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Why does it hiccup so often. Causes and what to do with frequent hiccups for adults

Why does it hiccup so often. Causes and what to do with frequent hiccups for adults

Hiccups are involuntary, sharp, successive breaths, accompanied by a characteristic sound. Hiccups may be physiological and do not require special treatment. Or it can be pathological, that is, a symptom of a serious illness.

Hiccups - what is it, its classification

Hiccups are a special breath caused by clonic convulsions of the diaphragm with simultaneous contraction of the intercostal and laryngeal muscles. This breath occurs involuntarily, sharply and stereotypically repeated. Hiccups are accompanied by jerky protrusion of the abdomen and a characteristic sound. Its source is the glottis narrowed and blocked by the epiglottis.

By duration, hiccups are divided into:

short-term or episodic - lasts no more than 15 minutes;
persistent - lasts from several hours to 2 days;
intractable - can last 1-2 months or more. Sometimes hiccups that do not go away for two or more days (up to 2 months) are called rack. And lasting more than two months - stubborn or intractable.

Episodic hiccups in the vast majority of cases are physiological. Intractable and persistent are forms of pathological hiccups, which are characterized by frequent relapses, exhausting the patient and changing his psychological state. Pathological hiccups is an indication for a thorough examination of the patient in order to find out the causes and mechanisms of its occurrence.

Hiccups are a rather unpleasant phenomenon due to their suddenness and uncontrollability. Especially if it occurs in situations where a person needs to talk, eat or do physical work. Intractable hiccups can cause neurosis, depression, insomnia, dehydration, a sharp decrease in body weight, cardiac arrhythmia, and even social, including professional, failure.

At the moment of hiccups, the glottis closes, closes with the epiglottis, and the air practically stops flowing into the lungs. If the hiccups are short-term, this does not affect the state of human health in any way. With persistent and intractable hiccups, the patient may suffer from suffocation.

Men hiccup much more often than women, and they have a constantly growing number of severe hiccup attacks, the causes of which cannot be identified even with a comprehensive examination.

By itself, hiccups cannot lead to death. But it can be a symptom of a dangerous disease, which, if not diagnosed in time and left untreated, can be fatal.

Causes of hiccups

The causes of short-term physiological hiccups are as follows:

general hypothermia of the body;
incorrect posture while eating;
hasty food;
binge eating;
eating excessively spicy, salty, hot or cold foods, as well as dry and hard foods;
fear, fright;
alcohol abuse;
consumption of carbonated drinks;
laugh;
side effects of certain drugs, such as anesthetics;
Long-term use of certain pain medications can cause an allergic reaction, manifested by hiccups.

Physiological hiccups, from a medical point of view, are an attempt by the body to push out the air accumulated in the stomach and regulate the digestion process in it. Air enters the stomach during eating, breathing and talking. The air bubble reduces the useful volume of the stomach, which can be filled with food, bursts, stretches it excessively and prevents normal digestion.

Physiological hiccups do not require special treatment. To cope with it, it is enough to eliminate the cause of the disease: warm the person, exclude carbonated drinks from the diet, adjust the diet, etc.

Pathological hiccups (persistent and intractable), depending on the cause that caused it, are divided into three types (described below).

The first type is central hiccups. It is caused by diseases that occur with damage to the spinal cord or brain, namely:

injuries with cerebral hemorrhages;
tumors;
circulatory disorders (stroke);
vascular damage (vasculitis, for example, with systemic lupus erythematosus, aneurysms);
encephalitis;
Parkinson's disease;
epilepsy;
meningitis;
autoimmune diseases ( multiple sclerosis, Devic's syndrome).

The second type is peripheral hiccups. It occurs in diseases and conditions accompanied by damage or irritation of the phrenic nerve, including:

tumors of the mediastinum, esophagus, lungs;
lymphogranulomatosis;
sarcoidosis;
respiratory diseases (pneumonia, bronchitis, laryngitis);
diseases of the organs of the cardiovascular system (myocardial infarction, arrhythmias, in which the implantation of a pacemaker is indicated);
pathology of the gastrointestinal tact (hernia of the esophageal opening of the diaphragm, diverticulum of the esophagus, peptic ulcer stomach and duodenum, tumors of the pancreas and stomach, pancreatitis, intestinal obstruction, subdiaphragmatic abscess, etc.).

A variation of peripheral hiccups is considered reflected hiccups. It occurs in the pathology of organs located at a distance from the zones innervated by the phrenic nerve. Giardiasis, helminthiases, pathology of the intestines, uterus, appendages - these and other diseases can cause reflected hiccups.

The third type is toxic hiccups, which can be provoked by the following diseases and conditions:

electrolyte imbalance (hypokalemia, hypocalcemia);
diabetes;
severe forms of infectious diseases;
exposure to certain drugs, namely: glucocorticosteroids, chemotherapeutic agents, antiparkinsonian drugs, morphine, azithromycin, anesthetics and drugs used in psychiatry;
alcoholism;
nicotine intoxication.

In addition, pathological hiccups can be psychogenic (neurogenic) in nature, that is, develop on a nervous basis.

Diseases, one of the symptoms of which may be hiccups

Pathological hiccups are not a characteristic sign of any diseases, but it can help the doctor suspect a serious illness in time, start an examination in a timely manner and prescribe treatment.

Diseases and conditions that may be accompanied by painful, incessant hiccups:

Diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system:

ischemic / hemorrhagic stroke;
encephalitis;
meningitis;
epilepsy;
brain tumors, including the brain stem;
spinal cord tumors;
Parkinson's disease;
traumatic brain injury with intracranial hemorrhage;
hydrocephalus;
syringomyelia;
neurosyphilis;
brain abscess;
arteriovenous malformation of cerebral vessels;
cerebral aneurysms.

Autoimmune and other systemic diseases:

systemic lupus erythematosus;
Devic's syndrome;
multiple sclerosis;
sarcoidosis;
giant cell temporal arteritis (Horton's disease).

Diseases of the abdominal organs:

tumors of the pancreas, liver, stomach;
subphrenic abscess;
gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD);
gastritis;
pancreatitis;
hepatitis;
peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum;
intestinal obstruction;
pathology of the biliary tract;
Crohn's disease;
nonspecific ulcerative colitis.

Diseases of the chest and neck:

tumors of the mediastinal organs (esophagus, trachea);
lung tumors;
thyroid tumors;
cysts and other tumors of the neck;
mediastinitis;
pericarditis;
esophagitis;
pleural empyema;
chest trauma;
hiatal hernia;
diverticulum of the esophagus;
myocardial infarction;
aortic aneurysm;
pulmonary embolism;
pneumonia;
bronchitis, laryngobronchitis;
pleurisy.

