Everything you Need to Know …and More
Essential Information about…Hiccups
What are Hiccups?
Hiccups are repeated spasms or sudden movements of the diaphragm. When the diaphragm muscle contracts and the vocal cords suddenly close, a “hic” sound is created.
Hiccups may occur individually, or they may occur in bouts. The rhythm of the hiccup, or the time between hiccups, tends to be relatively constant.
Hiccup Symptoms
A hiccup consists of a single or a series of breathing diaphragm spasms, of variable spacing and duration, and a brief (less than one half second), unexpected, shoulder, abdomen, throat, or full body tremor.
Causes of Hiccups
There’s often no obvious reason why you get hiccups, but some people find certain things trigger their hiccups, such as:
- Stress
- Strong emotions, like excitement
- Eating and drinking
In rare cases, hiccups that last longer than 48 hours can be due to a medical condition or a medicine you’re taking.
Things to Avoid When you Have Hiccups
- Do not drink alcoholic, fizzy or hot drinks
- Do not chew gum or smoke – these can cause you to swallow air
- Do not eat spicy food
- Do not eat food very quickly
- Do not eat or drink something very cold immediately after something hot
Treating Hiccups
Many people may find these things helpful for stopping hiccups, however there’s no evidence that they work for everyone:
- Breathe into a paper bag (do not put it over your head)
- Pull your knees up to your chest and lean forward
- Sip ice-cold water
- Swallow some granulated sugar
- Bite on a lemon or taste vinegar
- Hold your breath for a short time
If hiccupping lasts longer than two days and is linked to other issues, such as heartburn or dysphagia (trouble swallowing) you should consult your GP as soon as possible for further examination.
While hiccups are normal and familiar to most people, and only usually last a short time, it should be investigated if they last longer than a month or so, when it is much less common as there could be an underlying cause. Gastrointestinal causes of hiccups include GORD (gastro oesophageal reflux disorder), hiatus hernia and Oesophageal Cancer.
A GP will want to find out if your hiccups are caused by a health condition or medicine you’re taking. Treating the condition or changing your medicine should stop your hiccups. If there’s no obvious cause, they might be able to prescribe a medicine called chlorpromazine to treat your hiccups. This does not work for everyone.
