What are Hiccups and Can I Really Stop Them? Find the answers here

Once in a while we all experience Hiccups and the first questions we ask ourselves is. What are Hiccups and Can I Really Stop Them? How to stop Hiccups has answers in this write-up. Keep reading because you are not alone.

Your everyday, run-of-the-mill hiccups are caused by involuntary spasms of the diaphragm. This muscle usually contracts smoothly, pulling in air and allowing you to breathe. However, when you eat too much, drink too much alcohol, are stressed or swallow lots of air, the diaphragm spasms, which causes you to hiccup.

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Short-term hiccups like these are not harmful and will eventually pass. There are countless folklore remedies, like holding your breath, having someone scare you or sucking on a lemon. Some of these may work for you and others might not. Either way, hiccups will eventually stop on their own, even if you do nothing.

The nerve that controls the diaphragm is called the vagus nerve. Long-term hiccups are one of the symptoms of the vagus becoming irritated or damaged. Maladies like laryngitis, tumors, cysts, goiter, sore throat, and acid reflux are all conditions that irritate the nerve. In these cases, you’ll need to see a doctor in order to figure out the specific reason for your long-term hiccups. But left untreated, a long-term case of hiccups can disrupt your daily activity or sleep, and become wholly exhausting.

Other Issues

Sometimes, hiccups are the result of central nervous system disease. Anything that affects nerves will eventually affect the vagus nerve. These conditions include encephalitis (brain swelling), meningitis (brain infection), multiple sclerosis (an autoimmune disease), stroke, tumors, and damage to the brain. These are serious conditions that you ought to address immediately with a specialist. Your doctor should put you on a treatment plan and tell you all your options.

Lifestyle and Chronic illnesses

Finally, hiccups might result from drugs or chronic disorders. These include alcoholism, diabetes, kidney disease, and steroid use. Sometimes, the hiccups will stop if you stop using drugs. Other times, your doctor will have to recommend an alternative treatment plan.

The general rule with hiccups is that if they last more than 48 hours, you should seek help. For most people though, hiccups are harmless little disruptions.