Hiccups: Reasons and Complications

Somya Verma

, Health A2Z

 

We are very sure that you have gone through some embarrassing moments that included hiccups. Yet, do you have an idea that this might be more than an embarrassing moment when it is consistent? Let us see what are the different aspects that can make these hiccups consistent.

 

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What are Hiccups?

 

Hiccups are involuntary contractions of the diaphragm. It is the muscle that separates your chest from your abdomen. It is known to play an important role in breathing. Each contraction is followed by a sudden closure of your vocal cords, which produces the characteristic “hic” sound.

 

Are Frequent Hiccups a Symptom?

 

There are times when in some cases hiccups can last for more than two days and less than a month. In such cases, they might be a signal to something else as well. These consistent hiccups are a symptom of pleurisy of the diaphragm, pneumonia, uremia, alcoholism, disorders of the stomach or esophagus, and bowel diseases.

 

Reasons For Hiccups:

 

Drinking excess alcohol: Choosing a good deal of consumption of alcohol can lead to an uncontrollable hiccup situation.

 

Drinking carbonated beverages: Drinking soft drinks and cola is also one of the reasons that episodes of regular hiccups can occur.

 

Overeating: When you keep stuffing yourself with food, your food track might get blocked. While in some cases the choking is repaired, in others it will result in the condition.

 

Emotional stress or excitement: Sometimes sudden excitement might cause a hiccup situation for some duration. It is not more than for a couple of minutes.

 

Sudden temperature changes: No there is nothing ghostly about it. Change in the temperature of your surroundings might be the reason for you having a hiccup.

 

Swallowing air by sucking on candy or chewing gum: Have you ever choked or swallowed air along with the chewing gum? We guess, many a time. These are also the reasons why you might be facing hiccups.

 

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How to Prevent Hiccups?

 

Some people develop hiccups after undergoing general anesthesia or after procedures that involve abdominal organs. While usually people are advised to drink water, it is mostly in case of choking. In a persistent condition, you might have to visit your doctor for further consultation.

 

What is the Complication That One Might Face?

 

The following regular habits can be highly affected in this case which are:

 

  • Eating
  • Sleeping
  • Speech
  • Wound healing after surgery

 

We might have given you reasons, but there are some points you should not ignore. In some cases, these long hiccups are due to severe damage in your nervous system. In other, it might indicate irritation or particular nerve damage. There re some metabolic issues as well that can relate to the above-mentioned problem. However, do not forget that help is always available. You just have to visit our website and post your queries.

 

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