Diseases of the lymphoid tissue:

lymphogranulomatosis (Hodgkin's disease);
non-Hodgkin's lymphomas.

Diseases and conditions that occur with severe toxic-metabolic disorders:

diabetes;
chronic alcoholism;
renal failure, uremia;
herpes zoster;
malaria;
flu;
tuberculosis;
hypocalcemia;
hyponatremia;
hypokalemia.

Diseases of the spine:

herniated disc;
circulatory disorders in the vertebrobasilar system.

Conditions after surgical interventions under general anesthesia with intubation and other manipulations.

Features of hiccups in children, pregnant women and the fetus

Hiccups in a child at any age are usually physiological. It occurs infrequently, passes quickly enough and does not threaten health. A pediatrician should be contacted if the child's hiccups occur frequently and its attacks last up to an hour or more.

Newborns hiccup, as a rule, after feeding, or vice versa, when they are hungry or thirsty. Hiccups can occur if the baby is cold or afraid of some external stimulus. To cope with an attack, it is enough to warm the baby, divert his attention, feed / drink, or, if he has just eaten, hold him upright, waiting for the air to leave the stomach.

From the menu of a nursing mother, you need to exclude foods that cause increased formation of gases in the intestines. This will help prevent the baby from bloating and hiccups. Never force-feed a newborn. The fact that he is hungry, he will declare himself with anxiety or crying. In order to avoid hypothermia or overheating of the baby in the children's room, you should constantly maintain optimal temperature and air humidity. From the house you need to remove all external irritants that can scare the baby.

The causes of hiccups in older children are similar to those in adults.

Causes of hiccups in pregnant women:

the pressure of the growing uterus on the abdominal organs and on the diaphragm, respectively;
excitement of the expectant mother;
hypothermia;
binge eating;
uncomfortable position of the body of a pregnant woman.

Causes of hiccups in the fetus:

swallowing amniotic fluid, which occurs when sucking a finger;
hiccuping, the child trains his muscles, while massaging the internal organs;
hiccups may be an indirect sign of intrauterine fetal hypoxia;
hiccuping, the baby reacts to a change in the mood of the mother, wanting to communicate with her and with the outside world.

A woman can feel fetal hiccups starting from the 25-26th week of pregnancy.

Which specialist and when should I contact with complaints of hiccups

Intractable hiccups do not indicate temporary disorders, but a serious illness. Therefore, you need to consult a doctor in the following situations:

an attack of hiccups does not go away for an hour or more;
hiccups are accompanied by pain in the chest, back;
hiccups combined with heartburn;
hiccups accompanied by coughing or salivation;
bouts of hiccups occur regularly, several times a day.

Doctor's advice: If you suffer from pathological hiccups, do not hesitate to consult a therapist. He will prescribe an examination for you and, if necessary, refer you for a consultation with narrow specialists (gastroenterologist, pulmonologist, surgeon, neurologist, etc.). The cause of hiccups can be a disease of the central nervous system, respiratory organs, digestion, cardiovascular system, etc. A timely diagnosis is the key to successful treatment.

What tests can a doctor prescribe for hiccups

With persistent and intractable hiccups, the doctor, in addition to questioning and examining, may prescribe additional studies to the patient, namely:

clinical blood test;
general urine analysis;
biochemical blood test;
blood test for electrolytes;
spinal puncture;
x-ray of the skull;
chest X-ray;
X-ray of the spine;
bronchoscopy;
Ultrasound of the neck, abdomen and pelvis;
MRI and CT of the head, chest organs, abdominal cavity, small pelvis;
fibrogastroduodenoscopy (FGDS);
angiography;
electrocardiography (ECG);
phonocardiography (FCG);
echoencephalography (Echo-EG);
electroencephalography (EEG), etc.

How to deal with hiccups

You can cope with hiccups on your own only if it is short-term and is physiological in nature. Universal remedy There is no cure for hiccups, but there are many folk ways. All of them are based on holding and normalizing breathing, switching attention, changing the activity of the vagus nerve, relaxing muscles, etc. Each person, by trial and error, can choose one method that is effective for himself. Any medications (muscle relaxants, anticonvulsants, sedatives and other drugs) can be taken only with the permission of a doctor.

It will not be possible to get rid of pathological hiccups at home, since it is a manifestation of some kind of disease. Therefore, the treatment of indomitable hiccups is the elimination of its cause, that is, the treatment of the disease that caused it.

Can hiccups be prevented?

To prevent hiccups means not to provoke its occurrence, that is:

take food measuredly, leisurely and without talking;
exclude excessively cold and very hot dishes from the menu;
limit alcohol and carbonated drinks;
forget about eating on the run and dry food;
try not to overeat;
avoid hypothermia, stress;
regularly undergo medical examinations in order to timely detect and prevent the development of diseases that can cause pathological hiccups.

Every person has experienced hiccups, and in order to stop it, it is necessary to stop the spasm of the diaphragm and esophagus.

Such a stop is carried out by the method of distraction or with the help of certain breathing methods.

By itself, hiccups are a small violation of the work of internal respiration, which appears due to several convulsions of contractions of the diaphragm, and manifests itself in the form of a short but prolonged respiratory movement.

This phenomenon can occur in a healthy person for no apparent reason and is often harmless. The hiccups continue for a short time, after which they completely disappear.

Forms of hiccups

To understand why hiccups occur, it is necessary to know its forms of manifestation, since it may not carry a burden and is not associated with diseases, and perhaps its manifestation is characterized by pathological changes.

The main forms are:

Physiological. Hiccups that appear in a healthy person, it does not last long up to 15 minutes and does not cause severe discomfort. Most often it goes away on its own.
Pathological. Hiccups that go on continuously or for a very long time, maybe for several days. The reasons for its appearance are different and are associated with some pathologies.

In addition to forms, hiccups can be different in appearance:

Knowing what hiccups are, in order to fully understand the picture, you also need to know the reasons why a person hiccups and what provokes such a phenomenon.

Main reasons

To understand the real reasons why a person hiccups, it is necessary to understand the origin of such a phenomenon. In a healthy person, hiccups appear due to the following factors:

Eating quickly in large quantities, after which the stomach is stretched and an unpleasant symptom appears.
Snacks and dry food.
When using a large amount of spicy or fatty.
Large consumption of alcohol, carbonated drinks.
Hypothermia is one of the reasons.
In some cases, the symptom appears for no reason.

