Why do i keep on getting hiccups: Hiccups – Symptoms and causes

27.08.202312.06.2023 by alexxlab

Causes and How to Stop Them

The unwarranted hiccup after a meal isn’t just a dinner party buzzkill, it can be downright uncomfortable.

But why the heck are you only getting hiccups after you eat? Here’s what’s to blame (and how to avoid) that unwanted hiccup interruption.

A quick anatomy lesson. Your esophagus is the tube that connects your stomach to your throat.

A 2012 research review showed that if your esophagus gets irritated after a nom-fest, this can lead to those pesky hiccups. Post-meal, jean-button-undoing bloat can also be to blame. Here’s what can cause these scenarios.

1. Eating too fast

Eating too fast means your stomach is filling up too quickly, causing it to become swollen and bloated (aka distension). This can trigger hiccups as your stomach presses or irritates your diaphragm (the muscle right above your stomach that helps you breathe).

2. Temperature changes

Even a temp change can cause hiccups. If you chow down on something super hot or cold, it could irritate the temperature of your esophagus and lead to hiccups. This could also be related to stimulating the phrenic nerve and the vagus nerve that cause the diaphragm to contract.

3. Spicy foods

Spicy food not only sets your mouth on fire 🔥, but it can also irritate the phrenic nerve and the vagus nerve near your esophagus.

4. Nonfood things

Have you ever been so excited that you suddenly started hiccuping seriously loudly? Yeah, that’s normal. Other nonfood things that can cause hiccups include inhaling cold air and emotional stress.

5. Eating dry food and bread

Dry food can irritate the back of your throat, and is often harder to chew (making it easier to swallow more air and cause hiccups).

6. Drinking seltzer

Sparkling water is super hydrating, but the carbonation can make you feel super bloated, according to a research review. So, if you’re getting hiccups after dinner and a Waterloo, it might be the carbonated water.

7. Booze

Alcoholic beverages can lead to bloat, especially when you’re drinking a lot. Carbonated drinks like beer and soda mixers are the worst offenders. So, if you have the hiccups after a night out, it might be that vodka and soda.

Hiccups usually go away without any fancy intervention. But if it’s just too darn uncomfortable (or inconvenient), here’s what might help you out:

Breathe into a paper bag. This might help increase the carbon dioxide levels in your blood. When these levels go up, hiccups often go away.
Drink cold water quickly. Drinking water (or even gargling) can help calm down any irritation, especially if you ate something hot 🔥.
Drink something warm. Hot water with lemon and honey might calm things down if you ate something super cold.
Down a spoonful of sugar. Sugar might help interrupt any diaphragm spasms by irritating your throat.
Find a lemon. Sucking on a lemon might help counter hiccup irritation.
Practice slow breathing. Breathing slowly can help relax you and your diaphragm.
Hold your breath. Holding your breath for 15 to 20 seconds helps carbon dioxide to build up in your lungs and relaxes your diaphragm.
Try the Valsalva maneuver. It’s a breathing technique that involves bearing down while you hold your breath.
Pull your knees to your chest and lean forwards. Sometimes all you need to cure hiccups is to change your posture.
Get scared. The sudden stress of someone scaring you can sometimes knock out your hiccups.

There are some ways to actually prevent getting hiccups after eating (and the awkwardness of trying to hold a convo at the dinner table).

Eat your meal slowly.
Don’t talk while you chow down.
Try not to swallow air when you chew.
Avoid spicy or acidic foods.
Don’t drink carbonated drinks.
Eat only until you’re full.
Avoid alcohol, especially beer.
Drink water throughout your meal.

Hiccups that last a few minutes aren’t usually anything to worry about. Yes, they’re annoying, but generally nothing more.

However, if your hiccups are severe or last longer than 2 days, it’s prob time to talk with your doctor.

According to a 2012 research review, hiccups that last 48 hours to 2 months are considered persistent hiccups (or chronic hiccups) and could be the sign of an underlying condition, like stroke or heart disease.

A 2010 study found that persistent hiccups might be a symptom of damaged blood vessels or heart muscles.

A report also noted that a man with a high risk for heart disease went to the ER after having hiccups for 4 days. Doctors ended up finding out that he was having a heart attack with no other symptoms.

Hiccups are also found in people with nervous system diseases and chest injuries, as they can cause irritation of the vagus nerve.

The good news is that hiccups generally don’t last longer than a few minutes, and even up to 2 days isn’t a cause for concern.

Taking the time to eat slowly and avoiding acidic or spicy foods may help you prevent hiccups after a meal.

For the most part, hiccups can be both easily prevented and dealt with. But if you find yourself regularly getting hiccups or have hiccups lasting longer than 2 days, it’s time to talk with your doctor.

Can Stress Cause Hiccups?

Hiccups can be an annoying disruption to your day, especially if you’re interrupted by an embarrassing “hic” when you’re talking to someone important. It may be hard to predict what might cause you to hiccup, although some people recognize that they may do it in response to emotional events. If this happens to you, it’s not your imagination; stress can cause hiccups in some people.

“While some people get the hiccups because they have swallowed air or as a side effect to certain medications, other people do get the hiccups sometimes when they are frightened, excited or surprised,” says internal medicine physician, Olufunke Olushoga, M. D.

Both children and adults may occasionally experience bouts of hiccups in response to stressful events. Read on to find out why stress is sometimes linked to the hiccups, plus what you may be able to do to stop the hiccups once you’ve gotten them.

Why stress may cause hiccups

People get the hiccups when the diaphragm – the muscle that separates the chest from the belly suddenly contracts – begins to spasm. Its movements are controlled by the phrenic nerve, which sends information from the brain to the diaphragm to help control breathing.

