Causes of hiccups for a long time. Continuous hiccups

Hiccups are a nonspecific symptom that can occur with gastroenterological pathologies or poor nutrition. It is characterized by convulsive, jerky contractions of the diaphragm, which vary in duration and intensity. Only a doctor can tell you how to remove hiccups correctly, eliminating the root cause, after an examination.

Etiology

Hiccups that occur only periodically are usually not a sign of any pathological process, while frequent hiccups may be a sign of a serious pathological process. It should also be noted that the exact etiological factors of this symptom have not been established. However, clinicians identify the following causes of hiccups:

• pathologies of the upper respiratory tract;
• gastroenterological pathologies – inflammatory bowel pathologies, reflux;
• pathologies that affect the central nervous system - traumatic brain injuries;
• proliferation thyroid gland;
• psychological disorders - severe, nervous overstrain, shock, hysterical attack;
• pathologies that lead to impaired metabolism.

In addition to pathological processes that can provoke the development of this symptom, independent etiological factors are also identified:

• hiccups in newborns after feeding, which is due to the uncomfortable position of the child during feeding;
• hot food, as it can irritate the phrenic nerve;
• binge eating;
• eating food too quickly;
• spicy dishes;
• difference in temperature of food consumed;
• taking certain medications;
• excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages;
• carbonated drinks.

Hiccups during pregnancy can be caused by the following etiological factors:

• hypothermia;
• anxiety, frequent nervous tension;
• forced body position during sleep.

Symptoms

The general clinical picture, in this case, is quite clear and manifests itself in the form of the following symptoms:

• a sharp, for no apparent reason, reduction of the diaphragm with simultaneous short breath and protrusion of the abdomen;
• closure of the epiglottis and glottis leads to the fact that a person makes a specific sound;
• if it is physiological hiccups after eating, then it goes away within a few minutes. Pathological symptom longer in time.

If this symptom is caused by a gastroenterological disease, then specific signs of the corresponding clinical picture are added.

Classification

Clinicians highlight following forms symptom:

• physiological - after eating, hiccups when smoking, after excessive amounts of alcohol;
• pathological - due to existing ailments or with an unknown etiology.

The forms of the pathological process are also distinguished according to the nature of their origin:

• central - develops due to damage to the brain, central nervous system and nearby organs;
• peripheral - observed when the vagus and phrenic nerves are damaged;
• toxic - as a consequence after poisoning with poisons, chemicals, food products;
• reflected - observed in diseases that affect the intestines.

It should be noted that the general clinical picture does not have any specific differences between the forms. In any case, if you experience frequent hiccups that are long-lasting in nature, you should consult a doctor rather than take measures to stop it yourself. Hiccups after eating can be a manifestation of gastroenterological pathology.

Diagnostics

Only a doctor can tell you how to stop hiccups correctly in adults or in children, after examination and making a final accurate diagnosis. Initially, a physical examination is performed to determine the general history. To make a diagnosis, the following laboratory and instrumental examination methods are used:

• general and biochemical analysis blood;
• general urine analysis;
• blood electrolytes;
• Ultrasound, CT or MRI of the chest, abdominal organs and head;
• X-ray examination of the chest organs.

If hiccups are observed after eating, the doctor may include gastroenterological studies in the diagnostic program. Treatment should only be prescribed by a doctor after identifying the etiology of this symptom. It should be understood that hiccups in themselves are a nonspecific symptom that cannot indicate a specific disease, so self-medication is unacceptable.

Treatment

Treatment will depend on the diagnosis. If the cause of the development of such a pathological process was certain disease, then appropriate basic therapy is carried out.

You can get rid of hiccups using the following methods:

• You should slowly drink cold water in small sips;
• inhale and hold your breath for a few seconds. This procedure should be repeated 3-4 times;
• suck on a slice of lemon.

You can get rid of hiccups through medications. Only the attending physician can prescribe a remedy for hiccups; it is not recommended to take such drugs without permission.

Prevention

There are no specific methods of prevention, since this is not a separate disease, but a nonspecific symptom. You should generally adhere to the rules of a healthy lifestyle and promptly seek medical help.

Good day, dear visitors of the project “Good IS!”, section “Medicine”!

In today's article we will take a closer look at you with such an unpleasant sensation as hiccups. So…

Hiccups ( English Hiccup)- nonspecific dysfunction external respiration, which occurs as a result of a series of convulsive jerk-like contractions of the diaphragm (a muscle located on the border of the abdominal and thoracic cavities of the human body, not subject to the conscious control of a person, controlled by the autonomic nervous system) and is manifested by subjectively unpleasant short and intense breathing movements.

To put it simply, hiccups are nothing more than a spasm of the diaphragm. Its sudden jerky contraction leads to a sharp change in the volume of the chest. The lungs are stretched, and a kind of involuntary sharp breath is obtained. The sudden movement of air irritates the nerve endings located in the mucous membrane of the larynx, and the glottis closes reflexively. This is how a person hiccups.

Hiccup is one of possible symptoms hypothermia, overeating and other conditions of the body.

Hiccups - ICD

ICD-10: R06.6
ICD-9: 786.8

Hiccups are prolonged

It occurs daily for two or more weeks and lasts longer than usual, sometimes for hours or even days. Frequent and prolonged hiccups, especially with accompanying vomiting, headache, and general weakness, are a reason to consult a doctor, as this can be a sign of a number of serious diseases! These may be diseases of the central nervous system and digestive system, diseases of the liver, gall bladder or pancreas, vasoconstriction, diabetes or infections, including giardiasis, helminthiasis. The final diagnosis is made after a series of studies, including tests for worms, and a visit to a neurologist.

Prolonged hiccups are divided into three types:

Central hiccups - neurology explains its origin as a result of brain damage, meningitis or encephalitis.

Peripheral hiccups - occurs as a result of pathological processes of the phrenic nerve.

Toxic hiccups - occurs when nerve endings are damaged as a result of taking a drug.

Causes of hiccups

The cause of hiccups is sharper than usual contractions of the diaphragm, while inhalations are accompanied by a short suffocation.

Hiccups sometimes occur in healthy people without apparent reason and, as a rule, is a harmless, quickly stopping phenomenon. Hiccups can occur with general cooling (especially in young children), with overstretching of the stomach (overfilling it with food), as well as with irritation of the phrenic nerve (a case of prolonged hiccups with a frequency of contractions of the diaphragm equal to the frequency of heart rate when a damaged wire from a pacemaker is shorted to the phrenic nerve).

Also, the causes of hiccups can be: hunger, thirst, dry food (bread, buns, etc.), fast food, excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages, excitement, sudden changes in temperature, stress.

Prolonged debilitating hiccups can be caused by lesions of the central nervous system, in particular encephalitis, metabolic disorders (diabetic, uremic or hepatic coma), intoxications (alcohol, barbiturates, muscle relaxants, benzodiazepines), stroke, traumatic brain injury, arteriovenous malformations. Hiccups can be a serious sign of increasing intracranial pressure or volumetric education posterior cranial fossa.

The causes of hiccups can also be compression of the CIV root by a hernia intervertebral disc, neck tumors, mediastinal tumor, lymphogranulomatosis or sarcoidosis, tumor of the esophagus or lungs, esophageal diverticulum, reflux esophagitis, laryngobronchitis, mediastinitis, myocardial infarction, diseases of the abdominal organs (gastritis, gastric ulcer and duodenum, intestinal obstruction, subphrenic abscess, pancreatitis, diseases of the biliary system, tumors of the stomach, pancreas, liver), glaucoma.

In young women, hiccups are sometimes psychogenic in nature.

Diagnosis of prolonged hiccups

If hiccups continue for several days, you should consult a doctor to rule out the possibility of damage to the body due to serious illnesses. The doctor prescribes a series of tests for the patient. For example, laboratory tests check a patient's blood for kidney disease, infection, or diabetes. Using endoscopic tests they look for possible problems in the windpipe or esophagus, using a special chamber located at the end of a flexible, thin tube that is lowered down the throat into the esophagus. Fluoroscopy can detect possible problems in the diaphragm, as well as damage to the vagus and phrenic nerves. These tests include CT scans, magnetic resonance imaging scans, and chest x-rays.

How to get rid of hiccups?

So, how can hiccups be treated?

There is no single true and correct method of dealing with hiccups: for some, drinking a glass of water helps, for others, holding your breath helps. Some recommend scaring the hiccupper, which, in fact, is also a very controversial remedy. The hiccups should go away on their own 5-15 minutes after they start - just as involuntarily as they started.

It should be noted that in case of prolonged hiccups, treatment, first of all, involves influencing the underlying disease, which must be established by a doctor, therefore, if hiccups do not leave you for a long time, be sure to consult a doctor.

Now let's look at what methods and means of getting rid of hiccups are:

Drug treatment

Neurology involves treating prolonged intractable hiccups with medications: antidepressants, antipsychotics and anticonvulsants. They will calm the excessive bioelectrical activity of the brain and help get rid of hiccups. However, it should be remembered that anticonvulsant and antiepileptic drugs can cause lethargy and lethargy.

Medicines for hiccups

“Cerucal”, “Motilium”, “Scopolamine”, “Pipolfen”, “Haloperidol”, “Finlepsin”, “Difenin”, “Corvalol”.

Diaphragm nerve block

In cases where drug treatment does not help get rid of hiccups, a blockade of the diaphragm nerves with novocaine, which was developed by Vishnevsky, is used. This type of hiccup treatment is surgical and improves the sympathetic functions of the nervous system.