There are other reasons why hiccups occur. Most often, hiccups pass quite quickly, but if a person has it all day long and does not stop for 2 days, then the symptom may indicate a disease.

The reason why a person hiccups long time, may be a disease such as laryngitis.

If this phenomenon does not go away for a long time, then the person may have a side effect of certain pills and other drugs.

In some cases, hiccups appear due to:

Diabetes.
Meningitis or traumatic brain injury.
Perhaps a disease called pleurisy or pneumonia. With pneumonia, a person begins to cough, chills and feverish, while yellow or green mucus with bloody patches can be secreted from the inside.
Often a person hiccups as a result of nerve damage. It could be a tumor, infection, or injury.

There are people whose reason lies in serious illnesses, as a rule, hiccups do not go away and become chronic.

The main reasons for this are:

Stroke.
Sclerosis.
Encephalitis.

Why else does hiccups appear if the diseases have already been cured or are in the process of being treated. Often the causes are hidden in drugs.

Those people who underwent chemotherapy may have noticed that hiccups occur precisely after it.

It can also be caused by the influence of a steroid drug called Dexamethasone.

Often hiccups occur after an operable intervention, as well as as a result of anesthesia.

Having figured out why a person hiccups, everyone wants to understand how to get rid of such a manifestation, which can be used for treatment and relief.

Treatment

If a person hiccups infrequently and the problem is episodic, then treatment in this case is not necessary, since the problem goes away on its own in a few minutes.

To accelerate the normalization of breathing, certain activities can be carried out, which are rich in traditional medicine.

If hiccups continue for several hours or more than one day, then you need to be examined by a doctor who can diagnose the disease.

After that, it is necessary to treat the pathology itself, because hiccups arise from it.

To eliminate the problem, it is necessary to treat possible diseases:

Encephalitis.
Meningitis.
Tumors.
Gastritis.
Ulcer.

As a rule, hiccups that appear on their own do not mean anything terrible, it goes away on its own and does not bring complications.

At the same time, it is necessary to conduct an examination with doctors in a timely manner to diagnose diseases from which hiccups may appear.

Swallow saliva quickly.
stick out tongue
It is easy to press the eyelids.

All this must be done simultaneously and the result must be fast. If you use a medicinal method of treatment, then doctors advise using such means:

"Corvalol".
"Atropine".
"Cecural".
"Motilium".

If the cause is neurological disorders, then antidepressants, antipsychotics and other means should be used.

But not always the use of medicines will give a result, so traditional medicine therapy may be required.

Folk remedies

Many people know that when hiccups occur, the only way to get rid of it is to simply hold your breath and hold on for as long as possible.

In many cases, this method helps, but not everyone knows why. This action allows the diaphragm to calm down, and therefore eliminates the attack.

In addition to holding your breath, you can use other folk remedies:

In some cases, drugs that are intended for the heart, for example, valocordin, help neutralize hiccups. To use it, you need to drop this remedy on a teaspoon of sugar, then put it in your mouth and drink it with warm water in a volume of 200 ml. This method should help immediately.
Hiccups can be relieved by pouring water into a cup and drinking it in small sips, while trying not to breathe while drinking. This is the same method as holding the breath, but some people find it easier to drink water.
You can make the maximum tilt of the body down and drink water in this position. For convenience, you can ask someone to hold the cup and drink or use a straw.
You can stop an attack with sugar, simply by putting 1 tsp. by mouth without using water. It is difficult to say why this remedy works, but some people are saved this way.
To remove hiccups, you need to put something cold on your throat during an attack, possibly ice. This will prevent the hiccups from continuing by closing the breath valve.
It is necessary to take 2-3 large breaths on the entire chest and try to push the air into the stomach. This method sometimes helps.
It is also recommended to take several breaths at once, while raising your hands up.
If there is no nicotine addiction, then hiccups will pass if you inhale cigarette smoke.
You can get rid of hiccups with the help of heat. To do this, you need to get dressed, warm yourself by the fire, drink tea or eat warm soup. Methods help if attacks begin as a result of hypothermia.
If the result of stopping does not occur for a long time, then you need to ask relatives or friends to scare you, in which case a strong breath will be taken, which is caused involuntarily, this helps to set the diaphragm in its place.
Set the mustard plaster at the top of the abdominal cavity. Such folk method doctors have not studied and there is no explanation for his actions, but the effect is positive.

In certain cases, you can get rid of the attack with the help of reflexology methods. To do this, just press your eyes and hold them for a couple of minutes.

In addition, you can find the phrenic nerve and press on it. This position is above the collarbone from the very edge.

There are also strange methods, which include the use of local anesthesia with mucous membranes or inhalations of carbon dioxide. At home, you can do the following:

Use a small plastic bag.
Put it on your head in the same way as it is done when vomiting, so that both the nose and mouth are completely in the bag and no excess air enters.
It is necessary in this position to exhale and inhale and breathe until there is not enough air.

As a rule, this method involves 1-2 breaths and everything falls into place. Another unusual method is self-inflicted pain.

To do this, press the pad of the middle finger with the help of a nail. In this case, when pressing, it should hurt as much as possible and the attack should pass.

If the hiccups are caught in public and you need to quickly get rid of it, then you can be distracted by something else, if this happened at home, then you should do a couple of light exercises and the symptoms will pass. At home, lying on your side will help with hiccups.

Some recipes help with seizures:

It is necessary to mix mustard powder and vinegar, making gruel from the ingredients.
1/3 of the tongue is smeared with the finished mixture and you need to wait a couple of minutes.
At the very end, rinse your mouth with water.

This method is not suitable for everyone, because it will burn a lot in the oral cavity, but this method will allow you to get rid of severe hiccups that have not gone away for a long time.

For people who suffer from constant hiccups, dill and its seeds can be used. To prepare the product, put 1 tsp in a cup. seeds and add 250 ml of water. After half an hour, drink the remedy 125 ml three times a day.

Children have hiccups more often than adults and can appear every day. Children, especially infants, often swallow large amounts of air while feeding, which causes hiccups.

If the child is older, then hiccups can also appear every day. More often this happens due to the rapid absorption of products. If the child does not have seizures for 3 or more hours, then there is no room for panic.

All that is needed is to identify foods that cause hiccups and eliminate them from the child's diet, as well as teach the child to chew thoroughly and not rush while eating.

In the case when hiccups appear very often, the time does not pass for a long time, and during an attack the baby complains of pain in different parts body, it is recommended to make a visit to the doctor for diagnosis and consultation.

