Why do hiccups occur so frequently. What causes hiccups in babies and adults. How can you stop hiccups quickly. Are frequent hiccups a sign of a medical condition. When should you see a doctor for hiccups.

The Science Behind Hiccups: What Causes These Involuntary Spasms?

Hiccups are a common physiological phenomenon that affects people of all ages. But what exactly causes these sudden, involuntary contractions? At the heart of hiccups lies the diaphragm, a dome-shaped muscle located at the base of the chest cavity.

The diaphragm plays a crucial role in our breathing process. As we inhale, it contracts and moves downward, creating space for the lungs to expand and draw in air. During exhalation, the diaphragm relaxes and moves upward, helping to expel air from the lungs.

Hiccups occur when this normally smooth process is disrupted. The diaphragm experiences a sudden, involuntary contraction, causing a rapid inhalation of air. Simultaneously, the vocal cords close abruptly, producing the characteristic “hic” sound we associate with hiccups.

Common Triggers for Hiccups

• Eating or drinking too quickly
• Swallowing air while eating or drinking
• Carbonated beverages
• Spicy or acidic foods
• Sudden changes in temperature
• Stress or excitement
• Certain medications

Understanding these triggers can help individuals identify and avoid potential hiccup-inducing situations. However, it’s important to note that hiccups can sometimes occur without any apparent cause.

Hiccups in Babies: A Common and Usually Harmless Occurrence

Parents often become concerned when their baby experiences frequent hiccups. However, pediatricians like Dr. Ameera Nauman of OSF Medical Group assure us that hiccups in infants are generally harmless and part of their natural development.

In newborns and young babies, hiccups are often associated with feeding. The rapid intake of milk, whether from breast or bottle, can cause the baby’s stomach to distend quickly. This distension can put pressure on the diaphragm, triggering hiccups.

Why Do Babies Hiccup More Frequently Than Adults?

Babies tend to experience hiccups more often than adults for several reasons:

1. Immature digestive systems
2. Faster feeding pace
3. Swallowing air during feeding
4. Reflux issues

While these frequent hiccups may seem concerning to new parents, they typically resolve on their own within a few minutes and do not cause any discomfort or harm to the baby.

Effective Strategies to Stop Hiccups in Babies and Children

When it comes to stopping hiccups in babies and young children, the approach differs from methods used for adults. Dr. Nauman suggests several gentle techniques that parents can try:

• Burping: This is particularly effective for babies. Burp your baby halfway through a feeding or when switching breasts.
• Feeding breaks: Allow the baby’s stomach time to digest by taking short pauses during feeding.
• Distraction: For older children, engaging them in an activity can help shift their focus away from the hiccups.
• Sipping cold water: This can be effective for children old enough to drink from a cup.
• Holding breath: Older children can try holding their breath and counting to ten.

It’s important to remember that these methods should be age-appropriate and done gently. Never force a baby or young child to try a hiccup remedy that makes them uncomfortable.

Preventing Hiccups: Tips for Parents and Caregivers

While it’s not always possible to prevent hiccups, there are steps parents and caregivers can take to reduce their frequency, especially in babies and young children:

1. Feed babies in an upright position
2. Ensure proper latching during breastfeeding
3. Check bottle nipples for proper flow
4. Avoid overfeeding
5. Keep babies upright for 15-20 minutes after feeding
6. Gently rub or pat the baby’s back after feeding

For older children, encourage slower eating and drinking habits. Teaching them to avoid gulping drinks or using straws excessively can also help prevent hiccups.

When Hiccups Become a Concern: Signs to Watch For

While most cases of hiccups are benign and resolve on their own, there are instances where they may indicate an underlying issue. Parents should be vigilant for the following signs:

• Persistent hiccups lasting more than 48 hours
• Hiccups accompanied by severe reflux or vomiting
• Difficulty feeding or weight gain issues
• Signs of discomfort or pain during hiccups
• Hiccups that interfere with sleep or daily activities

If any of these symptoms are present, it’s advisable to consult a pediatrician. While rare, persistent hiccups can sometimes be a sign of more serious conditions that require medical attention.

Adult Hiccups: Causes, Remedies, and When to Seek Medical Advice

Adults experience hiccups less frequently than children, but when they do occur, they can be equally frustrating. Understanding the common triggers and effective remedies can help manage these episodes more effectively.

Common Causes of Hiccups in Adults

• Eating too quickly or too much
• Carbonated beverages
• Spicy foods
• Swallowing air while chewing gum
• Smoking
• Stress or excitement
• Sudden temperature changes

In some cases, hiccups can be a side effect of certain medications or medical procedures. Rarely, they may be a symptom of an underlying medical condition affecting the central nervous system or irritating the phrenic nerve, which controls the diaphragm.

Effective Remedies for Adult Hiccups

Adults have a wider range of options for stopping hiccups compared to children. Some popular methods include:

1. Holding breath for a short period
2. Drinking water quickly or from the opposite side of the glass
3. Gentle pressure on the diaphragm
4. Pulling knees to chest and leaning forward
5. Breathing into a paper bag
6. Gargling with ice water
7. Biting on a lemon or tasting something sour

While these remedies are generally safe, it’s important to use caution and avoid any method that feels uncomfortable or unsafe.

Chronic Hiccups: When Persistent Hiccups Become a Medical Concern

While most hiccup episodes are brief and harmless, some individuals experience chronic hiccups that persist for extended periods. Chronic hiccups are defined as episodes lasting more than 48 hours or recurring frequently.

Chronic hiccups can significantly impact an individual’s quality of life, affecting sleep, eating, and daily activities. They may also be a sign of an underlying medical condition that requires attention.

Potential Causes of Chronic Hiccups

• Gastrointestinal disorders (e.g., GERD, ulcers)
• Central nervous system disorders
• Tumors or infections affecting the diaphragm or phrenic nerve
• Metabolic disorders
• Certain medications

If hiccups persist for more than 48 hours or recur frequently, it’s crucial to consult a healthcare provider. They can perform a thorough evaluation to identify any underlying causes and recommend appropriate treatment options.