Folk remedies against hiccups

I would like to note that some methods may be completely opposite to each other, but nevertheless, some help some people, others help others. If you, dear readers, know your methods, write in the comments, and perhaps your method will help many people get rid of hiccups. So…

1. Hiccups are a spasm of the diaphragm. If you straighten the diaphragm as much as possible, the hiccups go away. Usually it is enough to inhale the maximum volume of air while standing, then sit down and lean forward, wait about a minute. If hiccups are felt even with a deep breath, it means that the breath was not full enough;

2. Take a deep breath and hold your breath;

3. Hold your breath three times in succession;

4. Hold your breath as you exhale before the spasm, then you can breathe shallowly and hold it again before the spasm. 2-3 times is enough;

5. Breathe frequently for a while;

6. Take as deep a breath as possible and, without exhaling, perform actions similar to inhalation;

7. Drink a large glass of water;

8. Several small continuous sips of water. In this case, you must definitely swallow the water and not breathe;

9. Ingest one teaspoon of regular granulated sugar in dry form without drinking water. You can drink it a little later;

10. Raise your arms above your head and take deep breaths in and out;

11. Fold your little finger and thumb pads facing each other on both hands;

12. A slightly strange, but very effective way is to take a small bag and tightly close your nose and mouth with it (as when vomiting), leaving a volume for inhalation and exhalation of 200-300 ml, hold it so that no outside air passes through. Breathe in this way until you feel a lack of air. Usually one time is enough;

13. Bend your torso forward as much as possible, clasp your hands behind your back and then, with the help of another person who will hold the glass, drink water in small sips;

14. It also helps to lie on your side and lie down for a while;

15. Lying on your back, raise your arms up. Take left hand right at the wrist and make springy movements up and down with a small amplitude so that the vibration passes to the chest. Do this for a short time and the hiccups will go away;

16. Apply a cold compress or ice cubes to your throat;

17. Try putting a mustard plaster on your neck;

18. Place a rubber heating pad with cold water on the diaphragm (where the chest ends);

19. Place your arms to the sides, cross your fingers, straighten your back, push your chest into a “wheel” and breathe through your nose. Particularly effective after a couple of sips of water;

20. Sitting on a chair (office chair, etc.), lean back and stretch your arms as high as possible and slightly back (about 15 degrees from the vertical), as much as you can, for 10-15 seconds. In most cases, hiccups go away immediately;

21. Spread the root of the tongue with mustard;

22. Plug your ears with your fingers and drink some liquid;

23. Focus on something, for example, do simple physical exercises, etc.;

24. Take 250 milliliters of cool water, add a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar, drink quickly;

25.

26. Water with lemon juice will also help get rid of the problem. It must be drunk quickly in large sips;

27. Chamomile tea. The drink needs to be brewed for at least half an hour. The substances contained in chamomile have muscle relaxant properties, they can also stop contractions of the diaphragm, which cause hiccups;

28. Place 20 drops of Valocordin, Corvalol or something similar into a teaspoon, drink and wash down with a glass of warm water;

29. To stop hiccups, a person must be suddenly frightened;

30. Warm up (if the cause is hypothermia): dress in dry, warm clothes, drink a hot soft drink, etc.;

31. Not a tip for everyone – try handstands. Or simply lie on the bed so that your head is very low. The idea is to get your head below your diaphragm. This often stops the hiccups;

32. Dip the tip of your tongue a little in salt and press it to the upper palate, while you need to sit in a chair and relax;

33. Try to provoke sneezing, for example with pepper;

34. Take half a glass of slightly warmed water, add fifteen drops of cherry laurel water, drink in one gulp;

35. Sometimes pressure on the eyeballs or the exit points of the phrenic nerve (above the collarbone at the edge of the sternocleidomastoid muscle) helps;

36. American Francis Fesmire, as well as three of his Israeli colleagues, discovered in 2006 that hiccups can be cured with rectal massage, for which they received the Ig Nobel Prize in Medicine. The discovery was made by them in different years independently of each other.

37. Ask the Lord to take hiccups away from you. Prayer is the most strong remedy against any complications in human health.

Superstitions about hiccups, or how not to deal with hiccups

I can’t help but add a few lines to this article regarding superstitions, or so to speak, the Slavic heritage, thanks to which sometimes a person is exposed to serious complications in life, without even knowing the causes of his problems.

So, there are methods for getting rid of hiccups, such as for certain actions, which I will not write about, so as not to be a source of temptation, you need to read the Lord’s Prayer in reverse. Or use incantations and spells in the fight against hiccups.

It is important to understand that these manipulations are spiritual world can harm a person. Thus, prayers said in reverse are magic spells that come into contact with evil spirits, and have destructive consequences, the same applies to all sorts of conspiracies, trips to grandmothers-witches, etc.

In addition, you should not tie your hands with threads or bury anything in the ground. Fortunately there are more safe methods which are listed in the article above.

Hiccups in newborns

If we're talking about About a newborn baby, then most often the baby hiccups because he is cold or has swallowed air while eating. When your baby nurses, he may also experience hiccups. It is the air that gets into the stomach that causes it.

What should you do if your newborn baby has hiccups?

First, check if the diapers are wet - this could be the cause of hypothermia.

Perhaps the room is too cold, then close the window, or eliminate other sources of cold and wrap the baby warmly.

If a similar phenomenon appears after eating, carry the baby in a column, stroking his back. The air will come out and will not cause this phenomenon. This often happens in newborn babies. After all, they are just learning to eat, breathe and everything else.

If your baby is no longer so small, then the causes of hiccups may be different. Perhaps he ate without drinking dry food, such as a bagel, cookies, crackers. Sometimes this phenomenon in children is associated with gluttony. Maybe the baby has eaten too much and the stomach cannot cope with such a volume of food. Or it is possible that the child is simply thirsty.

And, of course, the option with hypothermia should not be forgotten either. Check to see if your child's feet are wet. Give him a warm drink with honey. It could be milk or tea - whatever suits his taste.

If your baby rarely has hiccups, then you don’t have to worry and don’t contact a specialist. If this phenomenon occurs frequently in a child and lasts a long time, then go to the doctor. Sometimes it indicates problems with the central nervous system, the phrenic nerve, or the presence of an aneurysm in the diaphragm area. Also, hiccups in babies are often a sign of the presence of worms.

Hiccups during pregnancy

The body of a pregnant woman is generally very different from female body in a different physiological state. What normally doesn’t cause much inconvenience can become a real problem during pregnancy. Some expectant mothers begin to hiccup more often and for longer than before pregnancy.

Perhaps the increase in hiccups during pregnancy is due to indigestion, which many of you suffer from. And in some cases, and this is not uncommon, hiccups are provoked by nervousness and tension. It is no secret that some expectant mothers worry excessively about the future and the successful outcome of pregnancy and childbirth. Such fears can also cause hiccups.

When hiccups appear in the background emotional stress try to relax, think about good things, sing a funny song out loud. Learn to distract yourself from hiccups. Talk to your doctor. Maybe some mild sedative or herbal tea will help you relax your nervous system and get rid of those annoying hiccups.

Important! Remember, welcome medicines and dietary supplements (biologically active additives) without consulting a doctor, it is now strictly contraindicated for you.

Methods for getting rid of hiccups should be as gentle as possible and at the same time effective. Of course, if your pregnancy is still two weeks old, then you can easily try out all sorts of ways to drink water (with or without tilting, from the opposite edge of the glass, and various others). But if your tummy has already become fairly rounded, then it will be difficult to bend over, and you don’t need to strain your abdominal muscles at all.

If you have hiccups, you can try to suck them into your lungs. maximum amount air and no longer breathe. Just don't overdo it. Oxygen starvation is not beneficial for a baby. And try to relax your abdominal muscles too.

Drink half a glass of ice water in small sips. Cold water causes a shake-up in the body, the muscles contract sharply, and the hiccups go away. Sometimes good action provide herbal teas. It can be mint, lemon balm, or chamomile. The tea must not be cold. Often, to stop hiccups, it is enough to chew a cracker or a crust of bread.

Try not to get too cold - it's cold known cause hiccups in both adult patients and small ones and, of course, in pregnant women. If you feel the first signs of hypothermia, immediately change into dry clothes and warm clothes, drink hot tea, coffee.

Starting from the twenty-eighth week of pregnancy, you will feel rhythmic and short movements within yourself. This makes your little one aware of itself. Hiccups are normal for him. Doctors say that in the mother's belly the child often sucks his finger, when during sucking a little amniotic fluid gets into the tummy, the baby begins to hiccup.

Hiccups help the functioning of the baby's internal organs, such as his heart and intestines. Some doctors believe that hiccups are something like a massage. I have never had such bouts of hiccups before. born child can last up to twenty minutes. Don't worry, this is absolutely normal and does not threaten the baby in any way. Some babies may even have hiccups several times a day. At the same time, doctors believe that the child does not experience any discomfort from hiccups, similar topics what you and I are experiencing.

Important! It is worth noting that hiccups in your fetus are terrible when they do not go away for a long time. Too long and frequent attacks of hiccups in a baby can be triggered by oxygen starvation. This situation requires control by doctors.

What symptoms of hiccups should you pay special attention to?

Hiccups, many days, debilitating, with profuse salivation may be a sign of damage to the brain and spinal cord, a disorder of the central nervous system.

Hiccups combined with an unexpected cough, accompanied by dull ache in the back or side, may indicate pleurisy, pneumonia or other more complex disease pulmonary system.

