how do you get rid of hiccups? what are its causes?

Answer 1

Hiccup

A hiccup or hiccough (generally pronounced "HICK-cup" (IPA: [ˈhɪ.kəp]) independent of the spelling) is an involuntary spasm of the diaphragm; typically this repeats several times a minute. The sudden rush of air into the lungs causes the glottis to close, creating the "hic" listen (help·info) noise. A bout of hiccups generally resolves by itself, although many home remedies are in circulation to shorten the duration, and medication is occasionally necessary. By extension, the term "hiccup" is also used to describe a small and unrepeated aberration in an otherwise consistent pattern. The medical term is singultus. The term singultus is becoming more popular as this condition is being recognized as a significant performance issue in the 21st century, with an increased emphasis on human communications[verification needed].

While many cases develop spontaneously, hiccups are known to develop often in specific situations, such as eating too quickly, taking a cold drink while eating a hot meal, eating very hot or spicy food, laughing vigorously or coughing, or drinking an excess of an alcoholic beverage. Hiccups may be caused by pressure to the phrenic nerve by other anatomical structures, or rarely by tumors and certain kidney disease. It is reported that 30% of chemotherapy patients suffer singultus as a side effect to treatment. (American Cancer Society)

It is still unclear to scientists exactly why hiccups occur, particularly because it doesn't seem to give us any specific benefit. Some speculation exists that hiccups are a remnant of a bodily function that has been phased out by evolution, such as the move from aquatic gilled creatures to land animals. Ultrasounds have also shown that unborn fetuses experience hiccups. Some suggested hypotheses include hiccups as a possible muscle exercise for the child's respiratory system prior to birth or as a preventive measure to keep amniotic fluid from entering the lungs[1]. More research is required to ascertain their true nature, origins, and purpose, if any. Additionally, its extraordinary and complex remedies also make it harder for any scientists to find out the cause.[verification needed].

Medical treatment
Referred to as singultus, hiccups are treated medically only in severe and persistent (termed "intractable") cases. Haloperidol (Haldol, an anti-psychotic and sedative), metoclopramide (Reglan, a gastrointestinal stimulant), and chlorpromazine (Thorazine, an anti-psychotic with strong sedative effects) are used in cases of intractable hiccups. In severe or resistant cases, baclofen (an anti-spasmodic) is sometimes required to suppress hiccups. Effective treatment with sedatives often requires a dose that either renders the person unconscious or highly lethargic. Hence, medicating singultus is done short-term and is not a situation where the affected individual could continue with normal life activities while taking the medication.

The New York Times reports that Dr. Bryan R. Payne, a neurosurgeon at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans, has had some success with an experimental new procedure in which a vagus nerve stimulator is implanted in the upper chest of patients with an intractable case of hiccups. "It sends rhythmic bursts of electricity to the brain by way of the vagus nerve, which passes through the neck. The Food and Drug Administration approved the vagus nerve stimulator in 1997 as a way to control seizures in some patients with epilepsy. In 2005, the agency endorsed the use of the stimulator as a treatment of last resort for people with severe depression" [2].

Answer 2

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The diaphragm almost always works perfectly. When you inhale, it pulls down to help pull air into the lungs. When you exhale, it pushes up to help push air out of the lungs. But sometimes the diaphragm becomes irritated. When this happens, it pulls down in a jerky way, which makes you suck air into your throat suddenly. When the air rushing in hits your voice box, you're left with a big hiccup.

Some things that irritate the diaphragm are eating too quickly or too much, an irritation in the stomach or the throat, or feeling nervous or excited. Almost all cases of the hiccups last only a few minutes. Some cases of the hiccups can last for days or weeks, but this is very unusual, and it's usually a sign of another medical problem.

You've probably heard lots of suggestions for how to get rid of hiccups, and maybe you've even tried a few. Holding your breath and counting to 10 is one way some people can get rid of their hiccups. Other people say that drinking from the "wrong" side of a glass of water is the way to become hiccup-free.

Putting sugar under your tongue might work, too. And maybe the most famous treatment - having someone jump out and scare you when you're not expecting it - helps some people wave good-bye to their hiccups


The cause and function of hiccups has baffled medical practitioners since the time of Hippocrates. Although no one has figured out the exact science behind these "abrupt diaphragmatic contractions," we have come up with a few home remedies that might be able to help.

Steps
Swallow 1 tsp. white table sugar, dry. A study found that this stopped hiccups immediately in 19 out of 20 people. Repeat up to three more times at 2-minute intervals if necessary.
Gulp down a glass of water if the sugar doesn't work.
Eat a piece of dry bread slowly.
Breathe in and out of a paper bag. Do not use a plastic bag under any circumstances, and don't do this longer than 1 minute.
Gargle with water (see 'How to Gargle').
Repeat the above steps until your hiccups stop.
Tips & Warnings
Keep in mind that hiccups can be caused by eating too fast and subsequently swallowing a lot of air or drinking too much alcohol.
See a doctor if you have severe pain, if your hiccups last longer than a day (or 3 hours in the case of a small child), or if they started after you took a prescription medication.
This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment.

Answer 3

Breathing slowly and deeply in while thinking 'breathing out' and breathing slowly and fully out while thinking 'breathing in' Holding one's breath while optionally squeezing one's stomach Breathing deeply through the nose, then exhaling slowly through the mouth Exhaling all the air from one's lungs and holding one's breath while swallowing water . It is thought that a number of specific nerves in the spinal cord at the back of the neck control hiccups. When something triggers these nerves - eating too quickly, for example - a signal is sent to the phrenic nerve, which controls the diaphragm. The diaphragm signals back to the hiccup center and hiccups begin. Within a split second, a structure called the glottis closes off the windpipe, producing the characteristic sound of a hiccup

Answer 4

Some say that big enough adrenaline rush stops the hiccup. Like holding your breath causes an emergency in your body and therefore adrenaline comes to take over things.

I get hiccups rarely but when it comes its that ribbone snapper scale.. It's actually painful. I've tried everything from drinking water to holding breath and running up and down stairs and nothing works for me. Holding breath or drinking slowly works for some, I know, but not for me.. So I created my own way..

I breath in to a plastic bag.
Holding breath is the key.. But I just can't do it long enough to cut those painful convulsions. But breathing in to a plastic bag gives me that low oxygen air long time enough for my body to react and give me enough adrenaline to shut down hiccuping.

(At least I think that it's the adrenaline.. But who cares as long as it works..)

Answer 5

I read that it has to do with the balance of salt and sugar. If you have been drinking pop and you get the hiccups then have some salty crackers or something. If you get them from potatoe chips then eat something sweet. It seems to work, although drinking water upside down has always worked for me too.

Answer 6

hiccups are usually caused when you inhale alot of air while you eat. The only way Ive ever been able to rid them was to hold my breath for as long as I could. Ive heard if you swallow a teaspoon full of honey, or was it peanut butter?

Answer 7

how do u get rid of hiccups... simple... drink water... normal people do that... what r its causes... don't know...

Answer 8

too much air in diaphram... try drinking water or holding ur breath hope that works...

Answer 9

h2o works 4 me. the air trap & the diapraghm goes into involutary action.