In observation, it has been revealed that males are much more likely to develop long-term hiccups than females. Other factors that may increase the risk of hiccups include mental or emotional issues. Anxiety, stress, and excitement have been linked with some cases of hiccups. Some people develop hiccups after general anaesthesia or procedures that involve organs in the stomach area.
When we consider Complications, the ongoing hiccups may interfere with eating, drinking, sleeping, and speaking. Hiccups can also worsen the pain. Patients can understand by closely observing the provoking factors of hiccup,s which can be avoided skilfully.
Cause of hiccups
The muscular activity of the diaphragm is controlled by nerves. Hiccups occur when particular stimuli trigger the nerves to send the diaphragm into spasms. It is not known why this occurs.
Triggers of hiccups
The cause of hiccups is often unknown and there may be no apparent trigger. Various triggers, particularly those that cause pressure on the diaphragm, are known to prompt an attack of hiccups in some people from time to time. Some of these triggers include eating food too quickly, hot or spicy foods, indigestion, and overconsumption of alcohol, fizzy drinks, cigarette smoking, stress, bad odours, and pregnancy.
The Diagnosis for the Cause of Hiccups
During the physical exam, the physicians may perform a neurological exam to check the balance and coordination, the muscle strength and tone, reflexes, sight, and sense of touch. If the physician thinks that an underlying medical condition may be causing the hiccups, the provider may recommend Lab tests, such as a blood sample may be checked for sugar levels, status of infection, kidney function, liver function and other imaging tests.
The tissues inside the body that may be affecting the diaphragm or the nerve that controls the diaphragm, the phrenic nerve condition can be detect by imaging tests. Or these tests may identify issues that a main nerve in the nervous system, called the vagus nerve working properly or not. Imaging tests may include a chest X-ray, a CT, or an MRI.
Endoscopic tests
In this procedure use a thin, flexible tube called an endoscope that contains a tiny camera that is passed down the throat and into the oesophagus, sometimes called food pipe by an endoscopic specialist. The purpose is to check the issues and internal conditions in the oesophagus or the windpipe.
Treatment
Most cases of hiccups go away on their own without medical treatment. If an underlying medical condition is causing the hiccups, treating that condition may stop the hiccups. If the hiccups last longer than two days, medicines or certain procedures may be needed. The Drugs used to treat long-term hiccups include baclofen, chlorpromazine, and metoclopramide.
If less invasive treatments aren’t effective, the treating doctor may recommend an injection of an anesthetic to block the phrenic nerve to stop hiccups. Another option is to surgically implant a battery-operated device to deliver mild electrical stimulation to the vagus nerve. This procedure is most commonly used to treat epilepsy, but it also has helped control long-term hiccups.
Self-help strategies
Hiccups are harmless and usually resolve by themselves in a few minutes. Some hiccup ‘cures’ include holding breath, taking deep breaths, breathing into a paper bag eating a bit of fresh ginger, sucking a lemon, having a hot water and honey drink, taking a spoonful of sugar, drinking a glass of water slowly, eating ice, gargling, asking someone to give a fright. However, one should not forget that hiccups may be symptom of an underlying disease.
Hiccups that last for days, weeks or even years may be symptomatic of an underlying disease. Certain lung or brain disorders can sometimes interfere with the functioning of the diaphragm and make the person prone to hiccups. Hiccups may also be a side effect of surgery or particular medications.
Some of the diseases, conditions and drugs that may prompt frequent or prolonged attacks of hiccups include, esophagitis (inflammation of the oesophagus), an overactive thyroid gland, pleurisy (inflammation of the membrane surrounding the lungs), pneumonia (inflammation of the lungs), Kidney disease, brain damage, such as stroke or tumour, that affects the area of the brain which controls the diaphragm, abdominal surgery, chest surgery, certain epilepsy medications, nicotine gum.
Prolonged hiccups should be medically investigated. Treatment options may include treatment for the underlying disorder, changes to current drug dosages, switching to another form of nicotine therapy, anti-spasmodic drugs to calm the diaphragm, a tube inserted into the nose (nasogastric intubation) a nerve block, or surgery to sever some of the nerves servicing the diaphragm.
Summary
Hiccups, or hiccoughs, are involuntary sounds made by spasms of the diaphragm. Hiccups are usually harmless and resolve by themselves after a few minutes. In some cases, prolonged hiccups that last for days or weeks may be symptomatic of underlying disorders.
Hiccups, or hiccoughs, are involuntary sounds made by spasms of the diaphragm. The diaphragm is a large sheet of muscle slung beneath the lungs that, together with the intercostal muscles, causes us to breathe. The muscular spasm of these muscles’ sucks air into the lungs, and the quick inhalation makes a structure inside the throat (called the epiglottis) slam shut. (The epiglottis is a flap of tissue that closes over the windpipe during swallowing to prevent the inhalation of food, fluids or saliva.) The symptoms of hiccups include a sharp contraction or spasm of the diaphragm that is felt just below the breastbone, air is involuntarily sucked into the throat, the closing epiglottis makes a ‘hic’ sound hiccups usually stop after a few minutes.