Hiccups, frequent, complicated by pain in the head, accompanied by general weakness, pain in the shoulders and neck, are most likely a symptom of osteochondrosis.

In any case, when such an unpleasant problem as hiccups drags on, you should not test the body’s strength and wait for it to “go away on its own.” The hiccups may go away, but the illness that your body was trying to “inform” about will take on more severe forms. You must try to find time to diagnose your health.

Charles Osborne (born 1894), Anton, Iowa, USA started hiccupping in 1922. The hiccup attack began while he was cutting a pig. The bout of hiccups continued for the next 68 years until 1990. During this time, he hiccupped about 430 million times. The hiccups did not respond to treatment, but this did not stop Osborne from leading a lifestyle familiar to all people; he got married and had children. The average frequency of hiccups at the beginning of the attack was 40 times per minute, which then decreased to 20-25 times.

Video about hiccups

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Let's see what are the causes of hiccups, what remedies can help solve this problem and what treatments should be used for chronic hiccups. We will find out how many types of hiccups exist, and what physiological mechanisms lie at the root of this bothersome disorder.

When does hiccups occur - physiological mechanism

Everyone has had to deal with hiccups in life, but only a few know the reasons for this phenomenon? This problem can affect anyone: a newborn, a child, an adult and an elderly person, and it is associated with involuntary contraction of the diaphragm muscles, which determines the closure of the valve in the larynx area. Usually the disorder does not last long, with a variable number of hiccups per minute - from a minimum of 4 to a maximum of 60.

As previously mentioned, hiccups are caused by muscle contractions. From a medical point of view, we can distinguish two different components that cause hiccups:

• Muscular component: from this point of view, hiccups are an involuntary contraction of the muscles of the diaphragm that separates chest cavity from the abdominal cavity and intercostal muscles. The typical sound of hiccups is caused by an interruption in the flow of air in the lungs.
• Neurological component: associated with activation of the vagus nerve and the phrenic nerve (the nerve that innervates the diaphragm), and the hiccup center, which is located in the cervical spine and receives commands from the hypothalamus and other areas of the brain.

Hiccups are not always the same: different types

Although hiccups are very common and common enough that they are not a cause for concern, there are several types of hiccups, some of which require medical attention.

We can highlight three types of hiccups:

• Isolated: this is the most general type hiccups that everyone experiences at least once during own life. It appears suddenly and lasts from a few seconds to several minutes. Tends to heal spontaneously.
• Acute: A type of hiccup that can last up to 48 hours and is characterized by rapid and repeated contractions. Does not require medical treatment, disappears spontaneously, but should always be kept under control, as after 48 hours the help of a doctor may be required.
• Chronic: These are hiccups that last for more than 48 hours and are characterized by frequent and rapid spasms. This type of hiccups can persist for several days or even several weeks, alternating with periods without hiccups. Of course, this is a very rare phenomenon: it occurs in one in 100,000 people.

The latter type requires the intervention of a doctor, since among the consequences can be sleep disturbances, as it occurs even at night and makes eating and talking difficult.

Causes of hiccups

The causes of this disease are still largely unknown. However, it can be assumed that certain situations determine the occurrence of isolated or acute hiccups. Chronic hiccups may be caused by a neurological or similar disorder.

We have previously described isolated and acute hiccups as a transient process. Often the reasons that give rise to this phenomenon are unknown, but, nevertheless, some common reasons can be identified:

• Eating Mistakes: When you eat quickly or eat too much, it causes the stomach to stretch due to swallowing air and this can lead to stimulation of the phrenic nerve and rapid contractions of the diaphragm.
• Anxiety and stress: Hiccups can be psychosomatic, meaning they are caused by anxiety or prolonged stress. When you're nervous, you tend to swallow a lot of air, which stretches the stomach and stimulates the phrenic nerve.
• Smoking and alcohol: can lead to hiccups because they have a general irritant effect, including the diaphragm and phrenic nerve. In addition, alcohol causes dilation of the stomach.
• Temperature changes: Sudden changes in temperature or swallowing food that is too hot or too cold can trigger hiccups.
• Medications: In some patients, such as older adults who take large amounts of medications to keep age-related conditions under control, the medications may cause hiccups. Major culprits include benzodiazepines used to treat anxiety, corticosteroids such as cortisone used to treat various inflammatory conditions, antibiotics, and drugs used for chemotherapy.
• Surgical procedures: It is not uncommon for hiccups to occur after surgery due to several factors, such as manipulation of internal organs, accidental stimulation of the phrenic nerve or diaphragm, medications used for general anesthesia, distension of the neck during intubation, and distension of the abdomen during endoscopy.

All of the above reasons cause involuntary contraction of the diaphragm through stimulation of the phrenic nerve, but the mechanisms by which this occurs remain unknown.

Other common causes of hiccups may be related to a specific condition the person is in, such as pregnancy, or due to age, such as hiccups in children.

• Children and newborns: children and newborns have the most common reason hiccups - speed of food consumption. For example, a newborn may swallow too quickly during breastfeeding, swallowing air; it is not uncommon for hiccups to appear after feeding. Children and babies, like adults, can also have hiccups due to changes in temperature or eating food that is too hot or too cold.
• Women during pregnancy: During pregnancy, in addition to the well-known "fetal hiccups" that are a cause of joy and suffering for women, the expectant mother may also have hiccups, probably caused by an increase in the volume of the uterus, which stimulates the phrenic nerve.

Causes of chronic hiccups

As for chronic hiccups, the main cause is disorders of the nervous system, that is, irritation of certain nerves.

This may include:

• Peripheral nerve pathways: innervating the diaphragm, in particular the vagus and phrenic nerves. Damage or irritation from these pathways can lead to chronic hiccups. Such irritation or damage may be the result of certain diseases localized at the level of the larynx, such as acute laryngitis, pharyngitis (general sore throat), the presence of foreign objects at the level inner ear, as well as inflammation and infections localized in the lungs and pleural cavity.
• Central nerve tracts: that is, nerves localized at the level cervical region spinal cord. Irritation or injury in these centers can cause chronic hiccups. Injury to these centers is often observed in neurological disorders such as multiple sclerosis and Parkinson's disease, inflammation of the meninges in the brain and bone marrow, tumors at the level of the brain, traumatic brain injury.

Secondary causes of chronic hiccups relate to diseases that determine the appearance of this symptom. Some diseases have hiccups as a side effect of stimulation of peripheral and central nerves, the mechanisms of connection of other diseases with hiccups are not entirely clear.

Among pathological diseases that can identify hiccups, we have:

• Inflammations: in the mediastinum, for example at the level of the pericardium, pleura or lungs, can stimulate the phrenic nerve.
• Reflux: Gastroesophageal reflux is one of the most common causes of hiccups. In this case, hiccups often occur if you lie down (sleep) immediately after eating.
• Ulcers and gastritis: gastric ulcers very often develop in the presence of the bacterium Helicobacter pylori): symptoms and treatment of a bacterial stomach infection ">Helicobacter pylori, this is accompanied characteristic symptoms: burning in the abdomen, nausea and vomiting, as well as prolonged hiccups.

Other disorders that may present with hiccups include metabolic disorders such as diabetes mellitus, electrolyte imbalances, hypocalcemia and hyponatremia, renal failure, and Addison's disease.

“Seven sips of water” and other remedies for hiccups

Let us now move on to a description of some remedies for hiccups. In case of transition processes, in addition to changing your lifestyle through eating more slowly and less abundantly, you can resort to “grandmother’s” remedies.

From natural remedies The most commonly used treatments for hiccups are:

Lemon juice: due to the fact that it is very sour, due to the presence citric acid, lemon juice, when ingested (pure and undiluted), causes an immediate cessation of breathing, which can stop the involuntary contraction of the diaphragm. A couple of teaspoons of lemon juice can instantly get rid of hiccups.

Vinegar: Also contains an acidic component – ​​acetic acid. Taking a teaspoon of diluted vinegar may be helpful because the reflex narrowing of the esophagus blocks the involuntary contraction of the diaphragm. However, be careful, acidity, which works well against acid, can cause ulceration of the stomach lining.

Water: one of popular means against hiccups - drink water in small sips. Some people claim that you should drink 7 sips of water with your nose pinched. Drinking water activates certain centers in the brain that can block hiccups.

Sugar: One teaspoon of sugar can stop hiccups due to its structure. Sugar granules, acting on the walls of the esophagus, stimulate the diaphragm and stop involuntary contractions.

Fright: with a sudden fright, a sudden contraction of the diaphragm is observed, this can “knock down” the hiccups.

Sneezing: When sneezing, the intercostal muscles and diaphragm are activated. Accordingly, if you induce sneezing during hiccups, you can stop the hiccups.

Holding your breath: Stopping breathing for more than ten seconds helps get rid of hiccups because it blocks the movement of the diaphragm.

Medical therapy for hiccups

When hiccups become a chronic condition, your doctor may prescribe medication to try to soothe the irritation. Antidopaminergic agents, calcium agonists, GABA and others are used in the treatment of chronic hiccups.

Of the antidopaminergic drugs acting at the level of dopamine receptors, the most used are:

• Metoclopramide, which is an antiemetic, but which is used in the treatment of chronic hiccups. Can be used during pregnancy.
• Aminazine: belongs to antipsychotics, but is very effective in treating hiccups (about 80%). It is not recommended to take this drug for a long period of time because it may cause involuntary movements. Should not be used during pregnancy due to potential teratogenic effect.