Preventive measures

Useful video

Hiccups are respiratory disorders caused by forced, myoclonic contraction of the intercostal muscles and diaphragm. The contraction of these muscles occurs synchronously. More often, contractions occur only on the left side of the diaphragm, but the entire diaphragm may be involved. Almost simultaneously with contractions, a sudden short and intense breath occurs with a closed glottis, which creates the characteristic “hic” sound.

Wikipedia indicates that these disorders are an involuntary physiological response and occur due to irritation of the phrenic nerve. This condition occurs more often in men. The most common acute hiccups are episodic, do not last long (several seconds or minutes) and its attacks are not dangerous. Most often this is due to excessive filling of the stomach, so hiccups occur after eating or during meals. It is quickly stopped by any actions on the part of a person or passes on its own.

In the case when frequent hiccups occur and in the form of prolonged episodes, it is considered pathological. Constant (>48 h) causes fatigue, irritability, discomfort, and. If there is a long (more than two days) and even more prolonged hiccups (more than 1 month), you need to see a doctor. A long one may indicate serious diseases, therefore, it requires serious attention. Persistent and intractable hiccups are rare and difficult to treat.

Some causes of this pathology can be established and eliminated by treatment. Thus, respiratory failure ischemic stroke, disappear on the background of thrombolytic therapy, and hiccups disappear due to antibacterial treatment. In this article, we will analyze how you can stop hiccups in adults and what ways will help stop it. Medical treatment options will be considered that can relieve prolonged hiccups, as well as surgical treatment as an option to permanently remove it if medical treatment is ineffective.

Pathogenesis

In the mechanism of hiccups, a "reflex arc" is involved, consisting of afferent sections, central and efferent sections. Trauma, irritation, inflammation, or pathological stimulation can occur anywhere on the arch, causing persistent or intractable hiccups. Afferent pathway (branches of the phrenic, vagus and thoracic sympathetic trunk) carries impulses to the hiccup center, where the signal is processed. It is located in the medulla oblongata near the respiratory center, hypothalamus and reticular formation and in the upper part of the spinal cord (segment C3-C5). The efferent link includes the motor fibers of the phrenic nerve, which innervates the diaphragm and the respiratory muscles of the chest (intercostal and scalene). The diaphragm is innervated by two phrenic nerves originating from segments CIII-CIV (neck region).

In any pathology of the abdominal or thoracic cavity, when the phrenic or vagus nerve is stimulated, the "hiccup center" is activated. The hiccup center, which controls the respiratory muscles, especially the diaphragm, is spontaneously activated in brain disorders. In both cases, repeated myoclonic contractions of the diaphragm and respiratory muscles occur. Sometimes hiccups develop when the vagus nerve is stimulated (for example, with swelling of the stomach and intestines).

The mechanism of hiccups can be triggered by the vagus nerve when it is exposed to general irritating factors and local ones (when it is squeezed along the path of passage). The vagus nerve passes from the chest cavity into the abdominal cavity through a hole in the diaphragm, innervating the organs of the chest and abdominal cavity. Therefore, inhaled exhaust gases and chemical gases, cigarette smoke, alcohol, spicy food or cold drinks that irritate the gastric mucosa provoke an attack. Irritation of the vagus nerve occurs with hasty eating, overeating and being in an uncomfortable position.

Classification

By duration:

Episodic or short-term (lasting up to 10 minutes).
Persistent, resistant (duration more than 48 hours).
Intractable, persistent, intractable (lasting more than 1-2 months).

According to the localization of the focus:

Central. It occurs when the brain and spinal cord are damaged - trauma, encephalitis, tumors, vascular disorders.
Peripheral. Caused by processes in which the phrenic nerve is involved ( hiatal hernia, tumors of the pancreas, squeezing the nerve, diseases of the respiratory system).
Toxic. Occurs with toxic exposure uremia, the effect of drugs, alcohol), with metabolic disorders.

Causes of hiccups

Why does a person hiccup and where does this unpleasant state come from? The reason for the usual hiccups, which every person has episodically and goes away on their own, is malnutrition, plentiful meals and hasty meals. There is a swallowing of air and stretching of the stomach with food, which compresses the diaphragm and disrupts its innervation. Also, this condition is associated with impaired peripheral nerve stimulation of the diaphragm in gastroenterological diseases.

Gastrointestinal hiccups occurs if the patient has bowel disease, GERD, hepatitis or . With these diseases, this symptom appears, which may occur intermittently or be present all day. The transition to rational or diet food, treatment of diseases gastrointestinal tract eliminates this pathological symptom. Why else does this unpleasant state occur? This condition is often associated with bad habits - smoking and drinking alcohol.

Many people wonder why do you hiccup when you smoke? This is due to the fact that alcohol and nicotine are. When you smoke, nicotine affects the sensory neurons of the phrenic, vagus and thoracic sympathetic trunk and efferent neurons (motor fibers of the phrenic nerve that innervate the diaphragm and motor nerves innervating the intercostal and scalene muscles), exerting a toxic effect on them. The same thing happens with alcohol. Ethanol is oxidized in the body to toxic intermediates aldehydes.

The resulting intermediate connection ethanal extremely toxic, and if a person has consumed a lot of alcohol, the liver is unable to detoxify it and it accumulates, causing poisoning. elimination bad habits forever relieves a person of pathological contractions of the diaphragm.

However, there is intractable (persistent) hiccups, which can be caused by a number of diseases. The causes of prolonged hiccups are more serious. It must be said that persistent hiccups, which lasts more than two days and is present for more than one month, is a rare occurrence and this condition requires a thorough examination of the patient. Persistent and intractable hiccups develop when either the central structures of the reflex arc (brain and spinal cord) or peripheral (phrenic nerve) are affected.

And so, what causes hiccups in adults? Prolonged or persistent hiccups, in the absence of its connection with food intake, may be due to the following diseases and conditions:

