Hiccoughs

Introduction Hiccups (or hiccoughs) are a sudden, involuntary squeezing of the diaphragm, the main breathing muscle under the lungs. This squeezing action sucks air quickly into the lungs, snapping shut a valve (glottis) above the voice-box (larynx). This snapping makes the sound of a hiccup.

Hiccups start suddenly, and usually last for only a few minutes. You might hiccup anywhere between 4 to 60 times a minute. Hiccups will usually stop on their own.   Hiccups are a reflex action; this means you do not have any control over them. They do not seem to have a useful purpose and are more common in the evening. Men and women are equally affected by hiccups.

Persistent hiccups (lasting for more than 48 hours) can be very tiring and upsetting, and can make eating and drinking difficult. They are however rare, and are sometimes caused by an underlying disease. Causes Hiccups are caused by your diaphragm squeezing unintentionally. The trigger may be unknown but sometimes a trigger can be identified - for example: stretching of the stomach after rapid eating, drinking, or swallowing air or fizzy drinks, indigestion, usually due to eating hot and spicy food, sudden emotional excitement, upset or surprise, including laughing, sudden change of air temperature, for example taking a cool shower, very hot or cold food or drink, and alcohol, or excess smoking.

On very rare occasions the underlying cause can be due to a serious condition. If you have persistent hiccups (lasting for more than 48 hours), see your GP and tell them how long and how frequently you have been hiccupping. Your GP will examine you and may take blood and urine samples to work out the cause of your persistent hiccups, and may also arrange for a computerised tomography (CT scan) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI scan) to be done.

Self-Help Remedies:
Normally hiccups do not need medical treatment and they will go away on their own. However, you may find that the following home remedies help: sipping cold water, or eating ice, drinking water out of the wrong (opposite) side of the glass, gargling with water or mouth wash, breathing into a paper bag, holding your breath for a short period, biting on a lemon, or eating a piece of fresh ginger, massaging the stomach and abdomen with essential oils of Basil, fennel and Mandarin diluted in a carrier oil pulling your knees up to your chest, or someone giving you a surprise to act as a mental distraction.

Some people find complementary therapy such as hypnosis and acupuncture help with hiccups, but currently there is no conclusive evidence to support this. Medical treatment is needed only for persistent hiccups.