The most commonly used calcium agonists are:

• Nifedipine: Therapeutic efficacy is variable and closely related to the patient's condition. This drug should not be administered during pregnancy because it is not considered safe. The most common side effects are weakness, constipation and rapid heartbeat.
• Nimodipine: Can be taken either intravenously or orally. Although this drug has been little studied, it shows good efficiency in the treatment of chronic hiccups.

GABA agonists are used:

• Valproic acid: has good effectiveness. It should not be used during pregnancy, as it has a teratogenic effect, and side effects include thrombocytopenia and leukopenia.
• Baclofen: relaxes muscles. At the moment, the drug is considered the most effective for the treatment of chronic hiccups. Among the side effects we may have hypotension and a feeling of drowsiness. Should not be used during pregnancy as it can cross the placenta but the effect on the fetus is unknown.
• Gabapentin: Has good effectiveness in treating hiccups. The drug should not be administered during pregnancy or breastfeeding.

If drug therapy not enough to alleviate hiccups, you can use some invasive treatments, such as:

• Probing the stomach through the nose: a tube is inserted through the nasal cavities and goes directly into the stomach. This therapy is useful in cases of chronic hiccups that occur due to the reflux of gastric juice into the esophagus.
• Phrenic nerve anesthesia: A very invasive therapy, it is performed by injecting an anesthetic at the level of the phrenic nerve, which then loses its ability to transmit nerve impulses.
• Vagus nerve stimulation: A device is implanted in the chest that acts on the vagus nerve and stops hiccups.

sekretizdorovya.ru

Hiccups are involuntary myoclonic contractions of the diaphragm and intercostal muscles, simulating forced inspiration. It sometimes occurs in healthy people (after generous intake food, drinking chilled drinks and alcohol, with excitement), lasting no more than a few minutes. Hiccups can be considered as a reflex caused by changes in the abdominal cavity, which closes through the hiccup “center” in the medulla oblongata with the help of the phrenic and vagus nerves.

Causes of hiccups in adults

Every person in the world has experienced hiccups. Even small children know what this is. And when it starts at a crucial moment for you, it is very inappropriate then. It affects anyone, regardless of status, position and age. Maybe she torments you constantly?

Causes of prolonged hiccups

Prolonged debilitating hiccups can be caused by lesions of the central nervous system, in particular

• meningoencephalitis,
• metabolic disorders (with diabetic, uremic or hepatic coma),
• intoxications (alcohol, barbiturates, muscle relaxants, benzodiazepines),
• focal lesions of the brainstem (infarction or hemorrhage in the brainstem, brainstem encephalitis, traumatic brain injury, arteriovenous malformations, craniovertebral anomalies).

Hiccups can be a serious sign of increasing intracranial hypertension or a mass formation in the posterior cranial fossa.

Hiccups can also be caused by

• compression of the C4 root (for example, with a herniated disc),
• neck tumors (thyroid gland, neck lymphoma),
• lesions of the chest (mediastinal tumor, lymphogranulomatosis or sarcoidosis, tumor of the esophagus or lungs, esophageal diverticulum, reflux esophagitis, laryngobronchitis, mediastinitis, myocardial infarction),
• diseases of the abdominal organs (gastrostasis, gastritis, gastric or duodenal ulcers, intestinal obstruction, subphrenic abscess, pancreatitis, diseases of the biliary system, tumors of the stomach, pancreas, liver),
• glaucoma.

Often, especially in young women, hiccups are caused by psychogenic causes.

Thorough history taking and examination, data additional methods studies (chest x-ray, ultrasonography abdominal cavity, esophagogastroduodenoscopy, CT scan brain) allow us to exclude serious illness, which could cause hiccups. However, in many cases it cannot be found.

Reasons for development occasional hiccups in adults

Episodic hiccups always occur involuntarily. This is a rhythmic inhalation and exhalation with the mouth closed, when the diaphragm sharply contracts. It suddenly appears, for no apparent reason, and then stops on its own.

To date, scientists have not come to a common opinion on what causes hiccups. There are many more axioms. Some opinions of scientists have not been completed.

Simple hiccups are a kind of nervous tic. The phrenic nerve sends a signal to the muscles and they contract. This process occurs for unknown reasons. And how to get rid of such hiccups is also unclear.

Hiccups are associated with the instinct to suck mother's milk.

Hiccups are the presence of nerve cells that are responsible for the functioning of the gills. These nerve cells have been preserved through evolution.

Hiccups are a consequence of severe stress and fears of a person, as well as other reasons of a psychological nature.

Also, hiccups can be a consequence of very serious illnesses: kidney failure, tumor development in the esophagus, diaphragm or chest.

12 traditional ways to treat hiccups

Traditional medicine has been looking for ways to overcome this problem for centuries. The most popular way to “scare” does not help, but can only do harm; hiccups can develop into stuttering.

We present to your attention several effective ways from our grandparents:

Reflex method. We press on the root of the tongue, as if inducing a gag reflex. Spasm of the esophagus will help get rid of hiccups (spasm of the diaphragm).

Take your tongue and pull it either down or out.

We drink a large glass of water, but in very small sips.

Drink or eat something sour. To relieve you of painful hiccups, vinegar (a little, diluted with water) or lemon (without sugar) is good.

Drink beer with sugar.

Inhale and hold your breath.

Psychological method of treating hiccups. Bet your money. We start to hiccup. We bet that when you hiccup the next minute, you give away the money. Doctors say it is a very effective method.

Physiological method. If hiccups occur, do push-ups and pump your abs until you get rid of the attack. This method does not help everyone. But you can try. This way you will not only get rid of hiccups, but also correct your figure.

Another very good method, which includes two. We stand up straight, clasp our hands behind our backs and at the same time drink a glass of water (served by another person).

Close your eyes and massage them.

To get rid of hiccups, we press our fingers on the neck in the place where the collarbone attaches to the sternum.

Swallow a piece of ice or a dry piece of bread.

These methods are quite enough to get rid of hiccups. When you have hiccups rarely and go away quickly, you can not pay any attention to them. But if you have this process frequently, hiccup for a very long time, try all the remedies you know, and nothing helps, then you simply need to consult a doctor. If the problems are big, don’t hesitate, you may have an illness. Get examined, get tested, consult with specialists and be healthy. Dear readers, remember that your health is only in your hands!

What should be done for hiccups in adults on an outpatient basis?

Hiccups can often be stopped using simple techniques that work by stimulating receptors in the back of the throat and changing the activity of the vagus nerve:

the patient is asked to make several swallowing movements,

swallow a piece of sugar for hiccups,

hold your breath after taking a deep breath,

switch from chest breathing to diaphragmatic breathing,

Stick your tongue out far and inhale the smoke.

What else can be done? Sometimes pressure on the eyeballs or the exit point of the phrenic nerve (above the collarbone at the edge of the sternocleidomastoid muscle) helps.

Or an attempt to provoke sneezing (for example, using pepper).

Often, for hiccups, local anesthesia of the mucous membrane of the nose and oropharynx or inhalation is given 10 - 15% carbon dioxide for 3 to 5 minutes, or to re-inhalation of air that the patient exhaled into a paper bag.

Drug treatments for hiccups in adults

If these procedures are ineffective, use Metoclopramide (Cerucal), 10–20 mg intravenously or intramuscularly, Atropine, 0.5–1.0 mg subcutaneously or Scopolamine, 20 mg subcutaneously, neuroleptics (Aminazine, 25–50 mg intramuscularly, Haloperidol, 2 .5 – 5 mg intravenously or intramuscularly).

IN chronic cases hiccups are prescribed orally Metoclopramide, Domperidone (Motilium), antacids and H2-receptor blockers (Ranitidine), dopamine agonists (Bromocriptine), Amitriptyline, antiepileptic drugs (Carbamazepine, or Finlepsin, Difenin, Sodium Valproate), Nifedipine (Corinfar), Amantadine (Midantan) ).

For prolonged debilitating hiccups and ineffectiveness medications for treatment they sometimes resort to

• epidural block at the cervical level,
• blockade or transection of the phrenic nerve.

www.AstroMeridian.ru

Hiccups manifest dysfunction respiratory system, in which a sharp, involuntary, frequent contraction of the diaphragm occurs in babies, adolescents and adults. The main cause of chest twitches is stomach irritation. Normally, hiccups are short-term and infrequent. It quickly stops on its own, which is why treatment is not required. But what to do if the hiccups do not go away? In this case, a comprehensive diagnosis of the whole organism is required to identify pathologies that are accompanied by this symptom. Treatment of pathologically severe hiccups is necessary, since frequent and prolonged shaking of the diaphragm is fraught with serious consequences.

Hiccups cause discomfort, and its prolonged process can even signal health problems.

Why does it happen?

The cause of hiccups can be anything. It all depends on general condition body. Physiological contractions of the diaphragmatic muscle can provoke:

• flaws in the diet: overeating, fasting, poor chewing, quick snacks, swallowing air when communicating while eating;
• taking certain heavy painkillers;
• after a binge;
• pregnancy.

Pathological hiccups every day can occur due to:

• renal dysfunction;
• neoplasms, abscess in the chest, esophagus, diaphragm;
• dysfunction of the central nervous system;
• pathologies in the gastrointestinal tract: gastritis, ulcer, duodenitis, gastrointestinal tract, hiatal hernia.

Causes for children and adults

Every baby and preschool child hiccups a lot, briefly, involuntarily for several reasons. In a baby under one year old, when hiccups occur, the muscles of the abdominal wall contract convulsively, and a specific clicking sound appears at regular intervals. Usually, hiccups occur after a meal, especially if the baby was constantly fidgeting, distracted, or talking at the table.

