Hiccups topic overview and causes, treatment

Hiccups occur when a spasm contracts a large sheet of muscle that separates the chest cavity from the abdominal cavity called as diaphragm. This twitch causes an intake of breath that is suddenly stopped by the closure of the vocal cords (glottis). This closure causes the characteristic sound.

Causes

A very full stomach can cause bouts of it. The reasons for full stomach are:

• Eating too much food too quickly.

• Drinking too much alcohol.

• Swallowing too much air.

• Smoking.

• Sudden change in stomach temperature.

• Emotional stress or excitement.

How long do hiccups last?

It usually stops within a few minutes to a few hours. If it lasts longer than 48 hours are called persistent hiccups. If they last longer than a month then they are called intractable hiccups. While very rare, these can cause lack of sleep, exhaustion, and weight loss. Both persistent and these may be a sign of a more serious health problem and must be checked by a doctor.

There are many known causes of both hiccups, such as:

• Central nervous system problems, like cancer, infections, stroke, or injury.

• Chemical processes problem that take place in the body (metabolic problems), such as decreased kidney function or hyperventilation.

• Nerves irritation in the head, neck, and chest (vagus or phrenic nerve).

• Anesthesia or surgery.

• Mental health problems.

Treatment

Most bouts of it go away on their own within a few minutes to a few hours and do not require any treatment. Many remedies at home are used to treat hiccups. Most of remedies involve increasing the level of carbon dioxide in the blood, which usually stops it. Some of these remedies are:

• Hold your breath and count slowly up to 10.

• Repeatedly breathe into a paper bag for a limited period of time.

• Drink a cold glass of water quickly.

• Eat a teaspoon of honey or sugar.

The treatment for persistent or intractable hiccups depends on the underlying cause of the hiccups and may range from medicine to hypnosis or acupuncture. Several treatments sometimes may be tried before persistent or intractable hiccups are controlled. If you have hiccups that last longer may be a few days or so then, tests must be conducted by your doctor to rule out a more serious problem.