The Role of Diet and Lifestyle in Managing Hiccups

While hiccups can sometimes occur spontaneously, certain dietary and lifestyle factors can increase their likelihood. By making mindful choices, individuals can potentially reduce the frequency of hiccup episodes.

Dietary Considerations

• Eat smaller, more frequent meals to avoid overfilling the stomach
• Chew food thoroughly and eat at a slower pace
• Limit intake of carbonated beverages and alcohol
• Be cautious with very hot or very cold foods and drinks
• Identify and avoid personal trigger foods (e.g., spicy or acidic foods)

Lifestyle Adjustments

1. Practice stress-reduction techniques like meditation or deep breathing
2. Maintain good posture to reduce pressure on the diaphragm
3. Avoid talking while eating
4. Quit smoking or reduce tobacco use
5. Stay hydrated throughout the day

By incorporating these dietary and lifestyle changes, individuals may be able to reduce the frequency and duration of hiccup episodes. However, it’s important to remember that occasional hiccups are a normal part of life and usually not a cause for concern.

Understanding the mechanisms behind hiccups and the various strategies to manage them can help individuals feel more in control when these involuntary spasms occur. Whether it’s a case of baby hiccups or an adult experiencing persistent hiccups, being informed about the causes, remedies, and potential warning signs empowers individuals to take appropriate action and seek medical advice when necessary.

As research in this area continues, we may gain even more insights into the complex physiological processes behind hiccups and develop more targeted treatments for those who experience chronic or severe cases. Until then, the combination of preventive measures, home remedies, and medical intervention when needed provides a comprehensive approach to managing this common but often perplexing bodily function.

Child hiccups are seldom cause for alarm

Oh, the joy of a baby’s hiccup!

The baby’s eyes get big and their whole body jolts with that cute little hic!  There it goes again: hic! Ha-ha! So cute. And again: hic! Hmmmm. Hic! OK, you can stop. Hic! Anytime, just stop. Hic!

Not so cute anymore. What’s going on? Is something wrong?

Probably not.

“A hiccup is part of a natural process,” said Ameera Nauman, MD, a pediatrician with OSF Medical Group – Pediatrics. “Hiccups and sneezes are just two things babies do. Generally, they’re very mild, and they usually go away after a few minutes.”

Feeding plays a major role

Hiccups occur with a spasm of the baby’s diaphragm. The diaphragm is a sheet of muscle below the lungs. When it contracts, air is drawn into the lungs. When it relaxes, air is pushed out.

Usually, those retractions and expansions occur in an even, controlled rhythm. However, when that rhythm is interrupted by an involuntary contraction, the vocal cords suddenly close and produce a hiccup.

“Mostly with newborns, hiccups are associated with feeding,” Dr. Nauman said. “The baby might eat a little too fast or a little too much. Their belly gets distended and starts to touch the diaphragm and cause those spasms. Sometimes, they ingest air while taking a bottle or breastfeeding. Sometimes, there’s a little reflux involved.”

Stopping your baby’s hiccups

Most adults tend to have hiccups infrequently. When hiccups do occur, a teenager or adult might overcome them by turning to an array of time-honored tricks: drink a glass of water, hold their breath or breathe in and out of a paper bag.

Young children, particularly babies and toddlers, might get hiccups several times a day. And the remedies don’t translate as well. After all, Dr. Nauman said, “You can’t give a 6-month-old child a glass of water to drink.”

Burping is the best way to get rid of the hiccups. If breastfeeding, burp the baby when switching breasts. If bottlefeeding, burp the baby about halfway through.

“Sometimes, the baby needs a break so their tummy has time to digest. When they stop feeding and relax, they’ll stop hiccupping. “

As a child grows, gradually introduce them to other remedies.

“A lot of times, you can stop the hiccups by distracting the child, getting their mind on something else,” Dr. Nauman said. “I usually recommend something mild, like drinking a glass of cold water. If the child is a little older, you can try having them hold their breath and count to 10, or maybe put some sugar under their tongue.”

Steps to prevent child hiccups

Another thing to do is try to prevent hiccups from starting in the first place.

Adults have learned the basic triggers. They know to avoid eating or drinking too much or too fast, gulping drinks or sucking too hard from a straw. They’re aware that excess caffeine or alcohol can cause a fit of hiccups, too.

Babies and kids need help learning the ropes.

“With a baby on a bottle, make sure it’s full of milk and there’s no air in the nipple,” Dr. Nauman said. “If breastfeeding, make sure the baby’s lips are really latched on. When they’re finished feeding, don’t lay them right back down. Keep them up for 15 or 20 minutes to help them better digest. Rubbing their back is soothing and helps alleviate hiccups.

“With older kids, keep them from overeating, and don’t let them eat or drink too fast.”

When to call the doctor

A baby’s hiccups don’t cause any physical damage. Even if they go on for 10 minutes or more, they generally are not a cause for concern. But if hiccups persist, a parent should be vigilant.

“Hiccups can be a little more concerning if the child also has other signs, such as being really fussy or arching their back a lot while feeding or after feeding,” Dr. Nauman said. “Sometimes the baby might spit up a lot. If they have a lot of reflux, keep an eye on how they’re gaining weight.

“If you’re concerned or your baby is uncomfortable, then call your pediatrician. Generally, hiccups are very mild and they go away. But if you’re concerned with persistent hiccups, discuss that with your pediatrician.”

How Do You Get Rid Of Hiccups?

You’ve just hiccuped for what seems like the 100^th time. You start to WONDER if they will ever stop. More importantly, you WONDER what you can do to make the hiccups stop.

Before we explore the cure for hiccups, let’s find out what a hiccup really is.

When it comes to hiccups, the diaphragm is the culprit. The diaphragm is a dome-shaped muscle at the bottom of your chest.

Normally the diaphragm works perfectly. As you inhale, it pulls down, helping your body draw air into your lungs. When you exhale, it moves up to force air out of the lungs.

