gum, especially if you open your mouth while chewing.
Carbonated drinks: Swallowing the carbon dioxide bubbles in drinks like soda and seltzer can fill your stomach with gas and trigger burping or hiccups.
Smoking: People who smoke constantly swallow air, which may cause hiccups.
Eating too fast: Eating quickly increases the amount of air that you swallow.

If you’ve swallowed too much air, burping may help release some of it, but you should also stop chewing gum, drinking soda, or smoking until the hiccups subside.

3. Acid reflux

Acid reflux is a condition that happens when stomach acid flows up into your throat or esophagus. Many things can trigger acid reflux including:

Eating spicy or fried food
Consuming alcohol or coffee
Eating late at night

Reflux can cause hiccups because “the esophagus passes next to the diaphragm, and the irritation in this area can lead to spasms of this large muscle,” Madsen says.

To stop a bout of reflux-related hiccups, it may help to take over the counter antacid medications like Tums or Pepcid.

4. Drinking too much alcohol

There are two main reasons that drinking alcohol can cause hiccups:

Alcohol is highly acidic and can irritate the lining of your stomach and esophagus, which can cause hiccups. It can also trigger acid reflux, which has a similar irritating effect, Chakraborty says.
Certain types of alcohol are carbonated, like beer and mixed drinks. Just like when you drink soda, the carbon dioxide expands your stomach and leads to hiccups, Madsen says.

Cutting down your drinking or avoiding carbonated drinks may help you avoid bouts of hiccups.

5. Pregnancy

A growing baby may put pressure on the diaphragm, which can trigger hiccups. Acid reflux is also a common side effect of pregnancy and known to trigger hiccups.

There’s not much you can do about a growing fetus but there are ways to manage heartburn-related hiccups during pregnancy like avoiding trigger foods, eating smaller more frequent meals, and neutralizing stomach acid with some milk or yogurt.

6. Stress

“It’s unclear exactly how stress causes hiccups,” Madsen says, but there are a couple of theories about how it happens.

Accidentally swallowing air. “When we’re stressed we often hyperventilate, and some of that air might make it into our stomach instead of into our lungs,” Madsen says. When this happens, your stomach expands, leading to hiccups.
Nervous system disruption. When you feel especially stressed or anxious, this can disturb the nerve pathways between your brain and your diaphragm, triggering hiccups.

If you’re hiccupping and feeling overwhelmed with stress, there are several relaxation methods you can try, such as breathing exercises and meditation.

7. Damage to your central nervous system

If your hiccups last an especially long time, this may be a sign of underlying damage or abnormality of your hiccup reflux, says Alison Kearney, MRCP, a palliative care doctor at Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital in Australia.

Long-term hiccups are rare and fall into two main categories:

Persistent hiccups, which last longer than 48 hours.
Intractable hiccups, which last for longer than one month.

Long-term hiccups may be a sign that you have damage to your brain or central nervous system, Kearney says. This is because you have several nerves that transmit information between your brain and upper abdomen, including your diaphragm.

“This means that there are parts of the brain which, if damaged by tumor or stroke, can induce hiccups,” Kearney says.

Your normal hiccup reflex can also be disrupted by nerve-damaging conditions like:

Traumatic brain injury
Multiple sclerosis
Meningitis
Diabetes
Encephalitis

How to get rid of hiccups

There’s no sure-fire way to get rid of hiccups and they generally resolve on their own. However, you can try various unproven home remedies such as drinking water quickly, holding your breath, or breathing into a paper bag.

“There are no large studies regarding the efficacy of home remedies, but they are generally harmless,” says Hanan Tanuos, MD, FAAP, director of pediatric primary care at the Rutgers New Jersey Medical School.

If your hiccups are a symptom of a serious condition, then curing the hiccups means treating whatever the underlying medical condition is, says Chakraborty.

If you have persistent or intractable hiccups, then it’s time to turn to medications like:

Metoclopramide: An over-the-counter medication for stomach and esophageal problems
Chlorpromazine: a prescription drug approved for hiccups

When to see a doctor

It’s best to see your health care provider for an evaluation if your hiccups last more than 48 hours straight, says Karen W. Lin, MD, professor at the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health in the Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.

According to Chakraborty, a variety of medical conditions may also cause long-term hiccups, which include:

Nervous system disorders such as stroke, brain trauma, or brain tumor
Digestive issues like hiatal hernia or intestinal ulcers
Respiratory disorders such as pneumonia, bronchitis, or asthma
Cardiovascular conditions like pericardial inflammation, aneurysm of the aorta, or myocardial ischemia
Medications like narcotics, sedatives, steroids, and chemotherapy medicines

Insider’s takeaway

“Hiccups can be caused by a number of things but rarely are something that requires a trip to the ER or to your doctor,” Madsen says.

