What Are Hiccups?
Our breathing helps through the
diaphragm muscles creates sudden involuntary contractions when we experience
hiccups. When your vocal cords shut quickly after a rapid contraction you
produce the characteristic "hiccup" noise. Normally hiccups persist
for only a short time but sometimes they continue for extended periods reaching
durations of hours and days.
Why Do I Keep Getting Hiccups?
There are several common causes of hiccups, some of
which are discussed here –
1) Eating Too Fast or Overeating
Rapid swallowing during meals can cause hiccups
because excessive food and air enter the stomach thus irritating the diaphragm.
2) Drinking Carbonated Beverages
When people drink soft drinks their stomach
releases gas that causes the diaphragm to expand and contract unexpectedly.
Hiccups often develop because of this process.
3) Spicy or Hot Foods
Consuming extremely hot spicy foods creates nerve
irritation that leads to hiccups. The sudden shift in temperature from hot food
to our throat or diaphragm generates the same hiccup mechanism.
4) Sudden Changes in Temperature
When you go from hot temperatures to extremely cold
temperatures or drink a cold drink after a hot meal your diaphragm can
experience changes that lead to hiccups.
5) Emotional Triggers
Hiccups occur when excessive stress together with
excitement or excessive anxiety leads to overstimulation of the diaphragm.
6) Alcohol Consumption
Drinking alcohol leads to stomach lining
stimulation that causes diaphragm spasms and eventually produces hiccups.
7) Swallowing Too Much Air
An intake of excessive air while speaking or eating
gum or using straws and pipes can result in hiccups.
8) Gastro-Esophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
Stomach acid produced during acid reflux has the
power to inflame the diaphragm leading to persistent hiccups.
9) Medications
Certain medications including steroids and
painkillers and sedatives may result in hiccups as reported side effects.
10) Underlying Health Conditions
Persistent hiccups represent a medical issue more
often than not but can sometimes indicate nerve damage or stroke or kidney
problems. Contact your doctor when your hiccups persist beyond 48 hours.
What to Do if Hiccups Are Not Stopping?
In most cases, hiccups go away on their own, but if
they persist, you can try the following simple and home remedies –
1) Hold Your Breath
Take a deep breath and hold it for as long as
possible. This increases the carbon dioxide levels in the blood, which often
helps to stop the hiccups.
2) Drink Cold Water Slowly
Sip cold water occasionally to stimulate the vagus
nerve, which helps to relax the diaphragm and stop the hiccups.
3) Swallow a Teaspoon of Sugar
Eating granulated sugar can stimulate the nerves in
the throat and stop the hiccups.
4) Breathe into a Paper Bag
Breathing into a paper bag can increase the carbon
dioxide levels in the blood, which helps to relax the diaphragm and stop the
hiccups.
5) Gargle with Cold Water
Gargling with cold water stimulates the nerves in
the throat and helps stop hiccups.
6) Apply Gentle Pressure
To reduce the pressure on the diaphragm, gently
massage it or sit with your knees close to your chest for a while.
7) Suck on a Lemon or Vinegar
You can drink a small amount of lemon juice or
vinegar. Because their sour taste can confuse your nerves and help eliminate
hiccups.
8) Try the Valsalva Maneuver
Pinch your nose with your fingers, close your mouth
and try to exhale forcefully, so that the tension in the diaphragm can be
controlled. In many cases, doing this stops hiccups.
9) Massage Your Neck
Many times, gently massaging the carotid artery
near the neck relaxes the diaphragm and stops hiccups.
10) Distract Yourself
Sometimes distracting yourself, i.e. concentrating
on another activity, can help stop hiccups.
When to See a Doctor?
If your hiccups persist for 48 hours or more, you
should definitely consult a doctor. This is because persistent hiccups can be a
symptom of the following reasons –
1) Nerve damage or irritation
2) Gastrointestinal problems
3) Neurological disorders
4) Side effects of medications
Prevention Tips for Hiccups
If you have frequent hiccups, you can follow these
simple remedies –
1) Eat or drink slowly to reduce swallowing of
excess air.
2) Avoid excessively salty, spicy foods, and
carbonated drinks as much as possible.
3) Try to control stress by following techniques
like deep breathing.
4) Avoid overeating and try to keep yourself
hydrated as much as possible.
5) Limit or stop alcohol intake.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1) Why do I get hiccups every time I
eat?
Answer): Eating too quickly, eating too much
spicy food can irritate or stimulate our diaphragm, which can cause hiccups.
Try chewing small amounts of food slowly.
2) Are frequent Hiccups a sign of an Underlying Disease?
Answer): Hiccups are a normal occurrence,
but frequent hiccups can sometimes indicate acid reflux, nerve irritation, or
even a neurological disease. And if hiccups persist, then definitely consult a
doctor.
3) How Long should Hiccups last
before seeing a Doctor?
Answer): If your hiccups last for 48 hours
or more, then it can be a sign of a serious underlying health problem. So, you
should definitely consult a doctor in those cases.
4) Can Hiccups be Prevented?
Answer): Hiccups can be prevented by
controlling stress through techniques such as eating too quickly, avoiding
spicy foods, drinking carbonated beverages, and practicing deep breathing
regularly.
5) Do Home Remedies really work for Hiccups?
Answer): Hiccups can be stopped by using
home remedies (see above) such as drinking extra cold water, holding your
breath, swallowing granulated sugar, or drinking lemon juice.
6) Can Stress cause Hiccups?
Answer): Psychological factors such as
stress, tension, or anxiety can overstimulate the nerves that control the
diaphragm, which can lead to hiccups. Practicing relaxation techniques such as
deep breathing can help in these cases.
Hiccups are generally a very common occurrence and are
usually temporary. However, frequent hiccups can become a source of annoyance.
By understanding the common triggers of hiccups and using simple home remedies,
you can get rid of the problem of hiccups. But if it persists for a long time,
it can indicate an underlying health problem, so it is important to consult a
doctor in such cases.