A stressful event, manifested as sudden excitement, nervousness, fear or shock may act as a trigger, causing the diaphragm to begin to spasm. When this happens, you take in air and your voice box closes shut, making the “hic” sound.

Hiccups that can be linked to an emotional reaction are typically short-lived, lasting less than 48 hours. There’s usually a medical reason why someone would have the hiccups for longer periods of time.

Other common causes of the hiccups

Most people who get the hiccups don’t notice an association between their hiccups and stressful events. Sometimes, certain medications may increase the risk of hiccups. Other times, lifestyle habits or health conditions may increase risk.

Lifestyle habits which may trigger a bout of hiccups include:
Eating or drinking too quickly
Overeating
Eating spicy food
Eating very hot food after very cold food, or vice versa
Sudden temperature change
Drinking carbonated beverages
Drinking alcohol
Chewing gum
Smoking

Some health conditions which may be linked to persistent hiccups include:

Heartburn, acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease
Asthma
Bronchitis
Diabetes
Shingles
Certain forms of cancer
Heart attack
Some brain conditions such as a stroke

How to try to stop your hiccups

If you’re experiencing the hiccups, whether or not you got them in response to a stressful situation, you may be able to make them go away on your own. Common methods include:

Holding your breath for five to 10 seconds (as tolerated)
Breathing into a paper bag
Bringing your knees up to your chest, then leaning forward for 30 seconds to one minute
Swallowing a teaspoonful of table sugar
Sipping or gargling with very cold water
Biting into a lemon

“There are ways to modify some of the standard home remedies. With your mouth closed, hold your nostrils and try breathing out. When you do this, tighten your stomach muscles so it feels like you are bearing down. Hold this for five seconds,” Dr. Olushoga says. “Original or modified home remedies may not work for every person every time, but they’re worth trying.”

In most cases, the hiccups should go away on their own, or with your intervention, within a few minutes. If you experience the hiccups for two full days without relief, seek medical attention, in case they are a sign of a possible health condition that requires treatment.

Next Steps & Resources:

Meet our source: Olufunke Olushoga, M.D.
To make an appointment with Dr. Olushoga, or a doctor near you, call 800-822-8905 or visit our website.

The material provided through HealthU is intended to be used as general information only and should not replace the advice of your physician. Always consult your physician for individual care.

Donovan Mitchell – about the rumors: “I continue to look for ways to win” – Basketball

Utah defender Donovan Mitchell commented on the rumors about his desire to leave the team.

“Firstly, I have reached a point where I am at peace with myself. But all the time that I’ve been at Utah, I see these articles all the time and really discuss them with teammates. I saw it all. It doesn’t really bother me. I don’t think about it. For me it is important how we can win.

Start talking about what I say or what I don’t say, because that’s how it’s always been around me. And I always thought that these conversations meant nothing. I really don’t think about it that often. At the moment I am happy and just continue to look for ways to win,” said Mitchell.

Earlier it was reported that the defender may want to move to another team due to the unsatisfactory results of the Jazz.

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Author: MC “Diamed-Tula”

Hiccups are inborn reflexes, and can appear completely unexpectedly and in the most inappropriate conditions.

Usually, the resulting hiccups go away on their own, as soon as a person stops concentrating on the sensations that bring discomfort. If you continue to hiccup for quite a long time, try to solve the problem in one of the following ways. But first, let’s find out the nature of hiccups.

Cause of hiccups

If the intercostal muscles and the diaphragm (an organ that is involved in the respiratory process) begin to convulsively contract, hiccups occur. As a result of spontaneous sharp inspiration and overlapping of the airways with the epiglottis, the onset of hiccups occurs.

What is the cause of the spasm? The vagus nerve is responsible for it – the most important “information channel” in our body. It extends from the brain to the organs through the esophagus and the opening in the diaphragm, and regulates digestion, blood circulation, respiration and other vital systems.

If the vagus nerve is irritated or pinched, hiccups may occur. Air may have entered the stomach, the pieces of food were too large, or the posture while eating was incorrect. If the vagus nerve is damaged, the whole body will suffer. To prevent irreparable damage, the nerve causes the diaphragm to contract convulsively.

Some of the most famous “irritants” are:

highly carbonated drinks;
hot or cold food;
food on the go;
overeating;
stress, fright;
alcohol consumption.

Medical Center “DIAMED” offers to make an appointment with a general practitioner. A full range of diagnostics and treatment of diseases in Tula. Tel. for appointment +7 (4872) 39-30-33.

The occurrence of hiccups can also indicate pathological processes: inflammation, metabolic problems, the presence of tumors, etc. Such hiccups have a very long duration, which can be several hours, or maybe even days. If you experience these symptoms, you should immediately consult a doctor.

Interesting facts about hiccups

Ballerinas have a special exercise to stop hiccups. They keep their hands behind their backs. At the same time, they stand on tiptoe and throw back their heads, while inhaling the air in small sips.
The Germans have a belief that a cross cut out of paper, which is applied to the forehead, helps with hiccups.
In order not to hiccup, the British bend over a full cup and take three sips from the far end.
The record holder for the longest hiccup was Charles Osborn, an Iowa farm worker, who hiccupped for a full sixty-nine years.

Ways to stop hiccups

From a physiological point of view, hiccups can not harm our body if it passes quickly and on its own. But there are situations when it occurs at the wrong time.

In order to stop hiccups, it is necessary to stop the spasm of the diaphragm. To do this, you need to use one of two proven methods:

Increasing the level of carbon dioxide in the blood. If more oxygen is needed, the diaphragm will contract more deeply and relieve spasms.
Vagus nerve stimulation. It is necessary to “distract the attention” of the vagus nerve with another irritant.

Proven ways to stop hiccups:

breath holding.