In most cases, they’re caused by an everyday issue like eating too quickly, feeling anxious, or swallowing air, and hiccups generally go away on their own in a matter of minutes to hours.

“If hiccups last more than 48 hours, though, it would be worth talking with your doctor who may consider further testing or treatment for your hiccups,” says Madsen.

Erin Heger

Erin Heger is a freelance journalist located in the Kansas City area. She primarily covers stories related to healthcare policy, maternal mental health, parenting, and personal finance. Her work been featured in The Atlantic, Rewire.News, Refinery29, HuffPost, and more.

Treatment, causes, and how to cope

Hiccups lasting longer than 48 hours are defined as chronic hiccups.

Chronic hiccups are a rare medical occurrence that can interrupt daily life and cause health problems. Sleeping and eating adjustments are often needed to cope with the condition.

The cause is not always apparent, but chronic hiccups are often related to an underlying medical issue.

In this article, we look at what could cause chronic hiccups, along with steps that can be taken to treat them.

Share on PinterestChronic hiccups are hiccups that last more than 48 hours.

A hiccup is caused by an uncontrolled spasm of the diaphragm, followed by the vocal cords closing quickly and making a distinctive sound.

There is no clear cause of hiccups, but excitement, stress, or consuming specific food or drinks, such as fizzy soda, may trigger them.

Hiccups usually go away within a few minutes, but occasionally they may affect someone for hours. Hiccups lasting longer than 48 hours are classed as chronic and considered a serious medical condition.

In addition to being incredibly irritating, chronic hiccups often disrupt sleep and can make it difficult to eat or drink. They can sometimes have serious consequences, such as exhaustion, dehydration, and weight loss.

Although chronic hiccups have no clear cause, medication or a health condition could be to blame. While chronic hiccups are easy to diagnose, finding a possible underlying cause can take much longer and may not always be possible.

A hiccup is partly a spasm of the diaphragm, so conditions that irritate or inflame this part of the body, such as pneumonia or pleurisy, could be a factor in chronic hiccups.

The nerve that controls breathing may be damaged or irritated. Pressure could also have been placed on a nerve elsewhere in the body due to a change in the body, such as pregnancy or a tumor growing.

The part of the brain that controls unconscious actions, such as breathing, can stop working properly, perhaps after a stroke or head injury. Diseases affecting the central nervous system, such as multiple sclerosis, could have the same effect.

Chronic hiccuping may be a symptom of a gastrointestinal disease, which affects the stomach, gullet, large and small intestine, liver, gallbladder, and pancreas. Some examples include:

Crohn’s disease
stomach ulcers
hepatitis
appendicitis

There have been some reports of people developing chronic hiccups after undergoing brain surgery and gastrointestinal procedures, such as gastroscopy. These reports suggest that medical interventions on parts of the body associated with hiccups could trigger the condition.

Some medications are linked to chronic hiccups. These include drugs used in combination, such as chemotherapy and corticosteroids, which are used to treat some conditions, including severe allergies and skin diseases.

As chronic hiccups are rare, there has been limited research into effective treatment and care.

Medication is usually effective in treating chronic hiccups, but further investigation into the underlying cause is necessary to determine how to prevent the hiccups from returning.

The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved chlorpromazine to treat chronic hiccups. Tranquilizers, muscle relaxants, and sedatives can also be used to disrupt the spasm creating the hiccup.

Sometimes, medication may not work, and surgery on the nerve that controls diaphragm movement may be necessary.

Share on PinterestThe disruption to sleep caused by chronic hiccups may lead to exhaustion.

Chronic hiccups can have a serious impact on daily life. Living with the condition can be very stressful, causing anxiety and disrupting normal routines. As a result, trying to maintain good mental and physical health is essential.

Explaining the impact of the condition to colleagues, friends, and family, as well as seeking their support, can help someone cope with stress.

Chronic hiccups can make it difficult to sleep or cause someone to wake up during the night. This lack of sleep can result in a lack of energy during the day, causing exhaustion if the condition persists for a long time.

Getting plenty of rest and taking a nap during the day if possible can help prevent exhaustion. Regular exercise is important for a healthful lifestyle, but people should avoid activities that could be too tiring.

Hiccuping can make it difficult to eat and drink, which can result in a lack of energy, dehydration, malnutrition, or weight loss. It may be easier to eat smaller amounts of food throughout the day rather than eating larger meals at regular times.

Hot, spicy foods and fizzy drinks can make hiccups worse, so people should avoid them. Keeping a bottle of water on hand and drinking small amounts regularly throughout the day can help ensure a person stays hydrated.

People should also be aware of the possibility of choking on food or drink. Taking small mouthfuls and chewing food thoroughly before swallowing can help prevent this from happening.