Your diaphragm works hard day and night, and most of the time it goes unnoticed — at least until you are struck with a case of hiccups.

When the diaphragm becomes irritated, it jerks downward, causing you to suddenly draw air into your throat. The abrupt rush of air causes your vocal cords to close, causing a hiccup sound.

There are several things that irritate the diaphragm, including laughing too hard, drinking carbonated beverages, and eating or drinking too quickly or too much. Hiccups can also be a side effect of some prescription medicines.

In rare instances, hiccups can last for days or weeks. An American man named Charles Osborne had hiccups from 1920 to 1992. Charles’ 72 years of hiccups earned him a place in the Guinness Book of World Records.

Another strange case of hiccups occurred when a man named Christopher Sands had hiccups for almost three years. Eventually doctors discovered Christopher had a tumor in the part of his brain responsible for muscle activity. Once the tumor was removed, Christopher’s hiccups disappeared.

So now that you have hiccups, what can you do to put an end to them?

The unfortunate truth is this: there is no one definite way to cure hiccups. Fortunately, there are a lot of suggestions on how to try. Here are a few things you might try the next time you get the hiccups:

• Hold your breath.
• Put a pinch of sugar under your tongue.
• Ask someone to scare you.
• Gargle with ice water.
• Pull out your tongue (this supposedly stimulates the “vagus nerve” and stops spasms of the diaphragm).
• Breathe into a paper bag.

Standards:

CCRA.L.3, CCRA.L.6, CCRA.R.1, CCRA.R.2, CCRA.R.4, CCRA.R.10, CCRA.SL.1

How to Stop Baby Hiccups (And What Not To Do)

During your first year as a parent, you’ll experience your fair share of baby illnesses and other ailments. You’ll also get the good stuff — a time where you get to watch first-hand all the cute stuff your baby does.

When it comes to hiccups, responses are mixed — some parents react with an “aww,” while others get worried.

Baby hiccups aren’t a reason to go to the emergency room, but as all adults know, they can be annoying. When we experience hiccups, we want to stop them as quickly as possible, but you might wonder how to get rid of baby hiccups.

What Causes Baby Hiccups?

No shock here, baby hiccups aren’t that different from the kind adults get. Hiccups occur when the diaphragm begins to spasm. The diaphragm is a thin, skeletal muscle, sitting between the chest and abdomen — as we breathe, it moves up and down ⁽¹⁾.

Once the diaphragm starts to spasm, the vocal cords shut quickly. This forces excess air out through them, triggering that known hiccup sound.

It’s still unknown exactly why hiccups occur. The diaphragm works on the brain’s command, so when hiccups happen, the brain tells the membrane to shift downward forcefully. However, why it sends those signals is still a mystery ⁽²⁾.

Most babies tend to get hiccups while eating. This can happen if your little one overfeeds, swallows excess air, or eats too fast.

Any of these can cause your baby’s tummy to expand, which pushes it against the diaphragm. That can cause spasms resulting in hiccups ⁽³⁾.

At other times, babies get hiccups out of the blue. In such cases, you may consider the three following causes.

Other Causes of Baby Hiccups

1. Temperature Changes

Sometimes sudden changes in stomach temperature can trigger hiccups. It may occur if you’re feeding your baby cold milk followed by something warm, or vice versa. It’s generally not a cause for concern.

2. Gastroesophageal Reflux (GER)

If you notice that hiccups are often accompanied by distress, it could be an underlying condition like gastroesophageal reflux, or GER.

GER occurs when food that’s been partially digested moves back up the food pipe, together with stomach acids. Due to the acidity, the upward moving food irritates the diaphragm, triggering spasms and resulting in hiccups.

GER is rarely a severe issue for babies, and it typically resolves itself after 12 months of age. As long as your baby is growing, content, and happy, there’s no need for worries ⁽⁴⁾. If you’re concerned, consult your pediatrician.

Sometimes, though, hiccups can occur during episodes of painful reflux, called gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) ⁽⁵⁾.

Other alarming symptoms that require a doctor’s visit are listed below. Call your doctor if your baby:

3. Removement of Excess Air

In a 2012 study, it was suggested that hiccups could occur as a way to remove excess air from the stomach. According to that study, when your baby feeds, the air they swallow enters the stomach, triggering spasms. The diaphragm then forcefully moves downward, releasing the air, much like a burp.

How to Treat Baby Hiccups

1. Burping

While feeding your baby, taking frequent breaks to burp them might help stop the hiccups. Since an expanding stomach may cause hiccups, it’s a good idea to try to minimize this.

Burping will get rid of most of the excess gas and air that could trigger this annoyance ⁽⁶⁾.

It’s best to burp during feeding as opposed to after ⁽⁷⁾. If you’re breastfeeding, try burping your baby every time you switch breasts. If your little one is bottle-fed, take time to burp every 2 to 3 ounces, or at least half way through the feeding for very vigorous eaters.

Burping is also beneficial if your baby tends to spit up. Placing them in an upright position may prevent GER ⁽⁸⁾.

2. Try a Pacifier

Feedings are not always the cause of baby hiccups. Sometimes, they will start spontaneously. If this occurs, a pacifier might help.

As your little one sucks on the pacifier, it relaxes the diaphragm, which can stop the hiccups. If you don’t have a pacifier, use your little finger. Just ensure you clean it thoroughly before.

Turn your hand palm-side up, allowing the nail-free side to rest on the roof of your baby’s mouth ⁽⁹⁾.

If your little one isn’t soothed by sucking, don’t force it. The hiccups are likely to stop soon.

3. Gripe Water

Gripe water is a mix of water and selected herbs such as ginger, chamomile, fennel, and cinnamon. You can offer your baby some should the hiccups cause discomfort or distress.

Although there are no studies to prove it’s a successful way of getting rid of baby hiccups, it’s worth a try. Gripe water is often used to treat colic as well as other tummy discomforts in babies.

