Maybe once funny, twice funny but after the third it’s just annoying. We’ve all had this situation from time to time, but do you know why we are experiencing it, or how to get rid of it? He is indispensable for some of the scenes in the classic romantic comedy movies we watch, which even disgraced the viziers from time to time. Can you guess what happened?
Hiccup! Yes, you didn’t read it wrong. Untimely voices, uttered without warning, that disgraced even the queens. Some take us for hours, while others pass us by effortlessly. Let’s take a closer look at why people hiccup and how the hiccups go away.
Why do people hiccup?
Hiccups start much lower in your body, namely the diaphragm, the dome-shaped muscle between your lungs and stomach. Normally, the diaphragm is pulled down to allow air to enter your lungs when you breathe in, and relaxes when you exhale so air can flow back through your lungs to exit through your nose and mouth.
But if something irritates your diaphragm, it can spasm and hit your vocal cords, forcing you to suddenly draw air into your throat. This causes your vocal cords to snap shut, creating a distinctive hiccuping sound.
What are the causes of hiccups?
- Eating too much or too fast
- Feeling nervous or excited
- Drinking carbonated drinks or too much alcohol
- Stress
- Sudden temperature change
- Swallowing air while sucking on candy or gum
Hiccup that never goes away: What is a stubborn hiccup?
Hiccups are usually temporary, but in rare cases, they can bother you for a while. If we said for a while, it will probably take a long time to pass, but the record for the longest hiccups belongs to the American Charles Osborne. Her hiccups, which started in 1922, continued non-stop until 1990, that is, for 68 years.
Hiccups are usually caused by damage or aggravation of the nerves connected to the diaphragm. Everything from a hair on your eardrum to a sore throat can affect these nerves, and in more severe cases, damage to a tumor, goiter, or cyst in the neck.
Hiccups that last for a period of time can also be caused by central nervous system disorders such as encephalitis or meningitis, or metabolic disorders such as diabetes or kidney failure. Medications such as steroids or some tranquilizers can also trigger prolonged hiccups. Even some procedures that specifically require anesthesia can cause hiccups. If you have been hiccuping for more than 2 days, or if it is so severe that it interferes with eating, breathing, sleeping, or it bothers you, you should probably make an appointment with your doctor, don’t neglect it.
So how does the hiccup go, what is good?
- Gargle with ice water for one minute.
- Cold water will help soothe any irritation to your diaphragm.
- Absorb a small piece of ice on a napkin or absorbent material and breathe slowly. This increases the carbon dioxide in your lungs, which causes your diaphragm to relax.
- Hold your breath. This also helps increase carbon dioxide levels.
If you’re hoping that hanging upside down or a friend scaring you will stop your hiccups, I don’t want to disappoint you, but you’re wrong. Because there is no scientific evidence that these methods work. If you find yourself with frequent hiccups, eating smaller meals and minimizing sodas and fizzy foods can help. If they persist, alternative or complementary therapies such as relaxation training, hypnosis, or acupuncture may be options to explore.
However, some experts think holding your breath or breathing in a paper bag might work; both techniques cause carbon dioxide to build up in your lungs, which can relax the diaphragm. If all else fails and your hiccups persist for a few days or longer, make an appointment with your doctor. Any advice or medication he might prescribe is worth a try to see if they can put an end to these annoying hiccups. Be sure to indicate when your hiccups occur and how long they last.
Some diseases that hiccups are heralds:
- Nerve damage or irritation
- Central nervous system disorders
- Metabolic disorders and drugs
Nerve damage or irritation
One cause of prolonged hiccups is damage or irritation of the vagus nerves or phrenic nerves that serve the diaphragm muscle. Factors that can cause damage or irritation to these nerves include:
- Hair or something else in your ear that touches your eardrum
- Tumor, cyst or goiter in your neck
- Gastroesophageal reflux
- Sore throat or laryngitis
Central nervous system disorders
Damage to your central nervous system as a result of a tumor or infection or trauma to your central nervous system can disrupt your body’s normal control of the hiccup reflex. Examples include:
- Encephalitis
- meningitis
- Multiple sclerosis
- Stroke
- traumatic brain injury
- Tumors
Metabolic disorders and drugs
Some of the reasons that can cause long-term hiccups are:
- Alcoholism
- Anesthesia
- Barbiturates
- Diabetes
- Electrolyte imbalance
- Kidney disease
- Steroids
- Sedatives
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