Hiccups in newborns occur more often after feeding and are accompanied by regurgitation. In older children, spasms are caused by eating excessively dry foods, bloating, and increased gas formation in the gastrointestinal tract.

Rhythmic contractions in women often appear during pregnancy due to compression of internal organs by the growing uterus and fetus. Expectant mothers may feel hiccups in the fetus. The manifestations are similar to rhythmic contractions of the uterus or lower abdomen. The baby hiccups a lot due to swallowing a large amount amniotic fluid. This condition is not dangerous.
If hiccups do not go away for several days, are accompanied by pain, heartburn, and are persistent and persistent, an older person, and especially an infant, needs immediate help, as these are signs of developing pathologies.

Complications

Chronic, severe, non-stop hiccups in children can lead to a number of unpleasant consequences:

• disturbance of psycho-emotional state;
• increased anxiety;
• sleep problems.

What complications should you be wary of in an adult with long-term hiccups? This:

• chronic fatigue, exhaustion, insomnia;
• psychological stress and tension;
• malnutrition;
• dehydration.

If a person hiccups a lot after surgery, scar healing is delayed.

Prolonged hiccups

Hiccups can be caused by over a hundred pathologies. An experienced doctor can recognize the pathology by the accompanying symptoms. But more often, constant hiccups in a person occur against the background of:

• the use of certain medications, such as steroids, tranquilizers, painkillers with opiates, medications for blood pressure fluctuations, general anesthesia;
• changes in blood composition after drinking alcohol (a jump in sugar concentration, a drop in calcium or potassium levels);
• disorders of the stomach with acid reflux, stretching of the walls of the organ;
• infection of the gallbladder or in the subdiaphragmatic area;
• pathologies, neoplasms or operations in the neck, chest, abdomen;
• heart disease (heart attack, inflammation of the pericardial zone);
• brain pathologies: stroke, infections, injuries;
• late stages of cancer.

In infants

Hiccups in newborns - common occurrence, which is completely harmless and does not cause serious discomfort to the baby. More often, the baby suffers from tremors due to instability and underdevelopment of the digestive system. As he gets older, the hiccups will occur less frequently. There are cases when babies hiccup due to lifestyle, nutrition and routine disorders, for example:

• the child is thirsty;
• hypothermia;
• swallowing air during feeding;
• unexpected psycho-emotional shock in the form of a loud sound, unexpected bright light;
• overeating, in which the stomach stretches and puts pressure on the diaphragm, causing it to shrink in size.

Normally, a newborn hiccups for no longer than 10-15 minutes. Longer spasms of the diaphragm can be provoked by some disorder, for example:

• pneumonia;
• gastrointestinal diseases;
• spinal cord or brain injury.

Physiological hiccups in a baby do not last for days and stop quickly, which is why treatment is not required, but long, continuous attacks require examination and consultation with a doctor.

In children

In older babies, hiccups can also be episodic and long-lasting. Causes of a temporary attack:

• eating dry food;
• hypothermia;
• thirst;
• hypothermia;
• nervous overexcitability;
• binge eating.

There is no need to treat such hiccups; it is enough to give the child a drink of warm water and distract him with play. If the baby is hypothermic, you need to warm it up and give it warm tea or milk. You can suggest holding your breath for a few seconds and exhaling.

Adult children hiccup for a long time for several days, for the following reasons:

• with constant malnutrition, hypothermia or overeating;
• at serious pathologies, which include:
• diabetes;
• gastritis, ulcers, pancreatitis and other gastrointestinal pathologies;
• infections in the body;
• lesions of the brain or spinal cord;
• neuritis or compression of the phrenic nerve;
• helminthic infestation and giardiasis.

During pregnancy

Why does the expectant mother develop hiccups during pregnancy? This may be related:

• with fears about the upcoming birth;
• constant stress due to their special position;
• changes in the physiological structure of internal organs caused by the growth of the uterus with the fetus, compression of internal organs with the diaphragm and stretching of the abdominal muscle tissue.

Hiccups can occur in the fetus. In this case, the mother will feel rhythmic tremors inside the abdomen, but this is not a pathology.

Diagnostics

Long hiccups, lasting two days or more, require a thorough examination in order to detect diseases that can provoke its occurrence. The set of diagnostic measures includes:

• blood test: general tests, content of electrolytes, urea, creatinine, calcium, liver components, amylase;
• ECG, bicycle ergometry - to identify heart and vascular diseases;
• X-ray, CT, bronchoscopy, spirography - for examination of the chest organs;
• FGDS, monometry of the esophagus - to assess the functioning and condition of the gastrointestinal tract;
• MRI, spinal puncture - to identify NS disorders, if a neuroinfection is suspected.

What to do during treatment if hiccups do not go away for a long time?

Short-term hiccups do not require drug treatment. Simple ways can help:

• For an adult, it is enough to drink water or hold your breath;
• a newborn will benefit from being carried on the shoulder vertical position for burping air;
• An older child can be asked to drink warm liquid in small sips with a short breath-hold.

Prolonged hiccups for a day or more require taking a course of medications, which are selected based on the diagnostic results obtained. In rare cases, when continuous hiccups last for three days in a row or more, surgery may help.

Outpatient procedures

Incessant hiccups can be relieved by several methods, which are based on stimulating receptors located in the back of the throat and inhibiting the sensitivity of the vagus nerve. That is why, in order not to be tormented by hiccups, you should use one of the methods that can help get rid of it:

1. Perform several short swallowing movements.
2. Eat a piece of dry sugar.
3. Hold your breath while taking a deep breath.
4. Breathe not with your chest and stomach.
5. Stick out your tongue and inhale the smoke.
6. Squeeze the eyeballs with the pads of the thumbs of both hands or points located in the supraclavicular edge of the sternocleidomastoid muscle.
7. Provoke sneezing if you hiccup.
8. 3-5 minute inhalations of a 10-15% carbon dioxide solution of the nasopharyngeal mucosa under local anesthesia. To eliminate chronic spasms, a minimum of three procedures will be required.
9. Breathing into a paper bag.

Medicines

A long-term problem with hiccups that lasts for the second day in a row can be eliminated with the following medications:

• “Aminazine”, “Haloperidol” - to relax the diaphragmatic muscle or reduce the sensitivity of the nerve receptors in it, and to relieve constant failures;
• "Omeprazole", "Ranitidine", to get rid of stomach problems, restore normal level acidity;
• "Metoclopramide" - for cleaning the stomach;
• "Baclofen" - for muscle relaxation;
• "Gabapentin" - to facilitate breathing by reducing the innervation of muscle tissue in the subpulmonary zone;
• "Ketamine" - for intravenous pain relief when other methods and medications are ineffective;
• "Metoclopramide" - to get rid of hiccups after anesthesia;
• Midazole is a sedative to control hiccups and relieve stress due to them.

Medicines should be taken for three days or more.

Operation

If treatment with medications is ineffective, hiccups worsen and other symptoms appear severe symptoms, a decision may be made to perform an operation. The method of blocking the phrenic nerve may help. The intervention is performed using laparoscopic technique using endoscopic instruments. To get rid of hiccups this way, you need experience, attention and care, as there is a risk of damage to the nerve that plays special role in organism.

Prevention

When making a serious diagnosis, the main preventative measure to prevent incessant hiccups - get rid of the reasons that caused them. For example, the body is rid of pathogens of such pathologies as encephalitis, meningitis, neoplasms in the bone and brain, gastritis or ulcerative lesion stomach.

A good preventive measure for relaxing the phrenic nerve is drinking plenty of sweet drinks or pure glucose. This will eliminate hiccups, which have been tormenting a person for a long time.

After feeding, infants should be kept in an upright position for some time so as not to be bothered by long-term hiccups. It is important to ensure that while eating they sit as still as possible and do not swallow air. You need to understand why spasms of the diaphragm tormented the baby, and prevent hypothermia, overeating, and talking while eating in older children. If a child is frightened, the irritant should be eliminated and the baby calmed down. Lemon juice diluted in water can serve as a preventive measure for hiccups. It is forbidden to scare children when they have hiccups, as this can provoke undesirable consequences for the child’s nervous system.

Hiccups, causes in adults

The diaphragm, involuntarily contracting under the influence of a convulsive reflex, pushes excess gases out of the stomach. Often the problem occurs due to an excess of oxygen, which enters the esophagus with food and during yawning; this is the main cause of hiccups, but not the most serious.

Disturbances in the functioning of the central nervous system can provoke manifestations of hiccups in adults. This phenomenon can be a consequence of various infectious diseases, as well as other factors, the work of which affects the functional activity of the nervous system. An example is an infectious disease complicated by encephalitis, this can affect other symptoms: increased body temperature, inflammation of the mucous membranes of the eyes, mouth, the formation of a rash on the skin(color and type of rash depends on the disease), toxicosis.

Not only infectious diseases can cause disruptions in the functioning of the central nervous system, it can be a reaction to stress, trauma, oncological processes, causing modifications in the functioning of the brain and spinal cord. Reason frequent occurrence hiccups can become an ordinary fear, or a traumatic brain injury, to which the human instinct reacts in this way.

Physiological

The rapid absorption of food enriched with oxygen and food products, which, due to their metabolic properties during the digestion process, provide for the accumulation of gases in the stomach, require natural release. This is normal physiological phenomenon, which does not require treatment and after the natural release of excess accumulated gases, hiccups go away on their own.

