What are hiccups?

Hiccups are bursts of inspiratory (breathing in) activity. The muscles we use when we take in a breath are the intercostal muscles situated between the ribs, and the diaphragm – a sheet of muscle below the lungs.

Most simple cases of hiccups come after eating or drinking too much or too quickly. The stomach, which is situated right below the diaphragm, becomes distended and irritates it. This will cause the diaphragm to contract, as it does when we breathe in.

Why do hiccups occur?

Sometimes hiccups will occur because of a disturbance to the nerve pathways from the brain to the muscles involved. This explains why hiccups may occur with temperature changes or emotional situations. It is also the reason that a sudden shock can sometimes abolish an attack.

Persistent hiccups may signify problems in the brain, spinal cord or any of the structures around the diaphragm or chest wall.

Everyone has their own pet remedy for curing hiccups. Simply holding your breath is often effective. Breathing into a paper bag, the best remedy, increases the amount of carbon dioxide in the lungs, relaxing the diaphragm and halting the spasms.

Causes of hiccups

Experts have yet to reach a definitive conclusion on what the mechanisms are that cause hiccups, or why they occur. According to studies, the following circumstances, conditions and illnesses have been associated with a higher risk of developing hiccups:

- Hot food has irritated the phrenic nerve. The phrenic nerve is near the esophagus.

- When there is gas in the stomach, which presses against the diaphragm.

- Too much food is eaten.

- Food is eaten too rapidly.

- There is a sudden change in temperature.

- Fizzy drinks are consumed.

- Some people get hiccups after eating spicy foods.

After eating dry breads.

- Many people anecdotally report hiccups after consuming alcoholic beverages.

- Some medications, such as opiates, benzodiazepines, anesthesia, corticosteroids, barbiturates, and mythyldopa are known to cause hiccups.

- Some medical conditions are linked to a higher incidence of hiccups, such as:

- Gastrointestinal conditions, including IBD (inflammatory bowel disease), a small bowel obstruction, or GERD (gastro-esophageal reflux disease).

- Respiratory conditions, such as pleurisy, pneumonia or asthma.

- Conditions which affect the CNS (central nervous system), including a traumatic brain injury, encephalitis, a brain tumor, or stroke.

- Conditions which irritate the vagus nerve, such as meningitis, pharyngitis or goitre.

- Psychological reactions, including grief, excitement, anxiety, stress, hysterical behavior, or shock.

- Conditions which affect metabolism, including hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia, or diabetes.

Often, hiccups occur unexpectedly and neither the patient nor the doctor can identify their likely cause.

Possible complications of hiccups

If a patient has prolonged hiccups, complications may develop, including:

# Weight loss – in some cases the hiccups are not only long-term, but occur at short intervals, making it hard for the patient to eat properly.

# Insomnia – if the prolonged hiccups persist during the sleeping hours, the patient will find it hard to get to sleep, and/or stay asleep.

# Fatigue – people with prolonged hiccups may become exhausted, especially if they cannot sleep or eat properly.

# Communication problems – persistent hiccups may make it harder for the patient to communicate orally.

# Depression – patients with long-term hiccups have a considerably higher risk of developing clinical depression.

# Post-surgical wound healing – if the patient is hiccupping all day long, post-surgical wounds will probably take much longer to heal. Some patients may have a higher risk of developing infections, or start bleeding after surgery.

Tests for patients with prolonged hiccups

http://www.healthmatters.cf/hiccups

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