Hiccups, also referred to as singultus, is a common occurrence that appears to serve no purpose in human beings. Hiccups can be a source of much amusement for observers but for the individual they can be a great nuisance. Brief episodes of hiccups are often self-limiting, but protracted hiccups can be associated with serious illness and, in rare cases, can result in death.

Dr. Brett Hodge

What are Hiccups?
Hiccups are sudden, involuntary contractions of the diaphragm muscle (muscle under the lungs). As the diaphragm muscle contracts repeatedly, the opening between the vocal cords snaps shut to check the inflow of air and makes the hiccup sound. Hiccups usually occur for a few seconds or minutes. If hiccups last longer then 48 hours they are considered persistent and those lasting longer than one month are called intractable hiccups. Hiccups occur equally in men and women and occur in all ages, even in the developing fetus inside the uterus (womb).

What causes hiccups?
The exact cause of hiccups still remains a mystery despite hundreds of years of research. Irritation of the nerves that extend from the neck to the chest can cause hiccups. Many conditions are associated with hiccups, but none has been shown to be the cause of hiccups. These conditions include the following:
• If you eat too fast and swallow air with your food
• Stressful circumstances
• Gastro-oesophageal reflux
• Alcoholism and acute ingestion of alcohol beverages
• Eating too much
• A variety of medical disorders like pneumonia and kidney failure

When to seek medical help?
The vast majority of cases of hiccups are self-limiting and there is no need to see a doctor. You should see a doctor if the hiccups become chronic or persistent (if they last more than 3 hours); or if they affect your sleeping patterns or interfere with eating; or if they are associated with other symptoms like severe abdominal pain or spitting up blood.

Treatment
There are numerous home remedies for hiccups and some of them do work. But it is difficult to recommend one over the other as many cases of hiccups subside without any form of treatment. Home remedies include the following:
• Holding your breath for a few seconds or minutes
• Drinking a glass of water quickly
• Using smelling salts
• Pulling hard on your tongue
• Stimulating the nerves on the back of the tongue by putting one - half - teaspoon of sugar on the back of tongue (in adults only)
Medical treatment is often only needed for severe, persistent hiccups. A number of medications are available.

Investigations
Individuals with severe and persistent hiccups should be investigated to rule out any associated medical disorder. If an associated disorder is found, treating this disorder usually results in cession of the hiccups.

Conclusion
Hiccups is a common occurrence in life that medical researchers are still not sure what causes it, and as a result, are still not sure how to treat it. Fortunately, the majority of cases of hiccups is self-limiting and requires no treatment. In the vast majority of cases hiccups are not associated with any medical disorders. All cases of chronic or persistent hiccups should be investigated by a doctor and treated professionally.

Ask Your Doctor is a health education column and is not a substitute for medical advice from your physician. Dr. Brett Hodge is an obstetrician/gynaecologist and family doctor who has over twenty years in clinical practice. Dr. Hodge has a medical practice in the Johnson Building in The Valley.

| Printer-friendly page | Send this article to a friend |

World News