Hiccups happen when the diaphragm and respiratory organs
experience a sudden, involuntary spasm. This spasm is usually followed by the
closure of the glottis (the slit-like opening between the vocal cords and
larynx) and a characteristic sound like that of a cough.
Persistent hiccups are
hiccups that last more than 48 hours but less than 30 days while intractable
hiccups are classified as hiccups that last more than 30 days.
Mostly harmless
Everyone gets hiccups
in their life. The majority of the time they are completely harmless and are
more of an irritant than a symptom of an underlying condition, but, if you
experience hiccups that last more than 48 hours this could potentially signal
serious health complications.
“You should seek
advice from your health care provider if your hiccups progress from happening
every once in a while to becoming persistent or intractable,” said Timothy
Pfanner, MD, assistant professor of medicine at the Texas A&M Health
Science Center College of Medicine.
Finding the causes
Food and drink,
especially rich, fatty food, curries, fizzy drinks and alcohol, are among the
common irritants that send the diaphragm into spasm.
A sudden change in
room temperature, downing a cold drink after hot food, and smoking can also
trigger a bout. Some people tend to hiccup when stressed or overexcited.
Smokers and those who
consume large amounts of alcohol are also more prone to hiccups.
“Anything that causes
your stomach to become distended can cause hiccups,” says Pfanner. “Smokers are
prone because they are constantly swallowing air. Drinking alcohol can induce
hiccups because it irritates the esophagus and may result in a flare-up of acid
reflux.”
Acid reflux disease is
a common culprit behind hiccups, and surprisingly, ear infections may cause
them as well. When the tempanic membrane (the membrane in the ear that vibrates
in response to sound waves) becomes irritated this can result in hiccups.
“This membrane can
become irritated due to infection – especially if a hair makes its way into the
ear and sits next to the membrane,” Pfanner said. “This is a very common cause
for hiccups that don’t subside.”
If your hiccups last more than
two days…
Grey’s Anatomy fans
will remember the episode where Meredith’s step-mother checks into the hospital
for a case of hiccups that won’t go away.The diagnosis wasn’t pretty and
although rare, persistent hiccups can be a sign the something bigger is wrong.
“Generally, when
someone is diagnosed with intractable hiccups, we start worrying that something
more serious is going on internally,” Pfanner said. “However, since intractable
hiccups are also a symptom of acid reflux disease it’s always important to discuss
your symptoms with your physician.”
Cancer is never a word
thrown around lightly, and according to Pfanner, intractable hiccups could be a
symptom of certain cancers. “Sometimes we see intractable hiccups in patients
diagnosed with cancers of the brain, lymph nodes or stomach cancer,” he said.
“They can also indicate stroke. It’s still unclear why many of these incidents
occur.”
Since hiccups convulse
the muscles that control the diaphragm, patients who experience persistent or
intractable hiccups can suffer nerve damage in the nerve that controls these
muscles. “This may also point to a tumor in the neck or goiter,” Pfanner said.
Pesky hiccups that
refuse to subside may even be symptoms of heart muscle damage or a heart
attack. “Persistent or intractable hiccups can indicate inflammation around the
heart or a pending heart attack,” Pfanner said. “That’s why we always want
patients who are experiencing these type of hiccups to immediately consult
their health care provider.”
But don’t panic
While hiccups can
rarely be tell-tale signs of serious health complications, common hiccups are
more of a nuisance than a health risk.
There’s no sure fire
cure when the hiccups strike but to quickly ease your occasional hiccup woes,
there are a few different things you can try. The two most popular are:
Hold your breath. Doing this for a short period of time forces
the diaphragm to flatten and lengthen. Stretching the diaphragm in this way can
help it to relax and stop going into spasm.
Breathe into a bag. Breathing in and out of a paper bag ten
times or so raises the carbon dioxide level in the blood. This is thought to
calm the nerves and helps the diaphragm relax.
Deep slow breathing. If a bag isn’t you bag deep slow breathing
can help relax the diaphragm. Place you hand on your belly and try to direct
your breath there, slowly inhaling and exhaling. To aid relaxation try
inhaling lavender, lemon grass, juniper or peppermint essential oil – sprinkle
a few drops on a hankie or tissue and breath in and out slowly.
Put some honey under your
tongue. The theory is that
the sudden rush of sweetness stimulates the vagus nerve and tricks your brain
into emptying your stomach, taking pressure off the diaphragm.
Stimulate the vagus nerve. The vagus nerve is one of 12
cranial nerves. It is the longest of the cranial nerves,
extending from the brainstem to the abdomen by way of multiple organs including
the heart, esophagus, and lungs. Irritation of the vagus nerve is
thought to have some role in hicups. Pressing a cotton swab in the back of the
throat to induce a gag reflex will stimulate this nerve. But if that doesn’t
appeal try swallowing roughly chewed, very dry bread or crackers or granulated
sugar. Pressing lightly on the eyeballs, according to Pfanner, will also
activate your vagus nerve and result in a reflex that can hinders the spasm of
hiccups.
Reference:
nyrnaturalnews
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