Share on PinterestA nasty taste in the mouth or pain when swallowing may be a sign of gastroesophageal reflux.

If chronic hiccups last for a long time, they can affect overall health.

One study into chronic hiccups found that hiccups often occur when people are hospitalized and given a general anesthetic before surgery.

When this happens, there is worry that loss of sleep and difficulty eating, which the condition causes, could slow the recovery process.

Chronic hiccups can cause gastroesophageal reflux, where stomach acid leaks up into the food pipe. This can lead to the following symptoms:

heartburn
an unpleasant taste in the mouth
pain when swallowing
bloating
feeling sick
bad breath

Medications for gastroesophageal reflux include antacids, a type of over-the-counter medication that helps to reduce the amount of stomach acid produced. Stronger prescription medications, such as proton pump inhibitors (PPI), are also available.

Using an extra pillow to raise the head in bed and avoiding food and drinks that trigger heartburn may also help.

Chronic hiccups are unpleasant and can have a significant impact on a person’s quality of life.

It is crucial to get plenty of rest, eat and drink small amounts regularly and be aware of possible complications to help cope with the condition. Fortunately, medication is usually effective in treating chronic hiccups.

It can be difficult to determine the underlying cause of the condition. Doctors should perform a range of physical examinations and tests to diagnose any health condition that could be responsible for chronic hiccups to prevent them from happening again.

Read this article in Spanish.

What does hiccup mean: why does a person hiccup

Published:

January 24, 2023, 16:40

nur.kz/esoterics/signs/1869017-ikota-primeta-k-cemu-celovek-ikaet/”>

Man covering his mouth with both hands: Freepik

Many consider hiccups to be a sign that someone is thinking about the person hiccuping at the moment. Is this so and how to interpret the phenomenon depending on when the hiccups occurred? Candidate of Medical Sciences Vladimir Vasilenko, preacher Shamil Alyautdinov and medical specialist Emilia N. Moretto shared their opinion on this matter.

Causes and signs why a person hiccups

Hiccups cause discomfort to people. The causes and signs associated with intermittent spasm allow us to better understand its nature and essence.

Why does a person hiccup? This is due to involuntary jerky contractions of the diaphragm and intercostal muscles caused by hypothermia, overeating, excess alcohol in the blood, irritation of the vagus and phrenic nerve, tumor formation in the abdominal cavity, damage to the central nervous system, ENT organs, gastrointestinal tract and metabolic functions.

The mechanism of hiccups is simple: there is a short inhalation without exhalation, which is accompanied by a short suffocation and a strangled sound associated with a sharp closure of the glottis. Candidate of Medical Sciences Vladimir Vasilenko believes that the cause of hiccups is the hasty swallowing of food along with air.

What does hiccups mean? In medicine, it means a violation of the function of external respiration and the removal of air from the stomach, and among the people this phenomenon has become a sign that a hiccuping person has become the subject of discussion, memories, passion or hostility of a person, a group of people.

The Poles believe that hiccups attack when the offended person remembers, while the Irish prefer to romanticize hiccups, calling them the dreams of a secret lover. Here are the most famous signs of a hiccuping person:

Sudden hiccups are a sign of envy.
Someone’s sympathy causes slight hiccups.
Short-term hiccups portend a good harvest and favorable weather.

In many religions, the meaning of hiccups is associated with people’s thoughts. What does hiccups mean in Islam? Preacher Shamil Alyautdinov notes that in Islam, hiccups do not pose any harm, both for everyday life and for performing religious rituals (prayer). The sacrament of prayer is considered perfect, even if the praying hiccups in the process, since his intentions were pure and innocent.

Many people believe that hiccups speak of a person’s defenselessness against evil spirits. What should I say to get rid of the hiccups? It is necessary to list the names of all close people who are ready to successfully fight for the soul of a hiccup attacked by demons. On one of the names, the hiccups should end.

If this does not happen, then the popular saying comes into play: “Hiccups, hiccups, go to Fedot, from Fedot to Yakov, from Yakov to everyone, and from everyone, and from Fedot, and from Yakov go hiccups, to your swamps. Bow down to the mud in the deep quagmire.”

The girl says the saying: Freepik

Chronological signs associated with hiccups

Emilia N. Moretto believes that prolonged hiccups are extremely rare. Among the people, any hiccups are given special importance, even considering the day on which the spasm began.

What does hiccups mean by day of the week

Hiccups on a certain day, indicates important events or experiences that cover a person:

On Monday they hiccup if someone remembers a person.
Hiccups on Tuesday are associated with longing for a loved one.
On Wednesday, diaphragmatic spasm is associated with important news and a serious conversation.
On Thursday, hiccups are a sign that a long-awaited and important meeting is approaching.
Why hiccups on Friday? She portends disagreements with a loved one.
Saturday hiccups – an attack of jealousy and a conflict with a partner.
Sunday hiccups are a harbinger of happy and joyful events.

