Hiccups are a common problem, but it is often difficult to figure out what triggered them. In the case of short-term hiccups, the cause is usually related to something you drank or ate, but other factors may be at play with long-term hiccups.
Identification
According to Medical News Today, a hiccup is a respiratory condition in which the diaphragm and larynx contract involuntarily at the same time and the windpipe closes, halting the usually smooth flow of air to the lungs.
Function
According to Medical News Today, hiccups are the body's way of attempting to expel food or gas from the stomach. If a substance, such as food or stomach gas, has inflamed your diaphragm, the diaphragm contracts, causing you to sharply inhale. The air never reaches the lungs, however, because the muscle contraction has closed the glottis, or windpipe. This cause the bumps in our breathing that we know as the hiccups.
Causes
According to the Mayo Clinic, short-term hiccups, which usually disappear after several minutes, are generally caused by overeating or drinking carbonated or alcoholic beverages, but they also can be triggered by emotional stress and sudden changes in temperature.
Long-term hiccups, defined as lasting longer than 48 hours, usually indicates damage to the phrenic nerve, which works in conjunction with the diaphragm. Irritation to the phrenic nerve may be caused by a hair or other foreign object touching the eardrum, a sore throat, a goiter or tumor in the neck, or acid reflux. Men are diagnosed with long-term hiccups far more frequently than women. Some of the risk factors of developing long-term hiccups include general anesthesia, abdominal distention or intubation. Drugs, such as alcohol, barbituates and steroids, can increase the incidence of hiccups as do such metabolic disorders as diabetes or kidney failure.
Prevention/Solution
According to Medical News Today, to prevent hiccups, try to limit your intake of alcoholic and carbonated beverages and ingest food slowly.
Most short-term hiccups can be cured by forgetting about them, but there are many "home remedies" for them, including inducing sudden fright, drinking water upside down or holding your breath. These remedies are supposed to help jump-start the diaphragm.
Warning
In cases of severe or long-term hiccups, it is advisable to see a physician to rule out the possibility of a tumor or an infection damaging the central nervous system. However, it is very rare that hiccups become severe enough to warrant medical attention.
