What causes hiccups. How long do hiccups typically last. When should you be concerned about hiccups. What are some effective home remedies for hiccups. Can hiccups be a sign of an underlying medical condition. How are chronic hiccups treated medically. Are there ways to prevent hiccups.

Understanding Hiccups: More Than Just an Annoyance

Hiccups are a common physiological phenomenon that most people experience from time to time. But what exactly are hiccups, and why do they occur? Hiccups, medically known as singultus, are involuntary contractions of the diaphragm followed by a sudden closure of the vocal cords. This rapid sequence produces the characteristic “hic” sound we associate with hiccups.

The diaphragm, a dome-shaped muscle located at the base of the lungs, plays a crucial role in breathing. When it contracts, it creates negative pressure in the chest cavity, allowing air to flow into the lungs. In the case of hiccups, this process becomes disrupted, leading to the familiar spasms and sounds.

The Anatomy of a Hiccup

To better understand hiccups, let’s break down the anatomical process:

1. The diaphragm suddenly contracts involuntarily.
2. This contraction causes a rapid inhalation of air.
3. The sudden inrush of air triggers the closure of the vocal cords.
4. The closure of the vocal cords produces the distinctive “hic” sound.

This cycle can repeat several times per minute, lasting anywhere from a few minutes to several hours in some cases.

Common Triggers: Why Do Hiccups Occur?

Hiccups can be triggered by various factors, many of which are related to everyday activities or conditions. While the exact mechanism isn’t always clear, certain stimuli are known to increase the likelihood of hiccups occurring.

Dietary and Lifestyle Triggers

• Eating too quickly or overeating
• Consuming spicy foods
• Drinking carbonated beverages
• Swallowing air while chewing gum or smoking
• Consuming alcohol, particularly in large quantities

Physical and Emotional Factors

• Sudden changes in temperature
• Stress or excitement
• Laughing excessively
• Medical procedures that involve the abdomen or chest

Do certain medical conditions increase the risk of hiccups? Yes, some underlying health issues can make hiccups more likely or persistent. These include gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), tumors affecting the brain or diaphragm, and certain neurological disorders.

Duration Matters: When Should You Be Concerned?

Most cases of hiccups are benign and resolve on their own within a few minutes to a few hours. However, the duration of hiccups can sometimes indicate a more serious underlying issue.

Types of Hiccups Based on Duration

1. Acute hiccups: Lasting less than 48 hours
2. Persistent hiccups: Lasting more than 48 hours but less than 1 month
3. Intractable hiccups: Lasting more than 1 month

When should you seek medical attention for hiccups? If your hiccups persist for more than 48 hours or interfere with eating, sleeping, or breathing, it’s advisable to consult a healthcare professional. Prolonged hiccups can be a sign of an underlying medical condition that requires treatment.

Home Remedies: Effective Ways to Stop Hiccups

While hiccups often resolve on their own, there are several home remedies that people swear by to help stop them more quickly. These methods typically work by either interrupting the hiccup reflex or stimulating the vagus nerve, which is involved in the hiccup mechanism.

Popular Home Remedies for Hiccups

• Hold your breath for 10-15 seconds
• Drink a glass of water quickly
• Swallow a teaspoon of granulated sugar
• Bite into a lemon wedge
• Gargle with ice-cold water
• Pull your knees to your chest and lean forward
• Breathe into a paper bag for a short time

Are these home remedies scientifically proven? While many of these methods lack rigorous scientific backing, they are generally safe to try and may provide relief for some individuals. The effectiveness often varies from person to person.

Medical Interventions: Treating Persistent Hiccups

When hiccups persist beyond a few days or recur frequently, medical intervention may be necessary. Doctors will first try to identify any underlying causes that could be triggering the hiccups.

Diagnostic Approaches

• Physical examination
• Blood tests to check for infections or metabolic imbalances
• Imaging studies such as chest X-rays or CT scans
• Endoscopy to examine the esophagus and stomach

Treatment Options for Chronic Hiccups

How are persistent hiccups treated medically? Treatment options may include:

1. Medications:
   • Baclofen or gabapentin to relax the diaphragm
   • Chlorpromazine or haloperidol to block dopamine receptors
   • Proton pump inhibitors if GERD is suspected
2. Nerve blocks:
   • Phrenic nerve block to temporarily paralyze the diaphragm
   • Vagus nerve stimulation
3. Surgical interventions (in rare, severe cases):
   • Implantation of a diaphragm pacemaker
   • Cutting of the phrenic nerve

It’s important to note that these treatments are typically reserved for cases where hiccups significantly impact quality of life or are symptomatic of a more serious condition.

