Hiccups
Alternative Names
Singultus, HiccupsWhat is Hiccups
A hiccup is a condition characterizing by an unintentional movement of the diaphragm, the muscle at the base of the lungs. The spasm is followed by quick closing of the vocal cords which produces a distinctive sound.
Signs and symptoms
The only one symptom of hiccups is a slight tightening sensation in your chest, abdomen or throat that precedes the characteristic sound.
Possible complications
Prolonged hiccups can interfere with such processes as:
- Speech
- Eating
- Sleeping
- Post-surgical wound healing
What causes
The possible causes of hiccups include the followings:
- Abdominal surgery
- Disease or disorder that irritates the nerves that control the diaphragm (such as pleurisy or pneumonia)
- Hot and spicy foods or liquids
- Harmful fumes
- Stroke or tumor affecting the brain
Prevention
You can reduce your frequency of short-term hiccups by taking the following steps:
- Not eat large meals
- Avoid drinking carbonated beverages or alcohol
- Avoid sudden changes in temperature
Treatment
There is no specific treatment for hiccups, because it disappears on their own within a few minutes to a few hours.
You can use home remedies to treat hiccups. Most of them involve increasing the level of carbon dioxide in the blood which usually stops hiccups. Some of these remedies include:
- Holding your breath and counting slowly to 10
- Breathing repeatedly into a paper bag for a limited period of time
- Quickly drinking a glass of cold water
- Eating a teaspoon of sugar or honey
The treatment for persistent or intractable hiccups depends on the underlying cause of the hiccups and may range from medicine to acupuncture or hypnosis. Sometimes several treatments may be tried before persistent or intractable hiccups are controlled. If you have hiccups that last a few days or longer, your doctor may conduct tests to rule out a more serious problem.