Diseases of the central nervous system. A sign of what CNS disease is hiccups? These may be benign tumors of the posterior cranial fossa, cerebellar artery aneurysm, hemangioblastoma of the medulla oblongata, hemorrhages in the region of the posterior cranial fossa, inflammation of the meninges, CNS injuries, hydrocephalus, infections, multiple sclerosis. Why does hiccups occur in this case? All these diseases are accompanied by an increase in intracranial pressure, which leads to compression of the brain tissue, stimulation of the centers of the reticular formation, disorders of the respiratory center, and the occurrence of hiccups of central origin.
Compression of the C4 root by a herniated disc of a vertebra, a tumor of the neck, a tumor of the mediastinum.
Cardiovascular causes ( , ).
Local compression of the nerves and diaphragm (tumor, enlarged lymph nodes in the mediastinum, abscess, enlarged thyroid gland).
Postoperative conditions and manipulations (intubation, bronchoscopy, catheterization of the central vein, the establishment of an esophageal stent, electrical stimulation of the left atrium).
Surgical conditions - peritonitis, diaphragmatic hernia, gastrointestinal bleeding. Any inflammatory process in the abdominal cavity is often accompanied by irritation of the diaphragm, which is the reason for its uncontrolled contractions.
Irritation of the vagus or phrenic nerve during operations on the chest and stomach.
Local neuroinfection ().
pulmonary causes ( pneumonia, lung tumor, ). Respiratory diseases are accompanied by irritation of the phrenic nerve, which means that hiccups can occur at any time. Due to irritation of the phrenic nerve with phrenic fibrinous pleurisy there is also a sore throat, which is associated with pleurisy.
Pathology of the tissues of the neck ( tumors, cyst, goiter, pharyngitis).
Infectious diseases. With cholera and severe dehydration, spasms of the muscles of the diaphragm occur, which causes painful hiccups.
Systemic factors (exposure to drugs, alcohol, as a result of toxic-metabolic and electrolyte disorders, alcohol abuse, smoking). An example of toxic hiccups is its development with uremia, hypocalcemia, hypokalemia. It is also caused by taking certain medications ( barbiturates, dexamethasone and chemotherapy drugs).
Motor disorders that develop with multiple sclerosis accompanied by acute bouts of hiccups.
neurological reasons.
Psychogenic factors (stress, anxiety, reaction to the loss of a loved one, anorexia nervosa).
genetic factors.

Frequent hiccups: causes

Its most common causes in adults are overeating and the associated overdistension of the stomach. This phenomenon is not associated with organic damage to organs, but with excessive stimulation of receptors during stretching of the esophagus and stomach (food, air, hot liquid). In this regard, frequent hiccups occur after eating or during eating, if a person absorbs poorly chewed food very quickly. If we consider other causes, then frequent hiccups are associated with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, so the patient should be further examined in this direction. In these patients, spasms of the diaphragm can also occur during sleep, so it is important not to overeat at night, not to abuse spicy and fatty foods, and not to drink alcohol at night.

Oddly enough, but there is hiccups in the fetus, which expectant mothers feel as rhythmic clicks, pulsations, “ticking” of the clock or tapping and are clearly delimited from the usual stirring. This phenomenon can be distinguished characteristics- duration and uniformity of intervals. Hiccups during pregnancy are considered normal and there are several attacks a day. This natural process should not disturb the pregnant woman. It is important to know that the baby can hiccup in both day and night, and every month it is more and more noticeable. Hiccups can be every day at any one time of the day. It’s not scary if the baby’s hiccups become more frequent. It is also not scary if the expectant mother does not feel hiccups.

The appearance and duration of hiccups depend on many factors, it appears in mind:

uncomfortable posture;
trying to breathe on their own
swallowing amniotic fluid and getting rid of them with the help of hiccups;
swallowing exercises.

Of all these reasons, only hypoxia is dangerous for the fetus and it is necessary to exclude its probability during additional examinations ( cardiotocography, dopplerometry). In addition, other symptoms of fetal hypoxia (palpitations, increased mobility) and pregnant ( high blood pressure, edema, cardiac arrhythmia, weight loss, hemorrhage, reduction of the abdomen in volume).

Symptoms

Whatever the genesis of hiccups, involuntary spasms of the diaphragm are accompanied by obscene loud sounds that attract the attention of others. However, the frequency of their occurrence and duration are different. Persistent hiccups, lasting more than two days, occur in the pathology of the chest and abdominal organs. In this case, the symptoms of the underlying disease are necessarily detected: cough, chest pain or bloating, belching, heartburn, bitterness in the mouth, pain in the epigastrium or near the navel. Intractable, persistent hiccups last for months and most often have a central origin, that is, are associated with damage to the brain or spinal cord. At the same time, symptoms characteristic of a particular disease will also be detected (, convulsions, impaired coordination, impaired vision and hearing, impaired movement in the limbs). The diagnosis is confirmed by an MRI or CT scan of the brain.

Analyzes and diagnostics

For diagnosis, it is important to collect an anamnesis, as a result of which past diseases, the presence of head injuries, surgical interventions on the brain and spinal cord, and manipulations are clarified. Triggers that provoke hiccups, taking medications and the patient's attitude to smoking and alcohol are being clarified.

a full examination and examination by specialists (otolaryngologist and neurologist) is carried out;
blood test clinical and biochemical (electrolytes, C reactive protein, urea, creatinine, amylase, liver tests);
MRI of the brain;
CT scan of the chest;
electroencephalography;
esophageal manometry;
esophagogastroduodenoscopy;
bronchoscopy;
spirography;
lumbar puncture.

How to get rid of hiccups?

In most cases, hiccups in adults, including those that occur after eating, are a transient condition and do not require further examination or special treatment. To treat such conditions, you need to limit foods that cause hiccups. In the case when persistent hiccups occur after procedures (for example, bronchoscopy) or with the introduction of medications (in particular, anesthetics or chemotherapy), the causes are clear and the pathological condition is corrected by discontinuation or replacement of the drug. But there are times when trigger factors cannot be identified. This is especially important when there is frequent hiccups.

How to quickly stop hiccuping?

First aid begins with physical techniques. In order for hiccups to pass, you need to try in various ways to stop spasms of the diaphragm and esophagus. You can stop an attack quickly at home by applying various ways stimulation of the vagus nerve (vagus) or nasopharynx and esophagus:

An effective remedy for hiccups at home is breathing exercises. For example, holding your breath. You need to take a deep breath and hold your breath for as long as possible. Holding the breath, on the one hand, interrupts the respiratory cycle, and on the other hand, it contributes to the accumulation of carbon dioxide in the blood, under the influence of which hiccups stop. This is because as carbon dioxide levels rise, diaphragm activity decreases. If one cycle of deep breathing with an exhalation delay did not help, the exercise should be repeated several times. You can try rapid deep breathing, which causes hyperventilation or breathing into a paper bag for 40-50 seconds (hypoventilation).
Stretching the neck.
Warming up and warm tea if hypothermia is the cause.
You also need to know what helps with hiccups at home, applying ice packs to the neck and face, placing a cold object behind the collar.
Gargling with plain water.
You can cope with spasm by pressing on the eyeballs (vagus stimulation).
Swallowing sugar and chewing lemon are based on stimulation of the nasopharynx and esophagus.
To overcome the spasm will help rapid continuous intake of water (this causes stimulation of the nasopharynx and esophagus).
You can try to scare the patient, which is achieved by vagus stimulation.
To stimulate the nasopharynx, vinegar is instilled into the nose. In our opinion, this is an unsafe method, so it is better to limit yourself to chewing a lemon or, as a last resort, use lemon juice for instillation into the nose.
You can also pull the tongue out and down, taking it by the edge. In this position, you need to hold it for a few seconds.
If the cramps bother you all day, you can perform a massage of the carotid sinus, which achieves vagal stimulation (stimulation of the vagus). This is a more effective method than pressing on the eyeballs. In the carotid sinus there are baro- and chemoreceptors, the excitation of which causes the expansion of blood vessels, a decrease in pressure and a slowing of the heart rate. Massage is carried out in the supine position, pressing the right carotid artery for 5-10 minutes.