Prevention Strategies: Minimizing Hiccup Occurrences

While it’s not always possible to prevent hiccups, there are several strategies that may help reduce their frequency or severity.

Lifestyle Modifications

• Eat and drink slowly, taking smaller bites and sips
• Avoid carbonated beverages and excessive alcohol consumption
• Manage stress through relaxation techniques or mindfulness practices
• Maintain good posture to reduce pressure on the diaphragm
• If you smoke, consider quitting or reducing your intake

Can dietary changes help prevent hiccups? For some individuals, identifying and avoiding personal trigger foods or beverages can significantly reduce hiccup occurrences. Keeping a food diary may help pinpoint these triggers.

The Science Behind Hiccups: Current Research and Theories

Despite being a common phenomenon, the exact physiological purpose of hiccups remains a subject of scientific debate. Some researchers propose that hiccups may be a evolutionary remnant from our amphibious ancestors, while others suggest they may play a role in fetal development.

Evolutionary Perspectives

One intriguing theory suggests that hiccups may be an evolutionary remnant from our distant amphibious ancestors. The sequence of muscle contractions in a hiccup is similar to the motor pattern used by amphibians to push water across their gills while simultaneously closing the glottis to prevent water from entering the lungs. This theory posits that the hiccup reflex may have been preserved through evolution, even though it no longer serves its original purpose in humans.

Developmental Theories

Another hypothesis proposes that hiccups may play a role in fetal and infant development. The rhythmic contractions of hiccups could help strengthen and coordinate the muscles involved in breathing and swallowing. This theory is supported by the observation that fetuses and newborns hiccup much more frequently than adults.

What are the latest research findings on hiccups? Recent studies have focused on the neural pathways involved in the hiccup reflex, aiming to develop more targeted treatments for chronic cases. Researchers are also exploring the potential links between hiccups and various neurological conditions, hoping to gain insights into both hiccup mechanisms and broader neurological processes.

Hiccups Across the Lifespan: From Infancy to Old Age

Hiccups can occur at any age, but their frequency and significance can vary throughout different life stages.

Hiccups in Infants and Children

Hiccups are particularly common in newborns and infants. In fact, hiccups can be observed in fetuses as early as 21-22 weeks of gestation. For most babies, hiccups are harmless and don’t cause discomfort. They often occur during or after feeding and may help release excess air from the stomach.

How should parents handle infant hiccups? Generally, no intervention is necessary. However, if hiccups seem to be causing distress or interfering with feeding, parents can try:

• Burping the baby more frequently during feeds
• Ensuring a proper latch during breastfeeding
• Using slow-flow nipples for bottle-fed babies

Hiccups in Adults and the Elderly

While less frequent than in infants, hiccups in adults can be more bothersome and, in rare cases, indicative of underlying health issues. As people age, they may become more susceptible to certain conditions that can trigger hiccups, such as GERD or medication side effects.

Do hiccups pose any special risks for older adults? While generally harmless, persistent hiccups in older adults can lead to:

• Disrupted sleep patterns
• Difficulty eating or drinking
• Increased risk of aspiration in those with swallowing difficulties

For these reasons, it’s important for older adults experiencing frequent or prolonged hiccups to consult with their healthcare provider.

Cultural Perspectives on Hiccups: Myths and Folklore

Hiccups have been a part of human experience for millennia, and as such, have accumulated a rich tapestry of cultural beliefs, superstitions, and folk remedies.

Global Hiccup Superstitions

Different cultures around the world have unique beliefs about the causes and meanings of hiccups:

• In some Latin American countries, hiccups are thought to occur when someone is thinking or speaking about you.
• In Japan, some believe that hiccups mean someone is gossiping about you.
• In certain parts of India, hiccups are considered a sign that a loved one is missing you.

Traditional Remedies from Around the World

Just as varied as the beliefs about hiccups are the traditional remedies proposed to cure them:

• In Russia, some people recommend biting on a pencil while drinking water.
• In parts of Eastern Europe, a common remedy is to recite the alphabet backwards while drinking water.
• In some African cultures, pulling on the tongue is believed to stop hiccups.

While these cultural remedies may lack scientific backing, they highlight the universal nature of hiccups and the human desire to find solutions to even minor bodily inconveniences.

