Summary about Hiccups in English
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Introduction to Hiccups
Hiccups, a reflex action that occurs due to sudden and involuntary contraction of diaphragmatic muscles, causing a sharp breath intake—also, premature closure of vocal cords results, which produces a ‘hic’ sound.
Hiccups occur due to the involuntary and sudden contraction of the diaphragmatic muscle.
Multiple factors result in hiccups, including eating quickly, an unhealthy diet, stress, or certain medication. Hiccups can be treated with medical or home remedies.
Usually, hiccups are self-limited and harmless, lasting for a few minutes. However, they rarely persist for days or weeks, signaling an underlying medical condition. In such a situation, it is important to seek medical advice.
Types of Hiccups
Different types of hiccups have been identified, including:
Normal Hiccups: These are the most common types of hiccups, which occur sporadically, lasting for a few minutes
Persistent Hiccups: When hiccups last for more than 48 hours and are caused by an underlying medical condition like acid reflux, nerve damage, or respiratory problem, they are considered persistent hiccups
Recurrent Hiccups: Hiccups occurring periodically over a week or months and caused by underlying medical conditions are termed recurrent hiccups.
Intractable Hiccups: Hiccups that remain resistant to treatment and last for more than a month are intractable hiccups.
Psychogenic Hiccups: Hiccups caused by psychological reasons, including stress or anxiety, are categorized as psychogenic hiccups.
Reflex Hiccups: Hiccups triggered by certain stimuli like eating, drinking, stress, or underlying medical conditions are reflex hiccups.
In persistent hiccups, medical consultation must be taken to treat the underlying cause.
Symptoms of Hiccups
The following signs and symptoms are associated with hiccups:
Repeated involuntary diaphragmic contractions cause a sudden breath intake and causing a ‘hic’ sound.
Throat and chest discomfort due to diaphragmic convulsions, leading to breathing and speaking difficulty.
Emotional stress, including anxiety and embarrassment due to persistent hic sounds from the throat.
Sleeping difficulty leads to fatigue and other complications.
Causes of Hiccups
Certain factors can result in hiccups, including:
Consuming food or drinks quickly traps the air in the stomach, irritating the diaphragm and resulting in hiccups.
Carbonated drinks, including soda, soft drinks, and carbonated wine, contain carbon dioxide, which may irritate the diaphragm and result in hiccups.
Extreme emotional conditions such as stress or excitement may affect breathing patterns and result in hiccups.
Smoking may irritate and cause involuntary contraction in the diaphragm, contributing to hiccups.
Certain medical conditions, including Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), Pneumonia, and neurological conditions such as brain tumors may cause hiccups.
Hiccups also occur as a side effect of certain medications such as tranquilizers, steroids, and anesthesia.
Preventions of Hiccups
To avoid hiccups, the following preventive measures must be taken:
Eat slowly with small bites and drink with small sips, avoiding air intake into the stomach.
Try to avoid or limit the consumption of carbonated drinks as they expand the stomach and increase the likelihood of hiccups.
Try to avoid or limit the consumption of spicy foods as their highly acidic nature may irritate the esophagus, triggering hiccups.
Manage stress through relaxation techniques, including deep breathing, exercising, and meditation.
Avoid conditions that may expose the body to sudden temperature fluctuations, for example, instantly entering into a hot or cold shower.
Resolve any underlying medical conditions that trigger hiccups and seek medical advice for conditions like GERD, breathing disorder, or electrolyte imbalance.
Complications of Hiccups
If not resolved or treated, persistent hiccups may cause complications as follows:
Persistent hiccups may cause dehydration by interfering with normal eating or drinking habits.
They may cause sleeping difficulty leading to fatigue.
By interrupting speech, hiccups result in unclear communication and breathing problems
Hiccups affect the quality of life by interfering with social activities
In rare cases, hiccups may result in an injury during physical activities, including weightlifting or swimming.
Diagnosis of Hiccups
Hiccups are diagnosed on the basis of the ‘hic’ sound and the time span of hiccups. A medical consultant examines hiccups by evaluating the patient's medical history and listening to the ‘hic’ sound. However, for severe hiccups, sometimes your medical health provider may require blood testing, X-rays, CT scan, or other medical tests to evaluate the functioning of the gastrointestinal tract or nervous system.
Treatment of Hiccups
Hiccups are usually harmless and resolve on their own. However, if they persist, you should:
Try home remedies, including breathing practice, exercising, gargling with cold water, and drinking water.
Seek medical advice for an underlying medical condition.
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