Clinically, I have found that there are a variety of versions of “gripe water.” Some of my parents even mention a type that is “from their country,” recommended by another family member. While it is important to be mindful of the ingredients, in general, I do not find that gripe water is effective or helpful. Therefore, I do not recommend gripe water for my patients ⁽¹⁰⁾.

Editor’s Note:

Dr. Leah Alexander, MD, FAAP

Keep In Mind

If your baby has never had gripe water before, it’s best to consult your pediatrician beforehand. It’s also crucial to keep in mind that it’s only to be used in moderation. Using it too often if your baby is young can have adverse outcomes ⁽¹¹⁾.

4. Wait It Out

If the hiccups aren’t annoying you or your baby, you don’t have to do anything about them. Most of the time, hiccups bother the parents more than the baby. As long as the hiccups are not caused by something more serious, they’ll resolve soon enough.

If your baby seems uneasy, they may just be unsure what the hiccups are. The best thing to do is talk or sing to your baby, walk around, or rock them. Distractions work well when dealing with babies.

What Not to Do with Baby Hiccups

1. Don’t Startle Them

A sudden scare is an old remedy that many believe gets rid of hiccups successfully. However, it’s not a good method to try on babies. A baby’s neurological development isn’t fully capable of processing unknown sounds, which is why small babies get startled by loud noises.

2. Pull Their Tongue

Some people think that pulling your baby’s tongue while pressing on the forehead will stop the hiccups. We don’t recommend this. It’s unproven to work, and you could hurt or distress your little one.

3. Serve a Glass of Water

Water is often a go-to remedy when combating hiccups. However, you should limit the amount of water you give your baby. If your little one is under 6 months, avoid giving anything other than breast milk or formula ⁽¹²⁾.

4. Switch the Infant Formula

There are many formulas on the market with claims from their manufacturers purporting that they solve a variety of infant “problems.” This leads some parents to believe that a formula change will reduce hiccups. Unfortunately, this is not the case. Changing the infant formula will make no difference in the frequency of hiccups ⁽¹³⁾.

Are Hiccups Bad for a Baby?

Baby hiccups are common during their first year of life. Some babies even get them while still inside the womb. Although you probably won’t notice it, it’s not unusual for babies to hiccup as early as the first trimester ⁽¹⁴⁾.

So, hiccups aren’t bad for your baby — they’re a natural reaction to something occurring in their tummy. Hiccups are so natural many babies will sleep through a bout without noticing. It’s often us parents who feel distressed or annoyed by that frequent “hic” sound.

When to Worry About Baby Hiccups

When the hiccups become increasingly frequent, lasting longer than usual, take note of how long each bout lasts and the time between them.

Consult your pediatrician with the results to verify if intervention is necessary.

Another cause of concern is when the hiccups begin to interfere with your baby’s sleep. When the bouts are so severe they keep your baby awake, it’s time to call the doctor.

We always recommend contacting your pediatrician if you feel concerned, especially if you feel that your baby is experiencing pain during hiccups This could be a sign of infant GERD. In adults, chronic hiccups can be signs of damage to the nervous system, tumors, kidney disease, and even diabetes ⁽¹⁵⁾.

These aren’t typical causes of baby hiccups, but it’s worth a check if you’re worried.

How to Prevent Hiccups

Preventing baby hiccups isn’t always easy, particularly when they occur out of the blue. Still, here are some ways you can try:

• Keep calm when feeding: When you’re getting ready to nurse your baby, ensure that they’re relatively calm. The best way to do this is to feed them before they’re starving and crying anxiously for food.
• Place in an upright position: After you’ve finished feeding your little one, place them in an upright position, similar to when you’re burping them. Keep them like this for about 20 to 30 minutes after each meal.
• Wait with tummy time: Avoid doing tummy time right after a feeding. Wait at least 30 minutes to let the food settle down.
• Hold the play: Wait at least 30 minutes before you begin playing with your little one after feeding.

The Takeaway

Baby hiccups are a common occurrence. The earliest a baby might experience a hiccup is during the first trimester in the womb.

Baby hiccups are caused by diaphragm spasms, which can be triggered by overfeeding, air in the stomach, or even temperature changes. Getting rid of baby hiccups is easy by burping during feedings or using a pacifier. Often the problem will resolve quickly on its own.

If you have concerns, always contact your pediatrician. Meanwhile, the next time your baby has the hiccups, get out your phone and start recording. They’ll laugh years from now when they see it.

Here’s How to Get Rid of Hiccups ASAP Because They Couldn’t Be More Annoying

If you’ve ever Googled “how to get rid of hiccups” in a bout of frustration, we can’t really blame you. The human body is endlessly awe-inspiring but, as anyone who’s experienced hiccups in the middle of a job interview, date, or pretty much any time in life knows, it can be incredibly annoying as well. With that in mind, is there anything you can do to get rid of hiccups on your own? Asking for a friend here, of course. The answer: Maybe.

What Are Hiccups?

Hiccups are involuntary contractions of your diaphragm, which is the muscle that separates your chest from your abdomen, the Mayo Clinic says. After each of those contractions, your vocal cords suddenly close—and that creates that classic “hic” sound.

Your diaphragm serves an important purpose: It’s the main muscle you use to breathe, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI). Whenever you breathe in, your diaphragm tightens and moves downward. When you breathe out, it relaxes and rises into your chest cavity.

When something irritates your diaphragm, it can spasm and make you suck air into your throat. Aaand now you’ve got the hiccups. Hiccups typically fade within a few days, the Cleveland Clinic says. If they stick around longer than that, you’re dealing with persistent hiccups. If they last a few months or longer, which is really rare but still technically possible, they’re known as intractable hiccups.

Why Do Hiccups Happen?