Understanding hiccups from both a medical and cultural perspective can provide a richer appreciation of this common physiological phenomenon. While most cases of hiccups are harmless and self-limiting, being aware of potential underlying causes and when to seek medical attention is important. By combining scientific knowledge with time-tested remedies, we can better manage and even prevent hiccups, improving our overall well-being and quality of life.

Hiccups – Better Health Channel

Summary

Read the full fact sheet

• Hiccups, or hiccoughs, are involuntary sounds made by spasms of the diaphragm.
• Hiccups are usually harmless and resolve by themselves after a few minutes.
• In some cases, prolonged hiccups that last for days or weeks may be symptomatic of underlying disorders.

Hiccups, or hiccoughs, are involuntary sounds made by spasms of the diaphragm. The diaphragm is a large sheet of muscle slung beneath the lungs that, together with the intercostal muscles, causes us to breathe. The muscular spasm of these muscles sucks air into the lungs, and the quick inhalation makes a structure inside the throat (called the epiglottis) slam shut. (The epiglottis is a flap of tissue that closes over the windpipe during swallowing to prevent the inhalation of food, fluids or saliva.) This sharp closure of the epiglottis causes the characteristic ‘hic’ sound of hiccups.

Generally, hiccups resolve by themselves after a few minutes, but prolonged hiccups that last for days or weeks may be symptomatic of underlying disorders. Certain drugs, including epilepsy medications, can make a person more prone to hiccups.

Symptoms of hiccups

The symptoms of hiccups include:

• A sharp contraction or spasm of the diaphragm that is felt just below the breastbone.
• Air is involuntarily sucked into the throat.
• The closing epiglottis makes a ‘hic’ sound.
• Hiccups usually stop after a few minutes.

Cause of hiccups

The muscular activity of the diaphragm is controlled by nerves. Hiccups occur when particular stimuli trigger the nerves to send the diaphragm into spasms. It is not known why this occurs.

Triggers of hiccups

The cause of hiccups is often unknown and there may be no apparent trigger. Various triggers, particularly those that cause pressure on the diaphragm, are known to prompt an attack of hiccups in some people from time to time. Some of these triggers include:

• Eating food too quickly
• Hot or spicy foods
• Indigestion
• Overconsumption of alcohol
• Fizzy drinks
• Cigarette smoking
• Stress
• Bad odours
• Pregnancy.

Self-help strategies

Hiccups are harmless and usually resolve by themselves in a few minutes. Some hiccup ‘cures’ include:

• Hold your breath
• Take deep breaths
• Breathe into a paper bag
• Eat a bit of fresh ginger
• Suck on a lemon
• Have a hot water and honey drink
• Eat a spoonful of sugar
• Drink a glass of water slowly
• Eat ice
• Gargle
• Sit down and lean forward over your knees
• Ask someone to give you a fright.

Hiccups may be symptomatic of disease

Hiccups that last for days, weeks or even years may be symptomatic of underlying disease. Certain lung or brain disorders can sometimes interfere with the functioning of the diaphragm and make the person prone to hiccups. Hiccups may also be a side effect of surgery or particular medications.

Some of the diseases, conditions and drugs that may prompt frequent or prolonged attacks of hiccups include:

• Oesophagitis (inflammation of the oesophagus)
• An overactive thyroid gland
• Pleurisy (inflammation of the membrane surrounding the lungs)
• Pneumonia (inflammation of the lungs)
• Kidney disease
• Brain damage, such as stroke or tumour, that affects the area of the brain which controls the diaphragm
• Abdominal surgery
• Chest surgery
• Certain epilepsy medications
• Nicotine gum

Medical treatment

Prolonged hiccups should be medically investigated. Treatment options may include:

• Treatment for the underlying disorder
• Changes to current drug dosages
• Switching to another form of nicotine therapy
• Anti-spasmodic drugs to calm the diaphragm
• A tube inserted into the nose (nasogastric intubation)
• A nerve block
• Surgery, to sever some of the nerves servicing the diaphragm.

Where to get help

• Your doctor

Things to remember

• Hiccups, or hiccoughs, are involuntary sounds made by spasms of the diaphragm.
• Hiccups are usually harmless and resolve by themselves after a few minutes.
• In some cases, prolonged hiccups that last for days or weeks may be symptomatic of underlying disorders.