If the hiccups do not stop for a long period (more than 15 minutes), perhaps the reason lies in some other factors that require additional diagnosis by specialists.

Toxic

Hiccups in adults due to toxic poisoning are by no means a rare phenomenon, and there are several reasons for this manifestation:

• Damage to the central nervous system by toxic substances: alcohol, various poisons, side effects of medications.
• The presence of diseases in which metabolism is disrupted and the amount of sugar in the blood increases (diabetes mellitus).
• Uremia, as a result of which there are serious kidney disorders, with a decrease in their performance and partial or complete impossibility of removing toxic substances from the blood.
• Complications caused by general anesthesia.
• Toxicosis arising from infectious diseases.

Only specialists determine the cause toxic effects on the human body, which will manifest itself as attacks of hiccups.

Consequence of diseases

An attack of hiccups is not always a reflex phenomenon that is safe for the body. If you make a list of pathological factors that can provoke this phenomenon, it will turn out to be very impressive in terms of the number of names. To make it easier to diagnose the causes of hiccups, experts divided them into types for ease of classification:

• Damage or malfunction of the central nervous system. Debilitating, sometimes for the whole day, such hiccups are direct evidence of the possible presence and impact of various types of diseases.
• Increased metabolism. The cause of development may be hepatic, diabetic or uremic coma.
• Toxicosis, as a result of poisoning with barbiturates, muscle relaxants (a good example: a drunk person walks or sits and often hiccups).
• Spine (pathology). Diseases of all parts of the spine, including the cervical, brain, circulation disorders of the circulatory system.
• Gastrointestinal tract (pathology). Almost all diseases of the stomach, duodenum, and biliary excretory system.
• Oncology (pathology). When the disease affects almost all internal organs, including the respiratory system, as well as intracranial pressure with a tendency to increase.

With all of the listed types of pathological hiccups in adults, the manifestation rarely goes away faster than in 20 minutes. The difficulty of diagnosing the causes that provoke hiccups presents an additional difficulty in solving the problem.

Cause of hiccups in adults

In addition to the listed factors that can provoke the appearance of prolonged hiccups, there are several other reasons that cause this phenomenon:

• A large amount of cold liquid drunk at one time.
• Compression of one or a group of nerves (uncomfortable posture, long sitting or lying down).
• As a result of fear (reflexive deep inhalation is observed).

Idiopathic hiccups (unreasonable) are the longest, can last 10-12 minutes and do not pose any danger.

Hiccups after eating in adults, causes

Hiccups during food intake in adults are divided into dangerous and safe types of manifestations. In cases where there is no cause for concern, the following factors include:

• Eating food quickly. During breakfasts, lunches and other meals in a hurry, food is not thoroughly chopped. During the process of eating, excess oxygen is captured by the digestive organs along with inhalation, which causes a reflex to “dump” excess gases from the intestines. The reason for the manifestation is irritation of the vagus nerve, injuries to the walls of the esophagus, provoking spasm of the diaphragm.
• Frequent overeating. As in the case of rapid eating, the digestive organs capture excess oxygen, which causes a spasmodic reflex of the diaphragm. Also, the weight of food causes compression of the vagus nerve, which prevents the diaphragm from lowering when inhaling.
• Alcohol and its abuse. Under the influence of alcohol, the nervous system malfunctions, which affects the centers of excitation, which is the cause of hiccups.
• Against the background of hypothermia, immediately after eating.

To this list you can add meals accompanied by lively conversation and laughter. The saying: “When I eat, I am deaf and dumb”, by the way, applies precisely to this case.

TO hazardous factors that cause hiccups, experts include:

• Myocardial infarction. In some cases, the body signals a disease with a spasm of the diaphragm.
• As one of the symptoms of pneumonia, in which hiccups can also appear after eating.
• Against the background of infectious diseases (encephalitis), disruption of the central nervous system in the case of traumatic brain injuries, stress, mental disorders caused various factors.
• As a consequence of operations on the back and gastrointestinal tract.
• The presence of serious diseases.

Frequent hiccups, causes in adults

There are a great many factors why the frequency of hiccups exceeds the usual time standards: from improper behavior at the table to the appearance oncological neoplasms in the form of tumors and other diseases that have become chronic.

These same factors include malfunction of the central nervous system, various mechanical injuries, fear, hypothermia, and even, as one of the symptoms of the development of diseases, such as pneumonia or myocardial infarction.

From external reasons The appearance of frequent hiccups can provoke treatment of diseases with chemotherapy. Sometimes the act of hiccups can last for several hours.

Causes of prolonged hiccups in adults

As in all other cases, reflex work the diaphragm depends on many factors, this affects both the frequency of hiccups and the duration of contractions of the organ. The main causes of prolonged hiccups may be:

• Psychological condition. Hysteria, stress, anxiety, worry - all of these factors can cause long-term hiccups.
• Previous operations on the back or organs gastrointestinal tract.
• Diseases that cause an involuntary contraction reflex of the diaphragm.

To study the problem in more detail, it is necessary to diagnose the organs and the correct functioning of them.

The ideal solution to the problem is to stop the hiccups on your own, but if this does not happen and the manifestation lasts for a long period, there are several treatment methods that are used both at home and in other places:

• Drink some water in small sips.
• Take a deep breath, then exhale it in small portions, holding the process as long as possible.
• Using a paper bag, without lifting it from your face, perform several exercises according to the “inhale-exhale” principle.

Since disruptions in the digestive systems can also cause hiccups, this problem can be treated in the following ways:

• Eat a spoonful of honey or sugar with a glass of cold water.
• If the cause of hiccups is alcohol, you need to eat something hot and preferably liquid.
• A slice of lemon or grapefruit.

Medicines for hiccups

In case of hiccups, medications are prescribed only if specialists have made a diagnosis and identified the source that is the provoking factor.

The reasons for prescribing tablets for hiccups include the following cases:

• Delay in manifestation for a long period.
• Regularity of manifestation.
• The presence of diseases that provoke hiccups.

Surgical treatment involves the use of novocaine, which blocks the nerves of the diaphragm and improves the functioning of the nervous system. Among the others medicines, the appointment of which is carried out by specialists included:

• Haloperedol.
• Scopolamine.
• Corvalol.

Home remedies for hiccups

In the event that an attack of hiccups appears suddenly, for no reason, you can use remedies that are considered folk remedies and cannot cause any harm to the body:

• It is necessary to inhale as much air as possible, hold it as much as possible in the lungs and exhale in portions (3-4 times).
• Drink a glass of water, preferably at one time.
• Drink water (a glass) without taking breaths.
• Eat a spoonful of honey or sugar without drinking it.
• Raise and lower your arms, inhaling as you rise and exhaling as you lower.
• Cover your mouth and nose with a bag or something similar for a while (as long as possible) and exhale and inhale only the air that is in it. A maximum tightness of the material is needed to cut off air from outside.
• Lie on your side and lie quietly for a while, stretching your arms along your body.
• Lie on your back, raise your arms and try to create amplitude with the help of your arm and elbow to form vibrations of the chest.
• Ask your family to drink from a glass, leaning forward, joining and stretching your arms behind your back.
• Apply a cold compress to your throat for a minute.
• Using mustard plaster on the back of the neck.
• Compress with a heating pad and ice around the diaphragm.
• Mix a glass of water with 100 gr. lemon juice and drink in one gulp.
• 20 drops of Corvalol or Volocardin per glass of cold water.
• Place a little salt on the tip of your tongue and press it against the roof of your mouth for a while, relaxing as much as possible (lie down or sit comfortably in a chair).
• Do not massage too much eyeballs(in the absence of organ diseases).

There is a category of people who are biased, even superstitious, about hiccups, traces of which are a heredity of the Slavic people. Cases of hiccups suggest the beginning of all sorts of negative manifestations that await a person in the future. In some ways, people correctly noticed: if you leave the problem to chance and do not diagnose the cause of frequent manifestations, this can cause the development of serious diseases.

Hiccups are such a common occurrence that they have never been given much importance. Both children and adults experience it, and there are many ways to cope with it. But is everything as simple and harmless as it seems at first glance? First of all, it’s worth understanding what causes hiccups in adults.

Hiccups are a physiological process in which the muscles of the diaphragm and intercostal space contract synchronously, while the airways close, and air passing through the larynx causes characteristic sound. Although hiccups are not painful, they are very annoying and make it difficult to concentrate on anything.

It turns out that hiccups can be caused by whole line reasons.

• Hypothermia, especially after drinking alcohol.
• Eating too quickly or excessively. Full stomach puts pressure on the diaphragm, provoking its contractions. Hiccups occur especially often if you indulge in dry foods and quick snacks. You can’t just eat a bun or a sausage sandwich and run on. It is imperative to drink everything down sufficient quantity liquids. But it is worth considering that soda is one of the provocateurs of diaphragm spasms.
• Stress, nervous tension, and overwork can also cause hiccups. This is due to overstrain of the nervous system and the sending of false signals that irritate the diaphragm. Hiccups may be accompanied by nausea, general weakness, and absent-mindedness.
• Uncomfortable position. This is due to a change in the pressure of internal organs on the diaphragm. But as soon as you straighten up, the hiccups go away.

How do hiccups form?

How to deal with hiccups

On average, hiccups last about 10-15 minutes, and it is quite possible to cope with them. Hundreds, if not thousands, have been invented for this purpose. in various ways. From physical exercises to spells and prayers.