It can feel like hiccups come out of nowhere, but as we mentioned, they usually start when something irritates your diaphragm, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Those irritants can include:

1. Eating too quickly

2. Eating too much

3. Eating hot or spicy foods

4. Drinking alcohol

5. Drinking carbonated drinks

6. Diseases that irritate the nerves that control the diaphragm

7. Feeling nervous or excited

8. Certain medicines

9. Abdominal surgery

10. Metabolic disorders

11. Central nervous system disorders

The actual mechanisms behind why these factors can cause hiccups are a little less clear. With that said, it’s thought to involve a reflex between the phrenic and vagus nerves that run from the neck into the diaphragm via the chest, Celine Thum, M.D., who has treated people in the emergency room for significant pain and difficulty eating and communicating caused by prolonged hiccups, tells SELF.

“There is a hiccup reflex arc that relies on multiple neural pathways, which is thought to include ‘input’ from nerves like the phrenic and vagus nerve; a central nervous system mediator, which may be either in the brain or spinal cord; and ‘output’ to nerves that are responsible for the sudden contraction of the diaphragm and closure of the [vocal cords],” Cedars-Sinai internal medicine specialist Nicole Van Groningen, M.D., tells SELF.

How to get rid of baby hiccups—and prevent them

For the most part, baby hiccups just happen, but there are a few things you can do to relieve the discomfort they may cause—and maybe even prevent them from happening.

Let’s face it: Hiccups can be a pain—even baby-size ones. And it’s not like you can just tell your baby to hold their breath or down a spoonful of peanut butter (two common hiccup “cures” frequently adopted by adults). Happily, there are a few things you can do to relieve the discomfort baby hiccups can cause—and maybe even prevent them from happening in the first place.

What causes baby hiccups?

It all starts in utero, says Janice Heard, a community paediatrician in Calgary and member of the Canadian Paediatric Society’s Public Education Advisory Committee. “Many moms can feel their infants hiccupping during pregnancy,” she says. Hiccups are actually very mysterious she adds, and no one really knows why they occur. (One theory from researchers at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ont., is that they act as a burping mechanism to help babies take in more milk.) Baby talk: What your baby is trying to tell you

Whatever the cause, we do know that hiccups are a symptom of an irritated diaphragm, which can happen when infants get upset (a prolonged bout of crying often leads to uncontrollable hiccupping) or when they eat or drink too fast. “Their bellies expand too quickly, which irritates the diaphragm,” says Heard. When this happens, the diaphragm starts to spasm and the vocal cords snap shut, causing the classic “hic” sound.

Annoying, yes. But dangerous? No. Hiccups usually only last for a few minutes, then go away on their own. And, they’re almost always completely benign, says Heard.

How can I stop my baby’s hiccups?

“If you feel your baby’s hiccups have gone on for too prolonged a period of time (up to an hour, for instance), or seem to occur more frequently than seems normal, you can always ask your doctor about it,” she says. If your baby hiccups, spits up and coughs frequently during feeding, it could be a sign of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), which is essentially baby heartburn. Most babies outgrow GER as the lower esophageal sphincter gets stronger so it can stay closed and doesn’t let the acid up into the food pipe. But some babies may require medical attention in severe cases.

To prevent hiccups, Heard recommends burping your baby more frequently during feedings and, if you’re bottle feeding, to slow things down by taking little breaks (which is trickier to do if you’re breastfeeding).

If it’s too late and the hiccups have already hit—and are clearly bugging your baby—Heard recommends good old distraction as the best solution. “Make them laugh,” she says. “Do something silly so they forget what’s going on with their hiccups.” It’s the equivalent of trying to drink out of the wrong side of a glass for grown-ups—as soon we stop worrying about hiccups, they tend to stop as suddenly as they started.

Read more:
Baby gas: What you can do to help
5 things first-time parents shouldn’t worry about

Hiccups | Pregnancy Birth and Baby

beginning of content

2-minute read

Most people get hiccups – or hiccoughs – from time to time. Hiccups occur when the diaphragm – the muscle that separates your chest from your abdomen and plays an important role in breathing – suddenly and involuntarily tightens, resulting in a hiccup sound being produced at the top of the windpipe. The medical name for hiccups is singultus.

Hiccups are a reflex action, which means that you don’t have any control over them. Hiccups are not usually serious and in most cases only last a few minutes.

Hiccups can affect people of any age, including babies. Men and women are equally affected by episodes of short-lived hiccups.

Hiccups in babies

It is very common for babies under 12 months to get the hiccups. In fact, babies often hiccup in the womb before they are born.

Hiccups are not a reason for concern and they will generally cause a baby no distress. Your baby will usually stop hiccupping within 5 to 10 minutes, but if your baby’s hiccups do not stop within a couple of hours, you should see your doctor.

Babies usually hiccup when they are being fed and they will sometimes hiccup for no apparent reason. There is no reason to try to stop your baby from hiccuping, but sometimes a breastfeed or some water can help it stop.

If you find that your baby often gets hiccups during feeding, you may want to slow down the feeding to allow time for your baby to be more relaxed.

How do you stop hiccups?

Hiccups will usually stop on their own. While there have been many solutions suggested for hiccups, they are not scientifically proven. Here are some common home remedies to try:

• slowly sipping ice-cold water
• holding your breath for a short period
• gently placing pressure on your nose while swallowing
• gently placing pressure on the diaphragm
• biting on a lemon
• tasting vinegar
• breathing into a paper bag (never place a bag over your head)
• pulling your knees up to your chest
• leaning forward to compress your chest

When should you worry about hiccups?

If hiccups are persistent, or last longer than 48 hours, your doctor will investigate whether an underlying condition may be causing them and may be able to prescribe medication to stop the episode.

Learn more here about the development and quality assurance of healthdirect content.

Last reviewed: November 2020

Hiccups – How to get rid of them

Colin Dang
November 20, 2019

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

Hiccups – And How To Stop Them

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

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

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

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

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

Do:

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

Don’t

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

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

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

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

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The Coda Team

90,000 Now if the hiccups catch you off guard, you know how to beat it!