This page has been produced in consultation with and approved
by:

Hiccups – Better Health Channel

Summary

Read the full fact sheet

• Hiccups, or hiccoughs, are involuntary sounds made by spasms of the diaphragm.
• Hiccups are usually harmless and resolve by themselves after a few minutes.
• In some cases, prolonged hiccups that last for days or weeks may be symptomatic of underlying disorders.

Hiccups, or hiccoughs, are involuntary sounds made by spasms of the diaphragm. The diaphragm is a large sheet of muscle slung beneath the lungs that, together with the intercostal muscles, causes us to breathe. The muscular spasm of these muscles sucks air into the lungs, and the quick inhalation makes a structure inside the throat (called the epiglottis) slam shut. (The epiglottis is a flap of tissue that closes over the windpipe during swallowing to prevent the inhalation of food, fluids or saliva.) This sharp closure of the epiglottis causes the characteristic ‘hic’ sound of hiccups.

Generally, hiccups resolve by themselves after a few minutes, but prolonged hiccups that last for days or weeks may be symptomatic of underlying disorders. Certain drugs, including epilepsy medications, can make a person more prone to hiccups.

Symptoms of hiccups

The symptoms of hiccups include:

• A sharp contraction or spasm of the diaphragm that is felt just below the breastbone.
• Air is involuntarily sucked into the throat.
• The closing epiglottis makes a ‘hic’ sound.
• Hiccups usually stop after a few minutes.

Cause of hiccups

The muscular activity of the diaphragm is controlled by nerves. Hiccups occur when particular stimuli trigger the nerves to send the diaphragm into spasms. It is not known why this occurs.

Triggers of hiccups

The cause of hiccups is often unknown and there may be no apparent trigger. Various triggers, particularly those that cause pressure on the diaphragm, are known to prompt an attack of hiccups in some people from time to time. Some of these triggers include:

• Eating food too quickly
• Hot or spicy foods
• Indigestion
• Overconsumption of alcohol
• Fizzy drinks
• Cigarette smoking
• Stress
• Bad odours
• Pregnancy.

Self-help strategies

Hiccups are harmless and usually resolve by themselves in a few minutes. Some hiccup ‘cures’ include:

• Hold your breath
• Take deep breaths
• Breathe into a paper bag
• Eat a bit of fresh ginger
• Suck on a lemon
• Have a hot water and honey drink
• Eat a spoonful of sugar
• Drink a glass of water slowly
• Eat ice
• Gargle
• Sit down and lean forward over your knees
• Ask someone to give you a fright.

Hiccups may be symptomatic of disease

Hiccups that last for days, weeks or even years may be symptomatic of underlying disease. Certain lung or brain disorders can sometimes interfere with the functioning of the diaphragm and make the person prone to hiccups. Hiccups may also be a side effect of surgery or particular medications.

Some of the diseases, conditions and drugs that may prompt frequent or prolonged attacks of hiccups include:

• Oesophagitis (inflammation of the oesophagus)
• An overactive thyroid gland
• Pleurisy (inflammation of the membrane surrounding the lungs)
• Pneumonia (inflammation of the lungs)
• Kidney disease
• Brain damage, such as stroke or tumour, that affects the area of the brain which controls the diaphragm
• Abdominal surgery
• Chest surgery
• Certain epilepsy medications
• Nicotine gum

Medical treatment

Prolonged hiccups should be medically investigated. Treatment options may include:

• Treatment for the underlying disorder
• Changes to current drug dosages
• Switching to another form of nicotine therapy
• Anti-spasmodic drugs to calm the diaphragm
• A tube inserted into the nose (nasogastric intubation)
• A nerve block
• Surgery, to sever some of the nerves servicing the diaphragm.

Where to get help

• Your doctor

Things to remember

• Hiccups, or hiccoughs, are involuntary sounds made by spasms of the diaphragm.
• Hiccups are usually harmless and resolve by themselves after a few minutes.
• In some cases, prolonged hiccups that last for days or weeks may be symptomatic of underlying disorders.

This page has been produced in consultation with and approved
by:

Causes of hiccups, frequent yawning, sneezing: body language

Causes of hiccups, sneezing and yawning are quite serious. Therefore, if you are used to drinking water in small sips during hiccups, without thinking about what hiccups mean, it’s time to pay attention to the signals that the body gives.

Hiccups: Causes

The causes of hiccups in adults are the consumption of alcohol or a large portion of food eaten, especially if it was absorbed very quickly. The causes of hiccups in newborns are overeating, and hiccups in children have other causes, namely, the baby’s desire to drink or if he is cold.