Non-pharmacological treatments for hiccups are harmless and may be effective in some cases. Confirmation of the above is the 94 percent game, which proposes to name the most popular remedy for hiccups. 94 percent gives the following answers:

Water to drink in small sips.
Retention of breath.
Fright.
Sugar to be placed on the root of the tongue and swallowed.
A proverb that needs to be spoken quickly.

What to do if hiccups all day?

However, there are situations when hiccups are not eliminated by anything, do not pass for several days, do not give rest day or night, and “tortured” a person. If the patient has incessant hiccups during the day and it does not go away for several days, this is a reason to see a doctor. In such cases, medical treatment of hiccups is prescribed. However, protocols for the management of such patients do not exist. What if this standing is associated with bloating of the stomach, intestines and gastroesophageal reflux? Motility regulators are assigned ( , Raglan, Motorix), carminatives ( , Bimaral, Gascon Drop) and proton pump inhibitors ( , Pangastro, Lanzap).

With central hiccups, empirical treatment is prescribed with medications that normalize diaphragmatic / vagal function and inhibit the reflex:

Tablets (neuroleptic, drug) is the only drug approved by the FDA for this indication. It is used at an initial dose of 25 mg and is increased to 75 mg (25 mg three times a day, which is the maximum dose). Higher doses cause the side effect of drowsiness.
A good effect is given by a medicine for hiccups (muscle relaxant), which is effective in 75% of cases. It is used at 5 mg three times a day.
Antiepileptic drugs are also used Pregabalin-Richter but side effects limit their use.
Some effectiveness is provided by drugs from different pharmacological groups: (β-adrenergic receptor blocker), (antiparkinsonian, dopaminomimetic), (hypnotic), (calcium channel blocker).

It should be noted that the persistent form is difficult to treat. Based on clinical observations, for the treatment of persistent and intractable hiccups, most often in the first line of treatment, Baclofen and Gabapentin, and ( Raglan, Ceruglan) and as reserve preparations. But in any case, the treatment depends on the underlying disease. If the patient has mental disorders, then apply Chlorpromazine, and with GERD or diabetic gastroparesis, it will be the main one. If the causes are not established, it is recommended to take drugs that act on GABAergic and dopaminergic receptors (, Spitomin).

When hiccuping is associated with the pathology of the stomach and duodenum (gatroesophageal reflux), proton pump inhibitors in a double dose and motility regulators help to cure pathological hiccups. Based on the foregoing, a clinic is also selected where they can help get rid of hiccups. If it is associated with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, it should be a clinic specializing in the treatment of diseases of the gastrointestinal tract. If there is a pathology of the central nervous system (tumors, pathology of cerebral vessels), it is necessary to be examined by a neuropathologist and a neurosurgeon. In some cases, hiccups can be stopped using acupuncture and hypnotherapy.

Considering that alcoholic hiccups are a sign of acute intoxication, you need to get rid of hiccups after alcohol in ways that help cleanse the body of harmful compounds. To get rid of hiccups after alcohol, you need to induce vomiting, which will reduce the absorption of alcohol from the stomach. If possible, the stomach should be lavaged - the person should drink water and artificially induce vomiting. This should be done only if the person is conscious, controls his actions and can do it correctly. The second stage, which will help remove hiccups from a drunk, is taking enterosorbents ( White coal Aminazine Procaine,) phrenic, vagus or pharyngeal nerve. The procedure is carried out under ultrasound control. With blockade, the transmission of a nerve impulse along the nerves is disrupted. Sometimes resort to surgical cutting of the phrenic nerve (phrenicotomy). In some cases, even the intersection of this nerve from two sides does not help.

Diet

There is no special diet for hiccups of central origin, since it is impossible to influence this process with therapeutic nutrition. With food-related hiccups, it is important to monitor the amount of food eaten and the speed with which it is eaten, since both of these factors can provoke hiccups. In diseases of the gastrointestinal tract should be used medical nutrition according to the underlying disease. general principles are fractional nutrition, the exclusion of fatty, spicy, fried foods, foods that cause bloating (legumes, muffins, kvass, an abundance of simple carbohydrates).

Prevention

Changing the diet. To prevent hiccups during meals, you need to eat in small portions, slowly, chewing each serving thoroughly.
It is important to monitor weight, because with internal fat deposits, the diaphragm rises and compresses the phrenic nerve.
There is no central action to prevent hiccups.

Consequences and complications

Prolonged and intractable hiccups cause complications, of which it is worth highlighting:

weight loss;
reflux esophagitis;
malabsorption of food;
dehydration;
weight loss;
exhaustion;
insomnia;
chronic fatigue;
mental stress and irritability.

Forecast

The prognosis for persistent hiccups is favorable because it can be easily eliminated. As for serious cases of prolonged hiccups, even bilateral phrenicotomy does not always get rid of it.

List of sources

Ivashkin V.T., Trukhmanov A.S. Evolution of ideas about the role of disorders of the motor function of the esophagus in the pathogenesis of gastroesophageal reflux disease. Russian Journal of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, Coloproctology 2010; 20(2):13-9
Cherkasov M.A., Mohanna M.I., Ibragimov Z.A., Rabadanov R.Sh., Kovalenko A.N., Aliev A.G. Persistent hiccups after epidural anesthesia in revision hip arthroplasty // International Journal of Applied and Fundamental Research. - 2017. - No. 9. - P. 86-90.
Shtulman D.R., Levin O.S. Neurology: A Practitioner's Handbook. 6th edition 2008, 1024 p.

Let's see what are the causes of hiccups, what remedies will help solve this problem, and what treatments should be used for chronic hiccups.

We will learn how many types of hiccups exist, and what physiological mechanisms underlie this annoying disorder.