“Hiccups, hiccups, go to Fedot, from Fedot to Yakov, and from Yakov to everyone” … Doesn’t this saying help? Exhausting, unpredictable and off-guard hiccups are maddening and difficult to speak properly. And involuntarily “erupting” sounds make you feel uncomfortable, attracting excessive attention from others. What if hiccups overtook you before a business meeting, exam or other important event? We will tell you about the causes of the “illness” and share effective advice on how to get rid of hiccups!

What are the main causes of hiccups?

They say that if you hiccup, it means that someone often remembers you.Not a very pleasant manifestation of attention and care … Immediately you begin to sort out in your head the names of everyone who might think of you. Sometimes it works, but this is more a coincidence than a real way to get rid of hiccups. Where does the ill-fated hiccups actually come from and what is it for?

Hiccups are a normal physiological process resulting from a sudden spasm (contraction) of the muscles of the chest and diaphragm. Abrupt closure of the glottis (closure of the ligaments) leads to the formation of that very sound: “Hic!”.Sometimes the process is accompanied by a slight shuddering of the body. So the body is freed from the air trapped in the stomach. Air comes out – the attack of hiccups stops.

Hiccups can occur for a variety of reasons:

• When we are in a hurry to eat, we do not chew food well and swallow it in large chunks.
• We eat dry food.
• If we eat a lot: the amount of food consumed does not correspond to the size of the stomach.
• When we eat food / drinks that are too hot or too cold.
• We eat spicy or fatty foods, washed down with soda, fizzy lemonades or kvass.
• We stay in the cold for a long time, freeze and overcool.
• When we drink alcohol in excess, and our stomach simply cannot digest it.
• If we experience unexpected emotions: excitement, fear, fear, shock.
• Lively laughing or prolonged coughing can also lead to hiccups.

The above reasons lead to the so-called “temporary” hiccups.It disappears as soon as its source dries up (air leaves the stomach, food is digested, alcohol is absorbed into the blood, etc.). But there is a more dangerous cause of hiccups – disease.

If hiccups torment a person for a long time, driving him to powerlessness and despair, it makes sense to check the central nervous system for lesions. We can talk about craniocerebral trauma, strokes, encephalitis, metabolic disorders, poisoning. It happens that hiccups are accompanied by pain in the hypochondrium, heart, abdominal cavity, and internal organs.Such spasms of the diaphragm can be caused by gastritis, heart attack, stomach ulcers, intestinal obstruction, or esophageal achalasia. We can also talk about pneumonia, brain damage. Heartburn is the most harmless thing on this list. In case of prolonged incessant hiccuping, consult a doctor immediately!

Hiccups are common in babies and babies. After all, children periodically swallow air with their mother’s milk, which leads to a contraction of the diaphragm. Older children also suffer from hiccups when they try to eat too quickly.If the hiccups last no more than a couple of hours, everything is fine. In the case when the child’s hiccups last longer and often make themselves felt, it is better to visit a pediatrician.

How to get rid of hiccups quickly: reflexology

Using certain techniques of reflexology, you can stop hiccups in a matter of moments. For example:

• Lightly press on the eyes with your fingers and hold them in this position for a couple of minutes.
• Exhale deeply into a sweaty paper bag.And then inhale the carbonated air over and over again.
• Press on the biologically active point located above the collarbone near the sterno-papillary muscle.
• Make local anesthesia of the laryngeal mucosa. As a last resort.

Folk remedies for hiccups that work

• Tilt your torso down to the maximum and drink water from a mug on the table (floor). At the same time, plugging your ears with your index fingers.

• Try to hold your breath and not exhale as long as possible.So the diaphragm gradually calms down and stops contracting convulsively.

• Drink water from a glass gradually, in small sips, while trying to hold your breath.

• Eat a spoonful of sugar without water, or a slice of lemon under your tongue. You need to dissolve slowly.

• Inhale smoke. It only works if you don’t smoke all the time.

• Drink a mug of hot tea, dress warmly and warm up well (it helps if the hiccups are caused by the fact that you are simply cold).

• Try to breathe in your belly: inhale the air as hard as possible, and somehow push it into the abdominal region.

• Tilt your head back for 10 seconds and then drink a glass of water in small sips.

• Take deep breaths in and out while raising your arms above your head to help the lungs and diaphragm relax.

• Ask loved ones to suddenly scare you. A harsh sound or sudden action from the outside is what you need.This will cause a sharp involuntary inhalation. Severe excitement or shock will return the diaphragm to its normal state.

• Connect your hands behind your back and pull them back as far as possible, while rising on tiptoes. This method is called “ballet”.

• Put a mustard plaster on the upper abdomen. This is a little-studied tool, but very simple and effective.

• Stick your tongue forward to the maximum and hold it as long as you have strength and patience.

• Apply ice to the throat as a compress. But do not overdo it, otherwise you can earn a sore throat in addition to hiccups.

• Apply moderate pressure to the diaphragm (upper abdomen).

• Make yourself sneeze (Hippocrates advice). For example, tickle your nose with a feather or sniff sneeze tobacco.

• Eat something very bitter or sour.

• Smell ammonia. Hiccup will be removed as if by hand!

• Squat down quickly with your knees pressed to your chest.This will relax the diaphragm.

• Hang on the horizontal bar.

• Hurt yourself. For example, pinching yourself. So the diaphragmatic reflex will be replaced by a pain reflex.

• Ask your friends to tickle you. Tickling works flawlessly. At the same time, it is important to try to restrain your laughter, no matter how difficult it may seem.

• Do the exercises: swing the abs or do push-ups from the floor.

• Asking someone to squeeze your ring fingers together, very hard.

• Sucking on a lollipop or eating ice cream is the most enjoyable and delicious way to get rid of hiccups.

Now if the hiccups catch you off guard, you know how to defeat it!

Hiccup

Another very informative “Fairy Tale” from Vladimir Vitkov.

Previous works of the author can be read here …

Magic tale “Tsar-Toadstool”

Magic tale “Bird of Happiness”

Magic tale “Forbidden Village”

Magic tale “Rachiy Tsar”

Magic fairy tale

And now another “Fairy Tale” from Vladimir Vitkov.Very informative …

Hiccups are an inexplicable violation, according to scientists, of the work of the human body, in which the membrane and the internal organs associated with it begin to contract convulsively.

