Hiccups – Symptoms and Causes
Overview
Hiccups occur when your diaphragm spasms involuntarily, causing your vocal cords to snap shut and create the characteristic “hic” sound. The diaphragm is the important muscle that separates your chest cavity from your abdomen and helps you breathe.
Several factors can trigger hiccups. These include:
- Consuming large meals
- Drinking alcoholic beverages and carbonated drinks
- Sudden excitement.
The majority of hiccup episodes typically resolve within just a few minutes without any need for treatment.
However, in rare cases, hiccups may persist for months. These long-term hiccups can lead to serious complications such as weight loss and extreme fatigue.
While hiccups are usually harmless, persistent hiccups might signal an underlying medical condition that needs attention.
Signs and Symptoms
Hiccups happen when your diaphragm has sudden, uncontrolled spasms. These spasms create the “hic” sound that gives hiccups their name. You might also feel a slight tightening in your chest, stomach area, or throat during episodes.
When Medical Help Is Needed
You should contact your healthcare provider if your hiccups continue for more than 48 hours. Seek medical attention if your hiccups disrupt eating, sleeping, or breathing.
Why Hiccups Happen
Nerve Problems
Hiccups that last more than 48 hours may be caused by damage to the vagus or phrenic nerves, which control the diaphragm muscle.
Irritants to these nerves can include anything that touches the eardrum, like hair, as well as thyroid growths or tumors in the neck.
When these nerves get damaged or irritated, they can send incorrect signals to your diaphragm, causing it to spasm repeatedly.
Brain and Spinal Cord Issues
Problems in your brain or spinal cord can disrupt how your body controls hiccups. These disorders interfere with the normal pathways that regulate the hiccup reflex.
Common central nervous system causes include:
- Brain inflammation (encephalitis)
- Meningitis (swelling of the brain and spinal cord)
- Multiple sclerosis
- Stroke
- Head injuries
- Brain tumors
Body Chemistry Problems
When your body’s chemistry is out of balance, it can trigger long-lasting hiccups. These metabolic problems affect how your body functions.
Examples include:
- Diabetes
- Imbalances in electrolytes (like potassium or sodium)
- Kidney disease
These conditions change how your body works at a chemical level, which can trigger hiccup episodes that don’t stop easily.
Medications and Alcohol
Certain substances can cause prolonged hiccups, including sedatives, anesthetics, dexamethasone (an anti-inflammatory steroid), other steroids, and alcohol.
Both prescription medications and alcohol can affect the nerves and brain pathways involved in the hiccup reflex. In some cases, stopping these substances may help resolve persistent hiccups.
For brief hiccups (less than 48 hours), common triggers include carbonated drinks, alcohol, overeating, stress, temperature changes, and swallowing air.
Risk Factors
Men have a higher chance of getting long-lasting hiccups than women. Several factors can increase your risk, including your emotional state and medical procedures.
Complications
Long-lasting hiccups can make eating, drinking, sleeping, and talking difficult. They may also make pain feel worse. These issues can affect daily life and comfort.