When hiccups occur - physiological mechanism

Everyone in life has had to deal with hiccups, but only a few know the reasons for this phenomenon? This problem can affect anyone: a newborn, a child, an adult and an elderly person, and it is associated with involuntary contraction of the muscles of the diaphragm, which determines the closure of the valve in the larynx. Usually the disorder does not last long, with a variable number of "hiccups" per minute - from a minimum of 4 to a maximum of 60.

As previously mentioned, hiccups are caused by muscle contractions. From a medical point of view, we can distinguish two different components that cause hiccups:

Muscular component: from this point of view, hiccups are an involuntary contraction diaphragm muscles separating the chest cavity from the abdominal cavity, and intercostal muscles. The typical sound of hiccups is caused by an interruption in the flow of air in the lungs.
Neurological component: associated with activation of the vagus nerve and the phrenic nerve (the nerve that innervates the diaphragm), and the hiccup center, which is located in the cervical spine and receives commands from the hypothalamus and other areas of the brain.

Hiccups are not always the same: different types

While hiccups are very common and common enough to not be a cause for concern, there are several types of hiccups, some of which require medical intervention.

We can highlight three types of hiccups:

Isolated: this is the most common type of hiccups that everyone experiences at least once during own life. It appears suddenly and lasts from a few seconds to several minutes. Has a tendency to spontaneous healing.
Acute: a type of hiccup that can last up to 48 hours and is characterized by rapid and repetitive contractions. Does not require medical treatment, disappears spontaneously, but should always be kept under control, as after 48 hours medical attention may be required.
Chronic: This is a hiccup that lasts more than 48 hours, characterized by frequent and rapid spasms. This kind of hiccups can persist for several days or even several weeks, alternating with periods without hiccups. Of course, this is a very rare occurrence: it occurs in one in 100,000 people.

The latter type requires the intervention of a doctor, since sleep disorders can be indicated among the consequences, as it occurs even at night, making it difficult to eat and talk.

Causes of hiccups

The causes of this disease are still largely unknown. However, it can be assumed that some situations determine the appearance of isolated or acute hiccups. The cause of chronic hiccups may be a neurological or similar disease.

We have previously described isolated and acute hiccups as a transient process. Often the reasons that give rise to this phenomenon are unknown, but nevertheless, some common causes can be identified:

Mistakes in eating: When you eat too fast or too much, it causes the stomach to expand due to swallowing air, and this can lead to stimulation of the phrenic nerve and rapid contractions of the diaphragm.
Anxiety and stress: hiccups can be psychosomatic, that is, due to anxiety or prolonged stress. When you are nervous, you tend to swallow large amounts of air, thus stretching the stomach and stimulating the phrenic nerve.
Smoking and alcohol: can lead to hiccups because they have a general irritant effect, including on the diaphragm and phrenic nerve. In addition, alcohol causes the stomach to expand.
Temperature changes: Sudden changes in temperature or swallowing food that is too hot or too cold can trigger hiccups.
Medications: In some patients, such as the elderly, who take a large amount of medication to control age-related diseases, the medication may cause hiccups. Among the main culprits are benzodiazepines used in the treatment of anxiety, corticosteroids such as cortisone used to treat various inflammatory conditions, antibiotics and drugs used for chemotherapy.
Surgical interventions: It is not uncommon for hiccups to occur after surgery, which is determined by several factors, such as manipulation of internal organs, accidental stimulation of the phrenic nerve or diaphragm, drugs used for general anesthesia, neck swelling during intubation, and abdominal distention during endoscopy.

All of the above causes involuntary contraction of the diaphragm through stimulation of the phrenic nerve, but the mechanisms by which this occurs remain unknown.

Other common causes of hiccups may be related to a particular condition a person is in, such as pregnancy, or age related, such as hiccups in children.

Children and newborns: In children and newborns, the most common cause of hiccups is the speed of eating. For example, a newborn during breastfeeding may swallow too quickly, swallowing air, it is not uncommon that hiccups appear after feeding. Children and infants, as well as adults, can also have bouts of hiccups due to changes in temperature or eating food that is too hot or too cold.
Women during pregnancy: During pregnancy, in addition to the well-known "fetal hiccups" that cause joy and suffering for women, the expectant mother can also have hiccups, probably caused by an increase in the volume of the uterus, which stimulates the phrenic nerve.

Causes of chronic hiccups

As for chronic hiccups, then main reason are disorders of the nervous system, that is, irritation of certain nerves.

This may include:

Peripheral nerve pathways: innervating the diaphragm, in particular the vagus and phrenic nerves. Damage or irritation from these pathways can lead to chronic hiccups. Such irritations or damage may result from some diseases localized at the level of the larynx, such as acute laryngitis, pharyngitis (general pain in the throat), the presence of foreign objects at the level of the inner ear, as well as inflammations and infections localized in the lungs and pleural cavity.
central nerve pathways: that is, nerves localized at the level of the cervical spinal cord. Irritation or injury to these centers can be the cause of chronic hiccups. Injury to these centers is often observed in neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease, inflammation of the meninges in the brain and bone marrow, tumors at the level of the brain, traumatic brain injury.

Secondary causes of chronic hiccups relate to diseases that determine the appearance of this symptom. Some diseases have hiccups as a side effect of stimulation of the peripheral and central nerves, the mechanisms of connection of other diseases with hiccups are not entirely clear.

Among the pathological diseases that can define hiccups, we have:

inflammation: in the mediastinum, for example, at the level of the pericardium, pleura or lungs can stimulate the phrenic nerve.
Reflux A: Gastroesophageal reflux is one of the most common causes of hiccups. In this case, hiccups often occur if you lie down (sleep) immediately after eating.
Ulcer and gastritis: peptic ulcer of the stomach very often develops in the presence of the bacterium Helicobacter pylori): symptoms and treatment of a bacterial infection of the stomach "\u003e Helicobacter pylori, this is accompanied by characteristic symptoms: burning in the abdomen, nausea and vomiting, as well as prolonged hiccups.

Among other disorders that may present with hiccups are metabolic disorders such as diabetes mellitus, electrolyte imbalance, hypocalcemia and hyponatremia, renal failure, and Addison's disease.

"Seven sips of water" and other remedies for hiccups

We now turn to a description of some remedies for hiccups. In the case of transients, in addition to changing your lifestyle through slower and less plentiful eating, you can resort to "grandmother's" remedies.

Of the natural remedies for hiccups, the most commonly used are:

Lemon juice: due to the fact that it is very acidic, due to the presence of citric acid, lemon juice, when ingested (pure and not diluted), causes an immediate cessation of breathing, which can stop the involuntary contraction of the diaphragm. A couple of teaspoons of lemon juice can instantly get rid of hiccups.