In this case, the person makes uncontrollable sounds. From these sounds the word hiccup was formed (ir-onomatopoeic, from -suffix).

Previously, there was a belief that a person begins to hiccup when his ancestors remember him, and it was customary to cross himself, or read a prayer to the Mother of God three times.

Now – that someone remembers or scolds.

Be that as it may, hiccups can be divided into acquired and congenital.

And in addition, in the villages in the Russian North, hiccups manifested themselves so actively that at times it looked more like a disease, sometimes turning into an epidemic, covering entire settlements.

EPIDEMIC OF ICOTA.

In the Arkhangelsk region, the areas in the upper and middle reaches of the Pinega and Mezen rivers were most susceptible to hiccups.

As a rule, first one of the women began to hiccup, and soon the whole village.

Moreover, among women, hiccups spread faster than among men. In the “hiccuping” village for a long time (a month or more), all kinds of activities were frozen.

Similar outbreaks also took place during the Soviet period. At this time in the northern villages there were many deported from other regions.

And it was noticed that they do not suffer from hiccups. That is, hiccups spread among local residents with a hereditary predisposition.

Medical methods of influence were not successful. The hiccups epidemic began and ended regardless of their application.

IKOTA ACQUIRED.

Mostly women suffered from this type of hiccups. Men very rarely uttered various screams in a trance state.

Those prone to hiccups were called hiccups and hiccups. The hiccups themselves had the features of a neuropsychic disorder and it was believed that it was attacked by a healthy person – with the wind, water, things … with insects flying in or crawling into an open mouth.

A person suffering from hiccups could get rid of it if by deception he could exchange it for a thing begged from a healthy person.

People who knew how to send hiccups through a certain magic ritual were also called hiccups or hiccups (lay people).

It was believed that they can communicate with evil spirits. Many records of this phenomenon have been preserved.

Depending on the attack, the hiccups were divided into three types: the hiccups of the talker – the hiccup was constantly talking, not reacting to others and not remembering anything; mute hiccups – the woman made loud, bestial sounds; mortal hiccups – the hiccups began to writhe in convulsions that ended in death.

Hiccups could be cured by going through a ceremony more like casting out demons. Since at that time it was believed that the hiccups were caused by demons who settled in the belly of the hiccup.

In the Soviet period, when the religious component came to naught, and a scientific explanation did not appear, hiccups began to perceive the hiccups as a kind of entity that had infiltrated them, with which one could agree. They gave her a name and tried to appease her.

They believed that after the death of the hiccups, the hiccups did not die, but moved into the body of another person.At the same time, she could have been in a secluded place of the hut for years, waiting for an opportune moment.

CONNECTED ICOTA.

The rarest type of hiccups was transmitted exclusively through the female line.

Hiccups appeared in girls already in childhood.

Due to which they could not engage in peasant labor, could not do without outside help, did not get married.

They stayed at the parental home, where at first their parents took care of them, and then those of the relatives to whom the house passed by inheritance.

Along with hiccups, they received a very sensitive inner nature as a gift, during development they could affect people and animals.

The people around knew about this gift and helped in every possible way in its development.

Having reached adulthood, they began to diagnose and treat people for diseases associated with nervous shocks, depression, relieve fear from children.

They had a calming effect on animals, removed spoilage, returned milk, etc.

Hiccup boxes were divided according to the strength of the impact on others.

The “strongest” could find the stolen item and name the thief. Also locate a lost or stolen animal.

This genus of hiccups was an integral part of the peasant world and occupied a prominent place in it.

Collectivization and the subsequent inhuman exploitation of peasant labor made their survival in the new conditions impossible.

AS AN EXAMPLE.

Here is an incident that happened to my mother, Zoya Ivanovna, when she was about five years old.

She lived in the house of her father’s parents (she was raised by her grandparents) in the village of Komarovskaya (about two kilometers from the regional center of Verkhnyaya Toima).

In 1920, Matvey’s grandfather bought her factory-made leather boots. The civil war had just ended, the country was in ruins.

And such things were rare then. And she hid these boots, but forgot where. The whole family was looking for them for a long time, but they were not found.

Then the grandfather harnessed the cart and drove ten miles away to the famous hikotnitsa at that time in one of the Pinega villages.The wife of my grandfather was taken from this village, and that hiccup was her close relative. They returned the next day and organized a festive dinner on this occasion.

Since the event was extraordinary, his mother remembered it.

Hiccup Girl was a thin woman of age, first talked to her, and then played a little. And, as if in the course of the game, she took her hand and began to lead her through the rooms, even went underground … on the poveta (a place for storing hay above the farmyard) they stopped by a haystack.

How the hiccups felt that it was here that the five-year-old girl hid her new shoes, and it remains a mystery.

But it was here, under the hay, that they ended up!

The hiccups stayed for over a week, and they treated her very well. Z

was then generously gifted: they gave some money, a chintz cut for a dress, two chintz shawls (at that time chintz was in great shortage), homespun linen, various little things (needles, threads), tea products, sugar, cereals … in general, they loaded the whole cart.

This was a hidden form of support, since the value of the gifts exceeded several times the value of the found shoes.

And grandfather took the hiccup back.

There was no religious bias in the hiccup. Although at that time my grandfather was a church elder in the village, and on holidays he was a bell ringer in a church in Verkhnyaya Toyma.

Later the mother learned that hiccups had been suffering from hiccups since childhood, and the duration of the attacks increased with age.

The attacks lasted from several days to one and a half months, started unexpectedly, and there was no pattern.

Hiccuping with varying intensity continued day and night. And, in order not to cause inconvenience to loved ones, until the end of the hiccups, she went to the bathhouse and lived in it.

At this time she almost did not sleep, could not eat normal food and washed down her hiccups with water. In order to somehow support her strength, soup broths and thin cereals were specially prepared for her.