Frequent hiccups: causes

Hiccups, the causes of which are overeating, have the following mechanism of occurrence. So, chewing large pieces of food poorly while quickly absorbing food, a person provokes irritation of the vagus nerve – one of the cranial nerves that runs along the pharynx and esophagus from the brain to the diaphragm and stomach. When large pieces of food travel down the esophagus, they irritate the vagus nerve, and it sends signals to the muscle fibers of the stomach and esophagus, causing spasms – hiccups.

These spasms are trying to get rid of the swelling of the esophageal mucosa.

Hiccups: how to get rid of?

If you have hiccups after drinking alcohol, drinking cold water in small sips will help get rid of it. Holding your breath helps with hiccups caused by overeating. In addition, you can try other methods: eat a teaspoon of sugar without drinking water, or hold a slice of lemon in your mouth for several minutes.

Sneezing: causes

Frequent sneezing, which is caused by the accumulation of dust in the nasal cavity, helps to get rid of all the excess from the nose, so that the “garbage” does not enter the nasopharynx. The norm is 2-3 sneezes in a row.

Frequent sneezing, the causes of which are clarified above, if it happens more than 10 times in a row, most likely signals the presence of edema on the nasal mucosa. For the body, edema is an irritant that it tries to “sneeze out”, but the edema does not go away from this. In this case, you can try to drip vasoconstrictor drops into the nose, with the help of which the swelling will be eliminated.

Yawning: causes

Frequent yawning has causes – hypoxia, when the brain lacks oxygen. Therefore, a person needs a deep and strong breath, because when yawning, much more air is inhaled than with a normal breath. This is due to the fact that the airways open and a large amount of oxygen quickly enters the blood.

In addition, yawning occurs with severe fatigue and lack of sleep. From fatigue, excess carbon dioxide accumulates in the tissues, which is the same hypoxia.

Also, people often yawn when they feel bored when they have to do something they don’t want to do, which is explained by the fact that working through “I don’t want to” causes much more fatigue.

Cough

Cough is a frequent companion of a cold, but quite often it occurs without this disease. What are its causes and what does the body want to say with a cough? Cough may indicate gastroesophageal reflux disease (gastric acids in the esophagus). Cough in this case usually manifests itself during sleep, it is often accompanied by a sour taste in the mouth, heartburn. Allergies, smoking, dust exposure, bronchospasm can also cause coughing.

If you have a cough without a cold, it is best to stop smoking and make sure to humidify the air in the room.

Gargling with salt water (half a teaspoon of salt in a glass of warm water) is also not superfluous.

Why does a person hiccup?

• Andrei85
  06/02/2006 17:13

  Answer

  First read article on this site and I like it. 🙂

  Reply

• Dimidrol
  07/18/2006 17:19

  Answer

  Informatively written! I knew about the contractions of the diaphragm, but for the first time I learned about the fact that these contractions relieve the load from the damaged vagus nerve! Thanks for the detailed answer! I’m starting to like this site more and more!

  Reply

• michus
  11. 09.2006 09:22

  Answer

  But breathing into a bag, creating an excess of carbon dioxide, helps radically.

  Reply

  • Altolm
    michus 12.09.2006 16:09

    Answer

    In childhood, at 9-12 years old, I used to hiccup for days on end and nothing helped, except for a qualitative, unexpected fright. All the methods listed in the note did not work. Later, I found / collected several effective ways to deal with hiccups, but I have not heard of breathing into a bag, I’ll try. Thank you!
    By the way, I read the first effective way in the magazine “Chemistry and Life” – The way of ballerinas: put your hands behind your back, take them as far as possible (like on a rack), bend over as much as possible and drink cool water in small sips (here you will need an assistant). They will always help, but it is difficult to cope alone.
    There are methods associated with general or local relaxation, but experience is needed here.

    Reply

• Gamble
  michus 23.09.2006 22:22

  Answer

  The package actually reduces the amount of oxygen by replacing carbon dioxide.
  But they use it not for hiccups, but for the so-called. hyperventilation, nervous strain.

  Reply

  • michus
    Gamble 25.09.2006 22:22

    Answer

    But it helps me.

    Reply

  • rena
    Gamble 26.09.2006 16:43

    Answer

    in general, those who have hysteria are given to breathe into the bag. With frequent, shallow breathing, respiratory alkalosis (an imbalance of acid-base balance) is formed.

    Reply