• If hiccups occur as a result of hypothermia, it is enough to drink a glass of warm liquid (in no case alcohol!) in small sips. Warm socks and a blanket will also come to the rescue. Once you warm up, the hiccups will go away.
• Taking a very deep breath will also calm your diaphragm and relieve you of annoying spasms. To do this, you need to breathe in fully and a little more. If it didn't work the first time, the breath wasn't deep enough.
• Fright is considered an excellent way to combat hiccups. But the main thing here is not to overdo it, so that a person suffering from hiccups does not develop a nervous tic.
• There is a very interesting study that examined a method of combating hiccups called rectal massage. But positive feedback There are not so many negative things about him, as well as other things. It is not customary to share such experiences in polite society.
• Several squats will stabilize the diaphragm and the hiccups will stop.
• If your physical data and acrobatic skills allow, you can stand on your head. Or just lie down so that your head is lower than your torso.
• Another way: drink a whole glass of water at a time, in small sips.
• Surprisingly, a teaspoon of granulated sugar helps. It must be eaten without drinking anything.
• A cold compress or ice applied to the throat will help soothe hiccups.
• Fight for money! Suddenly? But as it turns out, this method works great. You just have to bet that you will definitely hiccup next time, and the hiccups will go away immediately.

One way to stop hiccups is to drink a glass of water.

Any of the methods presented will help you overcome this annoying disease.

When are hiccups a cause for concern?

Despite the safety of this process, there are still conditions in which hiccups are a symptom of a serious pathology. If hiccups do not stop for more than half an hour, or appear too often, it signals a malfunction of the body. These include:

Lesions of the central nervous system. In this case, the hiccups become intense and do not go away for a long time. Diseases that cause hiccups include meningitis, encephalitis, multiple sclerosis, and stroke. Even a concussion can cause hiccups. The cause of this or that disease is various types of infections.

Infections, complications of which lead to encephalitis (inflammation of the brain):

• measles is an acute infectious disease. Symptoms: hyperthermia, inflammation of the mucous membranes of the mouth and upper respiratory tract, conjunctivitis (inflammation of the mucous membrane of the eye) and skin rash. There is a vaccine against this disease.
• Chicken pox is an acute infectious disease. Symptoms: high fever, general viral intoxication (poisoning of the body) and a characteristic rash. It is a mistake to think that having chickenpox as a child gives you immunity. The chances of getting it again in 10 years are quite high. Doctors recommend getting vaccinated once every 10 years.
• Rubella is an acute viral disease. Symptoms: general intoxication of the body, high fever, conjunctivitis, rash on the lower back, buttocks, on the inner surfaces of the arms and enlarged cervical lymph nodes. Rubella is especially dangerous in pregnant women. It causes pathological changes in fetal development.
• malaria is an infectious disease. The patient has fever, chills, enlarged liver, spleen and anemia ( low content iron in the blood);
• influenza is an acute viral disease. It is characterized by very high fever, cough, runny nose and severe general intoxication;
• toxoplasmosis is an infectious disease. It is characterized by high fever, enlarged liver and spleen, headache and nausea.

Infections, the complication of which will be meningitis (inflammation of the membranes of the brain):

• meningococcal infection is an acute infectious disease accompanied by damage to the pharynx, nose, and meninges. There is general intoxication of the body;
• syphilis – venereal disease sexually transmitted. Characterized by damage to the skin, mucous membranes, internal organs, bones and nervous system;
• Mumps (mumps) – inflammation of the parotid salivary gland. More common in children. There is a vaccine against this disease;
• rubella.

Metabolic disorders with diabetes, kidney and liver pathology.

Intoxication. Occurs when the body is poisoned (for example, alcohol or mushroom poisoning).

Postoperative period. Irritation can be caused by changes in the position of internal organs and tissue swelling. Hiccups can also be a side effect of anesthesia.

Some diseases such as:

• Lung tumors. Sometimes this is associated with smoking and complications of pneumonitis.
• Pleurisy. This is an inflammation of the pleura, the membrane that covers the lungs.
• Damage to the diaphragm and phrenic nerve – neuritis.
• Compression of the phrenic nerve by a mediastinal tumor ( anatomical education in the middle parts of the chest).
• Diaphragmatic hernia. Occurs if abdominal part The esophagus moves through the esophageal opening of the diaphragm into the chest cavity. It is treated surgically.
• Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is the reflux of acidic stomach contents (a mixture of gastric juice and eaten food) into the esophagus and, as a result, irritation and damage to its walls. May threaten perforation of the walls of the esophagus, and as a consequence peritonitis.
• Food intolerance or allergy (in this case food).
• Gastritis is inflammation of the stomach. Most often caused by eating disorders.
• Stomach dyspepsia - Neurosis, manifested by a complex of symptoms associated with pain, discomfort, burning in the stomach, arising against the background nervous disorders such as depression, hysterics, emotional and mental stress.
• Peptic ulcer of the stomach, duodenum - formation of defects in the mucous membrane of the stomach, duodenum various depths– erosions and ulcers.
• Cholecystitis is inflammation of the gallbladder, postcholecystectomy syndrome (a condition that occurs after surgery to remove the gallbladder).
• Cholelithiasis.
• Duodenogastric reflux - reflux of the contents of the duodenum (mixtures bile acids, semi-digested food and biologically active substances) into the stomach and, as a result, irritation and damage to its walls.
• Tumors of the gastrointestinal tract - stomach, pancreas, esophagus, intestines.
• Stenosis (narrowing) of the pylorus of the stomach, cancer (malignant tumor) of the stomach.

Hiccups also appear with increasing intracranial pressure. This pathology is more common in children.

Chemotherapy can cause frequent hiccups. People with cancer receive a huge dose of a variety of powerful drugs. This leads to widespread disruption of the body. In some cases, hiccups may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting and general weakness.

At pathological hiccups, a characteristic feature is the duration (sometimes for hours) and the absence of the usual factors that provoke hiccups (overeating, hypothermia, etc.). It is also worth paying attention to associated symptoms:

• lethargy, weakness;
• discomfort in the abdominal area;
• heartburn;
• slight dizziness;
• sweating;
• elevated temperature.

If you have the slightest suspicion that hiccups are unhealthy, you should consult a doctor and do not try to diagnose yourself.

How is diagnosis done?

If you suspect a pathological nature of hiccups, the doctor prescribes a number of studies:

• Blood analysis. It will help determine the presence inflammatory processes, their character. Diabetes and kidney failure can also be diagnosed using a blood test.
• Endoscopic studies. They are carried out to exclude physiological changes in the structure of the larynx, esophagus and diaphragm.
• X-ray, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging. With their help, you can study the structure of the chest and the condition of the vagus and phrenic nerves.

Some examinations require additional preparation. For example, a blood sugar test is taken on an empty stomach. You should check with your doctor about the nuances of the examination.

Treatment for hiccups

Hiccups in themselves do not require any special treatment. It goes away on its own or after use. folk remedies. If hiccups are pathological, then it is not the hiccups themselves – the symptom – that should be treated, but the disease that provokes them. Correct treatment can only be prescribed by a qualified specialist, based on the collected medical history, examinations and a thorough examination.

This is interesting: The Guinness Book of Records records an interesting case when a certain Charles Osborne hiccupped for 68 years, and the hiccups stopped a year before his death. He died at the very old age of 97 due to a stomach ulcer.

Hiccups in young children and pregnancy

Even before birth, while in the womb, children periodically hiccup. Expectant mothers often feel these hiccups as a rhythmic contraction inside the abdomen. Such hiccups are not dangerous for the unborn baby and do not cause him discomfort. It's even useful, because... is a breathing exercise. But if hiccups occur too often and last for a very long time, then you should inform your doctor about this in order to exclude fetal hypoxia. Normally, intrauterine hiccups can occur from several times a day (not for long) to one or two episodes a week. More details about hiccups in a child prenatal period development is available on our website.

After birth, babies hiccup already similar reasons as adults. While experiencing not the most pleasant sensations. First of all, hiccups in babies in the first year of life are associated with the entry of air during feeding. And also for overeating, hypothermia, anxiety and fear.

Hiccups in older children are provoked by the same factors as in adults: overeating, dry food, poor chewing of food, etc. It is also customary to combat it using traditional methods.

Before you give in to panic and run to all known doctors, analyze whether you have experienced severe stress and anxiety. Try to record accompanying symptoms, if any. And only after that contact a therapist, gastroenterologist, neurologist or surgeon. You should not be embarrassed to go to the doctor with such a seemingly funny and frivolous problem. Your health is primarily in your own hands.

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"Hiccup, hiccup, go to Fedot,
From Fedot to Yakov, from Yakov to everyone,
And from everyone... fuck you hiccups
To my swamp..."

Wonderful plot from hiccups. The most interesting thing is that it often helps. Until now, some people seriously think that hiccups are an invading “evil spirit” that should be driven out, or that it is news from a person who suddenly remembered. Others have even gone far, conducting fortune-telling by hiccups depending on the days of the week, and even the time of day, assessing signs by the hour when a person began to hiccup.

But it has long been known that hiccups are not anomalous phenomenon, but a very real reflex reaction of the body to various factors. Most often, hiccups are harmless, pass through several dozen “hikes”, do not recur and do not cause trouble to a person. But hiccups can also be one of the symptoms any disease, and even exhaust the patient with constant attacks.

So, hiccups are an uncontrollable physiological reflex phenomenon that leads to short-term breathing problems. With hiccups, spontaneous inhalation occurs due to contraction of the diaphragm and intercostal muscles, but unlike normal inhalation, air does not enter the lungs due to the blockage of the airways by the epiglottis. This creates a kind of shortness of breath.

