Hiccup is also called as neuroaccoustic diafragmacontractions and some people call hiccups as hiccoughs.
With the contraction of diaphragm by spasm (diaphragm is a muscular sheet that separates chest and abdominal cavity) the inhaling of air is stopped suddenly. The gap in the vocal cords reduce during the contraction of diaphragm which causes a hiccup and this process is repeated by spasm after few minutes.
CAUSES OF HICCUPS
It can be caused due to the full stomach like eating too much food, smoking, drinking too much of alcohol, excitement, anxiety, stress and it is caused due to the gas problem in the stomach. Sometimes it is also caused due to empty stomach. In many people hiccups occur because of eating hot meal and cold drink at the same time, spicy food, eating very hastily, laughing and coughing.
A hiccup that goes on for more than 48 hours are known as persistent hiccups and for month are known as intractable hiccups and very rarely they can cause the weight loss, lack in sleep etc. consultation with doctor is required in this case. Causes of intractable and persistent hiccups can be cancer, infection, injury, problem in central nervous system, surgery, mental problem etc.
HOW TO CURE?
There are many ways to deal with hiccups but not all are suitable for everyone. It depends from the person to person. A particular way helps the person but it may not act in the same way for others.
Most of the people are cured by holding the breath. One way is to inhale till you cannot breathe more air inside and hold the air as long as it is possible for you. Other one is to exhale the air out till your lungs are completely empty and hold the position for few seconds.
Getting a sudden shock (it’s not the electric shock) you can ask somebody to make you feel shocking but this is somewhat difficult method. Another method is to sit on the floor cross legged and put drinking straw in glass of water then place the glass between your legs. Now try to take the water sips. As you come up you will feel that hiccups are gone.
Sometimes none of the above formula works. It is also possible to cure hiccups by surgical methods by which phrenic nerve gets crushed that allows diaphragm to remain relaxed.
But usually hiccups diminishes after few minutes and it does not require any kind treatments.
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