Vinegar: also contains an acidic component - acetic acid. Taking a teaspoon of diluted vinegar may be helpful as the reflex constriction of the esophagus blocks involuntary contraction of the diaphragm. However, be careful, acidity, which works well against acid, can cause ulceration of the gastric mucosa.

Water: one of the popular remedies for hiccups is drinking water in small sips. Some people argue that you should drink 7 sips of water with your nose pinched. Drinking water activates certain centers in the brain that can block hiccups.

Sugar: One teaspoon of sugar can stop hiccups due to its structure. Sugar granules, acting on the walls of the esophagus, stimulate the diaphragm and stop involuntary contraction.

fright: with a sudden fright, there is a sudden contraction of the diaphragm, this can “knock down” the hiccups.

sneezing: when sneezing, the intercostal muscles and the diaphragm are involved. Accordingly, if you cause sneezing during hiccups, then you can stop the hiccups.

Holding your breath: stopping breathing for more than ten seconds helps to get rid of hiccups because it blocks the movement of the diaphragm.

Medical Therapy for Hiccups

When the hiccups become chronic disease it is possible that the doctor will prescribe drug therapy to try to alleviate the irritation. In the treatment of chronic hiccups, antidopaminergic agents, calcium agonists, GABA, and others are used.

Of the antidopaminergic agents acting at the dopamine receptor level, the most commonly used are:

metoclopramide, which is an antiemetic but which finds use in the treatment of chronic hiccups. Can be used during pregnancy.
Aminazin: belongs to the antipsychotics, but is very effective in the treatment of hiccups (about 80%). It is not recommended to take this drug for a long period of time as it may cause involuntary movements. Should not be used during pregnancy as it has a potential teratogenic effect.

Of the calcium agonists, the following are mainly used:

Nifedipine: therapeutic efficacy is variable and is closely related to the patient's condition. This drug should not be administered during pregnancy because it is not considered safe. The most common side effects are weakness, constipation and heart palpitations.
Nimodipine: Can be taken either intravenously or orally. Although this drug has been little studied, it shows good efficacy in the treatment of chronic hiccups.

Of the GABA agonists used:

Valproic acid A: has good efficiency. Should not be used during pregnancy as it is teratogenic and among side effects has thrombocytopenia and leukopenia.
Baclofen: relaxes the muscles. At the moment, the drug is considered the most effective for the treatment of chronic hiccups. Among the side effects we can have hypotension and feeling sleepy. Should not be used during pregnancy as it may cross the placenta, but effects on the fetus are unknown.
Gabapentin: has good efficacy in the treatment of hiccups. The drug should not be administered during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

In case drug therapy is not enough to alleviate the hiccups, some invasive treatments, such as:

Probing of the stomach through the nose: a tube is inserted through the nasal cavities, which goes directly to the stomach. This therapy is useful in cases of chronic hiccups due to backflow of gastric juice into the esophagus.
Phrenic nerve anesthesia: a very invasive therapy, carried out by injecting an anesthetic at the level of the phrenic nerve, which then loses its ability to transmit nerve impulses.
Vagus nerve stimulation: a device is implanted in the chest that acts on the vagus nerve and stops hiccups.

What causes hiccups and how to treat it

We get acquainted with hiccups in early childhood and its manifestations are well known to everyone, but the causes of occurrence remain a mystery to many, sometimes until the end of their lives. This harmless, but somewhat inconvenient, phenomenon appears suddenly and just as suddenly disappears.

What is a hiccup?

Hiccups are involuntary rhythmic contractions of the intercostal muscles and diaphragm. Simultaneously with muscle spasms, the gap between the vocal cords closes - hence the characteristic hiccup sound.

The process of hiccuping occurs as follows: the smooth muscles are sharply reduced, which leads to a sharp breath, but at the same time the larynx is blocked and for a second, as if suffocation occurs. This is where unpleasant and sometimes even painful sensations arise, as well as the well-known hiccupping sound.

Causes of hiccups

According to doctors, the cause of hiccups is irritation of the vagus nerve.

Nervus vagus It is the longest and most widely divergent nerve in the human body. He performs many various functions and for this reason is one of the most important components of the nervous system.

One of the causes of hiccups can be overeating. A large accumulation of food can infringe on the vagus nerve, which immediately transmits signals to the brain, and the brain, wanting to release the injured area, sends the body a command to contract nearby muscles.

Also, the cause of hiccups can be alcohol, hot food, and similar things that irritate the digestive system.

Strong fright, fear, stress can cause hiccups. Therefore, quite often, in order to get rid of it, people ask them to scare them 🙂

Anecdote on the subject:
A car with a woman behind the wheel drives under a brick at high speed, flies through a red light three times, rushes in the opposite direction, slips between two trucks ... Behind her are the police, sirens, flashing lights ...
The car is pushed to the curb.
The woman stops the car and asks her husband, who is sitting next to him, barely alive:
- Well, has your HICCUP finally passed?

Another reason could be hypothermia. This is quite common in children.

Sometimes hiccups can be caused by hysterical laughter or coughing.

And the most unpleasant of the reasons is any diseases, most often associated with the central nervous system. In this case, hiccups are protracted and can happen several times a week. It is best to consult a doctor with such symptoms.

How to get rid of hiccups?

Usually hiccups go away on their own. The body quickly copes with this problem, unless, of course, it is complicated by any disease. Therefore, “endure” may be one option.

It is hard to believe, but they say that one unique case is known when a person, a resident of the United States of America, continuously hiccups his whole life, up to 68 years. During this time, he married twice and had 8 children. And the hiccups didn't bother him at all.

Of course, it is better not to repeat this story, because. modern medicine allows you to get rid of this problem. Basically, tablets are used for this to relax smooth muscles, carbon dioxide inhalation, and acupuncture. In severe cases, an operation is performed to cut off the nerve endings connecting the larynx and diaphragm.

From folk remedies , which are not always effective, but sometimes work, you can try the following:

Inhale, hold your breath, exhale slowly. Repeat until the hiccups are gone.
Press on the root of the tongue to induce a gag reflex. Spasm of the esophagus can relieve hiccups.
Drink a large glass of water in small sips without stopping.
Press your fingers on the neck at the point where the collarbone is attached to the sternum.
Switch from chest breathing to diaphragmatic breathing.
If you feel cold, dress warmly.
Swallow a teaspoon of sugar without drinking. If the hiccups don't go away in a minute, repeat.

In any case, if the hiccups last more than a day, you should consult a doctor, because. it may be a symptom that signals serious problems that you are not aware of.