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:

Why does a person hiccup?

• Andrei85
  06/02/2006 17:13

  Answer

  First read article on this site and I love 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
  09/11/2006 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 my childhood, at the age of 9-12, I used to hiccup for whole days in a row 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 are used not from hiccups, but from 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

Write a comment

Hiccups: what to do

Hiccups is a non-specific disturbance of the function of external respiration, which occurs as a result of a series of convulsive jerky contractions of the diaphragm and is subjectively manifested by unpleasant short and intense respiratory movements. It occurs occasionally in healthy people for no apparent reason and is usually a harmless, quickly ending phenomenon.

Figure 1. Mechanism of hiccups. Image: rob3000 / Depositphotos

Under what circumstances does hiccups occur?

Hiccups may occur under the following circumstances:

1. General cooling (especially in young children), especially when intoxicated.

2. When the stomach is overdistended (overfilled with food). According to experts, such involuntary muscle contractions may come from the esophagus. Swallowing problems and food getting stuck in the esophagus cause spasms where the esophagus meets the stomach.

3. With irritation of the phrenic nerve. The so-called “normal” hiccups are manifestations of a nervous tic. This occurs under the influence of the phrenic nerve, which, for unknown reasons, transmits excitation to the muscles of the diaphragm. The result is uncontrollable spasms.

Photo: actiongp / freepik. com

Can hiccups be a symptom of disease?

Hiccups can also be a symptom of certain diseases, for example, in the case of irritation of the diaphragm during an inflammatory process in the abdominal cavity. Sometimes it becomes long and painful. Hiccups occur with some diseases of the brain and spinal cord, and can also be observed with myocardial infarction, infectious diseases and mental agitation.

What to do with prolonged hiccups?

In cases of prolonged, persistent hiccups, you should consult a doctor who will determine its cause and prescribe treatment. With the development of renal failure, constant or intermittent hiccups may also be observed. It is the result of the development of an abscess or tumor in the chest, diaphragm or esophagus. In some people, hiccups occur due to psychological reasons, it resembles reactions with transient paralysis in soldiers who are afraid of battle. In such cases, hiccups are unconscious and reflect a desire to avoid very unpleasant events. Some individuals experience hiccups in the postoperative period, which may be a reaction to pain medications.

What is the reason for this phenomenon?

Despite significant advances in medicine over the years, there is still no reliable cure for these minor spasms that cause a person to emit obscene sounds, like a street boozer.

Don’t worry, there are several ways to solve this problem.

How to get rid of hiccups?

Photo: superpicture / freepik.com

To get rid of hiccups, you need to stop spasms of the diaphragm and esophagus. This can be done either by distraction or by breathing techniques. Usually this is sufficient.

What if the hiccups still persist?

Lemon will help get rid of hiccups. Photo: jenoche / freepik.com

When your hiccups persist, you make great efforts to make them disappear. You focus on your chest and consciously tighten your diaphragm. But by straining and trying to suppress the next bout of hiccups you expect, you only complicate the situation. Below we recommend you more correct tricks.

• Swallow a small amount of something bitter or sour. When something unusual enters the digestive system, spasms usually go away: try sucking on a piece of lemon.
• Try to suppress the hiccups by reflex. Place your finger on the wall of the throat as if you were about to induce vomiting. However, in fact, you do not need to bring your actions to such an extent. In this way, you can interrupt the established hiccup rhythm.
• Try to kill hiccups with water. If you drink a large glass of water in small sips at a measured pace, you can stop hiccups. In this way, food residues are washed off from the lower part of the pharynx and, possibly, their irritating effect on the nerve passing in this area is eliminated.
• Drink water in an inclined position of the torso. The upside down position offers a completely new approach to the treatment of hiccups. Bend your torso over the sink and begin to drink water from a glass moved as far away from you as possible.
• Use the sudden startle method, for example startle the victim of hiccups with a sudden pop of an inflated bag or a loud shout. This can instantly stop the spasm.
• Try the folk method with thread. Hispanic South Texas residents use a popular technique to interrupt hiccups with a red thread or strip of cloth. They are tied around the child’s head in the forehead at the level of the bridge of the nose. Perhaps the child directs his eyes to the thread and thus switches his attention. And this is just what you need to stop hiccups.
• Sweeten the pill. Sprinkle some granulated sugar on the back of the tongue and swallow it, you can stir a spoonful of granulated sugar in a small amount of beer and drink this mixture.
• Hold on to your tongue. The next time you have hiccups, open your mouth wide, take your tongue, pull it slightly and hold it for a few seconds. This method of treating hiccups was preferred by President Kennedy’s personal physician.
• Bet Money is a favorite remedy of some doctors and they say has never failed in cases of normal hiccups. When someone hiccups, take out the money, put it on the table, and make a bet with that person that he or she won’t be able to hiccup the next minute. This person can’t really hiccup another time without losing the bet.

You can stop hiccups by drinking water in an inclined position of the torso. Photo: goffkein / freepik.com

Once you stop trying to stop the hiccups, a whole host of other muscles come into play and the spasms disappear.

In which cases should I get tested?

Examination is necessary in the following cases:

• if the hiccups last more than an hour;
• if attacks of hiccups occur several times a day or several days a week;
• if, in addition to hiccups, you have chest pain, heartburn, or trouble swallowing.

How does the elimination of hiccups proceed in this case?

If your hiccups are very frequent or persist for a long time, your doctor may order an x-ray after you take barium to look for any obstruction in your esophagus. To eliminate hiccups that are permanent and not associated with any mechanical obstruction in the esophagus, the doctor may prescribe certain medications, depending on what your disorders are related to.

An interesting fact is that Charles Osborne of Anton, Iowa, USA, began to hiccup in 1922. He led a normal life, was married twice and had 8 children, and stopped hiccuping in 1990 (Guinness Book of Records).

Marina Apryatkina

Sources

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• Abbasi J. Data Leak Exposes Early COVID-19 Vaccine Manufacturing Hiccups. // JAMA – 2021 – Vol325 – N14 – p.1385; PMID:33847730
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• Atiyat R., Veeraballi S., Al-Atiyat N., Chan KH., Slim J. A Rare Case Report of Persistent Hiccups as an Atypical Presentation of COVID-19.