At the end of the seizure, she was in a very serious, emaciated state, and moved with great difficulty. Rehabilitation lasted several months, and for the first two weeks she was in bed.

WHITE-EYED WONDER.

The appearance of hiccups in the North is associated with the migration in the second century BC of the tribes of the Ananyin culture (its carriers).

In the period from the VIII to the III century BC, these tribes lived on the middle Volga and participated in the northern fur trade controlled by the Scythians.

In the 2nd century BC, the Scythian state disintegrated and during the beginning of the movement of tribes, a significant part of the Ananians went to the upper reaches of the Pechora River.

Later, through the sparsely populated Pinega River, they reached the Northern Dvina, taking a place between the Verkhnyaya and Nizhnyaya Toima rivers.

And the Volzhans avoided large settlements of local residents in the southern part of the Northern Dvina.

The warming of the climate at that time already made it possible to live on a significant part of the northern rivers, which was used by the new settlers, gradually moving along their middle and lower reaches.

From the seventh century, the North came under the control of the Western Slavs, they gave the name to the population of this part of the North – the white-eyed chud.

These were slender, blue-eyed, fair-haired people of the European type.Under this name, the local tribes remained in history.

THE GERMAN AND THE WONDER.

The Western Slavs divided all the surrounding tribes into Germans and Chud.

Germans (dumb) are incomprehensible tribes hostile to the Slavs.

The Slavs called the numerous Germanic tribes Germans, which did not have a common name. The Romans began to be called Germans from the name of one of the tribes.

And it was only in the Middle Ages that German historians began to use it.

In the Russian North, the Nenets (distorted “Germans”) began to be called nomadic reindeer herders who appeared in the polar tundra in the 8th century.

Chud (strangers) – non-Slavic tribes, of different ethnicity, included in the Slavic world or dependent on it. In the North, besides the white-eyed Chudi, there were also Chukhonts. The Chukhonts began to call the Proto-Finnish tribes, which in the 7th-8th centuries appeared in the upper reaches of the Pechora and Pinega rivers, and then seeped into the forests between the Northern Dvina and Onega rivers.

IKOTA HEROGRAPHY.

In the X-XI centuries, the Russian settlement of the North began, initially from the Novgorod principality. The new wave was many times larger than the white-eyed strange wave, which quickly disappeared into it, adopting the Russian language and culture.

In turn, transferring a predisposition to hiccups to new settlers. And the further spread of hiccups is associated with the Russian development of the North.

Currently, hiccups are present in the Arkhangelsk, Murmansk regions, the Pomor coast of the White Sea, included in Karelia, the Perm region and Mordovia.

Hiccups also got to the Perm region from the North. From the end of the 16th century, thanks to the efforts of the Solvychegodsk merchants Stroganovs, who organized the military expedition of Ermak, Perm became an outpost for the development of Siberia.

And the first settlers were immigrants from the Russian North. Of the places associated with the Ananyin tribes, hiccups have survived only in Mordovia.

Mordva (Erzya, Moksha) is now ranked among the Finno-Ugric peoples, but it is likely that ancient roots have been preserved in it for the longest time.

Until (in the 7th century) one of the Proto-Finno-Ugric did not mix with it. Among other Finno-Ugric peoples, a predisposition to hiccups was not observed.

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Why do cats and cats lick their fur?

You may find your cat licking its paws or chewing on itself from time to time. Why do cats take care of their hygiene? Grooming is a calling card for most cats and starts right after birth. Mothers lick their kittens to cleanse them, encourage them to urinate, and encourage them to suckle milk for comfort and bonding. At four weeks, kittens begin grooming themselves and shortly thereafter – for their mother and siblings.This grooming of oneself and others (called allogrooming) continues into adulthood.

Everything is right

Cats are flexible, fast, and they have everything to take care of themselves. Everything from the rough surface of the tongue to the sharp teeth, comb-like hind legs and forelegs are perfectly suited for maintaining her personal hygiene. The cat can even use its front legs to stimulate the tiny sebaceous glands on the head.Sebum is a feline “perfume” and is distributed throughout the body.

Why do cats groom themselves?

Cats groom themselves not only to maintain cleanliness, but also for a number of other health reasons:

• To regulate body temperature.
• To keep your coat clean and smooth by distributing natural sebum oils.
• To stimulate blood circulation.
• To cool down by evaporation of saliva.
• To get rid of parasites, infections and allergies.
• To prevent hairballs.
• Displaced Behavior: If the cat feels embarrassed, anxious or in a dangerous situation, she will lick herself to calm herself.

Obsessive licking

Does your cat constantly lick, bite or chew on itself? Keep in mind that most cats devote 30 to 50 percent of their time to grooming.But if you start noticing intrusive grooming, hair loss, or skin damage, it might be time to visit your veterinarian.

Obsessive licking can be a consequence of the disease. If your cat constantly bites and licks its skin, it could indicate a neurological disorder, flea infestation, parasite infestation, or a mental disorder. Stress often causes compulsive disorders in cats, such as excessive grooming at an early age. Events such as a move, home remodeling, a new pet or family member, separation anxiety, and lack of encouragement can easily trigger this behavior.And since licking calms and calms the cat, she will want to do it every time she encounters a dangerous situation. If this behavior is ignored, it can lead to self-harm. For example, psychogenic alopecia, or hair pulling, is a common condition that causes thinning hair, baldness, and skin infections.

Insufficient self-care

Regular self-care will help your pet to look good and feel great, but if she gets sick, she may stop taking care of herself.This happens with arthritis, pain, or dental problems. Cats that are taken away from their mothers too early may simply not know how to take proper care of themselves.

Watch out for these warning signs of insufficient self-care:

• Coarse or greasy wool.
• Small mats on the body or tail.
• Traces of urine or faeces on the paws.
• Unpleasant smell.
• Food particles on the face or breast after eating.

To give your pet an incentive to start caring for itself, start brushing it daily.