To prevent hiccups from getting worse and making you vulnerable to negative energy, cover your mouth with your hand while hiccupping.

What does hiccups mean at different times of the day

To interpret hiccups as signs, not only the day of the week is important, but also the time of its occurrence:

Hiccups in the early morning warn that a person’s heart is not free. He feels passion and boundless love for someone, and this feeling is mutual. Also expect gifts or a pleasant pastime in the company of friends. If you don’t experience this and didn’t plan to, beware of betrayal.
Daytime hiccups portends a pleasant meeting with a benevolent person. If a girl had a hearty lunch and hiccups attacked her, such a sign is a harbinger of the fulfillment of a cherished dream.

Girl with a pillow and a cup in her hand: Freepik

Evening hiccups portend conflicts and disputes. Financial expenses and large purchases made on emotions are likely.
Hiccups at night warns of the appearance of unexpected guests on the doorstep, the risk of parting with a loved one and a permanent partner. Nighttime hiccups can predict that a secret admirer has appeared who dreams of meeting a hiccup.

If we take into account the interpretation of the cause of hiccups by time and day of the week, the description of the sign will be more accurate. Use them to respond in time to a warning or take advantage of a lucky break.

Hiccups are not only a physiological symptom, but also an important sign that should not be ignored. Having studied its causes and interpretations according to signs, use the tips based on centuries of experience and folk wisdom so as not to miss an important moment in life.

Original article: https://www.nur.kz/esoterics/signs/1869017-ikota-primeta-k-cemu-celovek-ikaet/

Hiccups in adults and children. How to stop hiccups – clinic “Dobrobut”

Main

Medical Library Dobrobut

Publication date: 2020-02-17

Causes of hiccups in adults and children, how to get rid of

Hiccups in children and adults are often perceived as normal. But you need to know that in some cases it can be a sign of serious pathological problems. With constant and prolonged hiccups, a doctor’s consultation is necessary. A pediatrician will help to understand the causes of this problem in a child. Adults are advised to consult a neurologist.

Causes of hiccups

If the problem has affected the child and worries regularly, then you need to exclude pathologies and only after that look for the cause. Perhaps the baby just overate, but hiccups in newborns may be due to an imperfect connection between the diaphragm and the brain, or swallowing air during feeding. The problem can also begin with hypothermia, so babies need to be dressed slightly warmer than an adult.

Hiccups in adults may occur due to:

overeating;
intake of carbonated drinks;
hysterics and sobs;
fits of laughter.

Often, hiccups also occur during pregnancy due to increased intra-abdominal pressure. In addition, the condition under consideration can occur as a manifestation of stress, drug poisoning, excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages.

No matter what causes hiccups, you need to know how to quickly stop an attack of convulsive contraction of the muscles of the diaphragm – this is how this problem is classified in medicine.

How to get rid of hiccups

Hiccups in a small child are not harmful to health, but you need to make every effort to ensure that the attack ends. In no case should you scare the baby – the grandmother’s way of quickly getting rid of hiccups can provoke disorders of the nervous system, since it is not yet fully formed. Boiled water will be the best solution – just a few sips and after 10-30 seconds the diaphragm will stop convulsively contracting.

How to get rid of hiccups in adults and older children:

suck and chew/swallow a slice of lemon slowly;
Sip slowly a glass of water at room temperature;
Eat 1-2 teaspoons of sugar with water (better – dissolve 2 pieces of refined sugar).

How to quickly get rid of hiccups: take a deep breath, opening your mouth wide. Hold your breath with your mouth open for a few seconds. Usually the attack stops immediately, but the reception can be repeated several times. If the problem is triggered by hypothermia, dress warmly, drink hot tea or cover yourself with a blanket.

What to do about hiccups that occur frequently and are characterized by a prolonged attack? There are specific drugs:

Cisapride – taken 1 tablet before meals and 1 tablet at night;
Baclofen – an average of 10 mg 3 times a day;
Chlorpromazine – 25 mg intramuscularly 4 times a day.

Such appointments are made by a doctor, since self-administration of medicines is fraught with undesirable consequences, severe side effects.

You can find out how to stop hiccups on your own and what will help your child at an appointment with a neurologist or pediatrician. And you can sign up for a consultation with specialists on our website dobrobut.com

Do you want to get an online explanation from the doctor of the Dobrobut MS?

Download our Google Play App and App Store

Our Doctors

See all doctors 788

Our certificates

Certificate No. QIZ 804 468 C1

Certificate No. QIZ 804 469 C1

Certificate No. QIZ 804 470 C1

Certificate no. QIZ 804 471 C1

View all certificates

Request a call back

Enter your phone number