Why do hiccups occur?

In order to understand how hiccups occur, it is necessary to understand how breathing occurs and how it is ensured.

How does breathing happen?

So, when you inhale, air enters the upper respiratory tract, through the larynx into the trachea, bronchi and alveoli. During inhalation, the respiratory muscles contract: the diaphragm and intercostal muscles. At the same time, the diaphragm, which in a relaxed state has the shape of a dome, flattens, and the chest with the sternum rises, thereby providing a pressure difference and air entering the lungs. Exhalation occurs spontaneously due to relaxation of the respiratory muscles.

Picture 1. Schematic representation of the change in the diaphragm during inhalation and exhalation.

When swallowing, the airway is blocked by the epiglottis. This is necessary to ensure that food does not enter the trachea and bronchi. When speaking, the vocal cords located in the larynx close - this is how sounds are formed when the air flow moves through them.

Regulation of breathing. Breathing is regulated by the nervous system. The breathing centers that are located in the medulla oblongata brain, and work automatically. The respiratory center receives information about an increase in carbon dioxide in the blood, they transmit impulses to the respiratory muscles, they contract - inhalation occurs. The stretching of the lungs is monitored by the vagus nerve, which transmits impulses to respiratory centers– the respiratory muscles relax and exhalation occurs.

Nervus vagus. The vagus nerve (nervus vagus) is involved in the occurrence of hiccups. It is a complex nerve that comes from the brain and has many functions. It is the vagus nerve that is responsible for the functioning of internal organs, heart activity, vascular tone, protective reflexes, such as coughing and vomiting, and regulates the digestive process. When it is irritated, the hiccup reflex occurs.

What happens during the hiccup process and how does the characteristic sound arise?

1. Irritation of the vagus nerve by various factors (overeating, hypothermia, alcohol, etc.).
2. The vagus nerve transmits nerve impulses to the spinal cord and brain.
3. The central nervous system decides to spontaneously contract the respiratory muscles. The breathing centers temporarily lose control of the diaphragm and intercostal muscles.
4. The diaphragm and intercostal muscles suddenly begin to contract convulsively, but at the same time the epiglottis closes the airways and the vocal cords close.

Figure 2. Schematic representation of hiccups.

5. Inhalation occurs, but the air flow cannot enter the lungs because of the epiglottis, the air hits the vocal cords - this is how the characteristic “hic” sound appears.
6. A reflex arc of hiccups is initiated.
7. The action of the vagus nerve ends, the level of carbon dioxide in the blood rises, the respiratory centers take control of respiratory muscles, normal breathing is restored, hiccups stop. If irritation of the vagus nerve continues, attacks of hiccups are repeated.

Irritation of the vagus nerve occurs when:

• nervous system disorder;
• disruption of the digestive organs;
• irritation of the pharynx and larynx;
• inflammation of the lungs and pleura;
• mechanical compression of the vagus nerve;
• in case of heart rhythm disturbances.

That is, hiccups can become a sign or symptom of a disease of the organs that are controlled by the vagus nerve.

Causes of hiccups

What causes and why does hiccups appear? And the reasons are very diverse; these can be temporary factors or various diseases.

Hiccups in healthy people

Hiccups sometimes occur for a short period of time; this may be due to the following reasons:

1. Hiccups after eating: overeating, eating quickly, mixing food with liquids, drinking carbonated drinks, bloating due to poor nutrition or eating “bloating” foods.

2. Hiccups while eating: quickly absorbing food, talking with a “mouth full”, drinking large volumes of water with food.

3. Hiccups after alcohol: severe alcohol intoxication, large amounts of snacks, drinking alcoholic beverages on an empty stomach or through a cocktail straw.

4. Swallowing air after laughter, loud screaming, singing, long conversation.

7. Air pollution smoke, smog, dust.

8. Nervous hiccups: fear, nervous tension, emotional distress.

All these factors temporarily irritate the nerve endings of the branches of the vagus nerve and lead to the launch of an episodic attack of hiccups. Once the effect on these receptors is eliminated, the hiccups go away, usually within 1-20 minutes. Hiccups may go away after belching air, movements that help move food out of the stomach more quickly, or after recovering from stress.

Hiccups as a symptom of the disease

But hiccups can be a manifestation of various diseases. Then it will be long-lasting, repeat regularly, and it will be more difficult to get rid of such hiccups.

Diseases that contribute to the occurrence of hiccups:

Diseases	Main symptoms of diseases	The nature and characteristics of hiccups in this disease
Diseases digestive system: hepatitis; stomach cancer and other abdominal tumors.	Heartburn; belching; nausea, vomiting; abdominal pain; heaviness after eating; change in appetite; hiccups	Hiccups in diseases of the gastrointestinal tract occur frequently, attacks are usually short-lived, and can sometimes be observed persistent hiccups, which does not go away within a day or more. You can cope with such hiccups by strictly following the appropriate diet and doctor’s recommendations.
Respiratory diseases: pharyngitis; laryngitis; pneumonia.	sore throat; hoarseness of voice; cough; dyspnea; noisy breathing; with pleurisy - pain in the chest.	Hiccups – atypical symptom for these diseases, but these pathologies can lead to irritation of the nerve receptors of the branches of the vagus nerve, which can cause hiccups. If such hiccups occur, they are regular and go away with recovery. Drinking plenty of warm drinks, breathing exercises, and ventilating the room will help.
Neurological pathologies: condition after a stroke; tumors of the brain or spinal cord; epilepsy and so on.	focal neurological symptoms; muscle weakness and so on.	Hiccups are also not a mandatory symptom of neurological pathologies, but if they occur, there is usually a long and persistent hiccups that can last for days or years. Unfortunately, it is not always possible to cope with such hiccups; it is important to take the recommended therapy to treat the underlying disease. The condition is alleviated by sedatives, antipsychotics and muscle relaxants.
Diseases of the heart and blood vessels: heart attack;	Chest pain radiating to the left arm; dyspnea; feeling of heartbeat; increased blood pressure, etc.	Hiccups are rare in heart disease, but they can be the very first symptom of an aortic aneurysm, coronary insufficiency and myocardial infarction.
Intoxication syndrome: alcohol addiction; poisoning with chemical poisons; chemotherapy for cancer; overdose or side effects some medications; liver or kidney failure.	Weakness; increased body temperature; vomiting, nausea; headache, dizziness; dyspnea; disturbance of consciousness and so on.	Hiccups often occur due to the action of various toxins, which is associated with toxic effect on the nervous system. Hiccups are persistent and go away after detoxification therapy.
Hiccups after surgery: in the mediastinum and on the organs of the thoracic cavity; on the abdominal organs; ENT operations.	Tachycardia (rapid heartbeat); decreased blood pressure to the point of shock; dizziness; disturbance of consciousness; convulsions; cyanosis of the extremities; dyspnea; indigestion and other manifestations of autonomic disorders.	Damage to the main trunk of the vagus can lead to shock, cardiac arrest, respiratory arrest and death, since this nerve is responsible for the functioning of all internal organs. Hiccups may occur immediately after surgery if the branches of the vagus nerve are damaged during surgery. Such hiccups are persistent and constant, and it is not always possible to cope with them. Antipsychotics and other potent psychotic drugs alleviate the condition.
Tumors: brain; larynx; lungs and mediastinum; stomach and other abdominal organs.	Symptoms can be very diverse, from no symptoms to pain and intoxication. The presence of a tumor is confirmed by X-ray, tomographic methods and biopsy.	Tumors can mechanically compress the branches or trunk, and in the brain the nucleus of the vagus nerve, which can manifest as persistent hiccups around the clock. Also, hiccups may appear after surgical treatment or chemotherapy of a tumor. Only potent psychopathic drugs can relieve attacks of hiccups.

There seem to be many reasons for hiccups, but they cannot always be identified. Hiccups and the mechanisms of its occurrence are still a mystery to medicine. There are many cases of prolonged and persistent hiccups, for which there seems to be no reason. As a result, doctors cannot always help hiccuping patients.

Hiccups: reasons. Hiccups as a symptom of a serious illness - video

Are hiccups dangerous?

Periodic short-term hiccups happen to everyone and do not pose any danger to human life and health.

But, as we found out, hiccups are not only a temporary reflex phenomenon, but can also be a manifestation of serious diseases of the heart, brain and some types of tumors. The hiccups themselves are not life-threatening and do not aggravate the course of these diseases, but they should alert you and prompt you to go to the doctor for examination and the necessary treatment.

People don’t die from hiccups; they can die from diseases that cause long-term hiccups.

By the way, not a single case of death of a child or adult from hiccups has been described in the world.

Another thing - psychological discomfort. Of course, the constant hiccups interfere Everyday life man, this will torture anyone. A person feels uncomfortable in front of others, at night “hiccups” can interfere with sleeping and eating, and in general - persistent hiccups are difficult to control and drive some to despair. What can we say about hiccups that last for months and years.

How to quickly get rid of hiccups?

Hiccups are not a disease and therefore cannot be cured. Its occurrence does not depend on us, as in most cases the cessation of an attack does not depend on us. But hiccups are very annoying, it’s simply impossible to breathe, speak and concentrate on anything. There are a huge number of ways to stop hiccups. Some of them are very simple, others are quite extreme. All of them can be used at home, and are essentially traditional medicine.

Each person has their own effective method of dealing with hiccups. Everything, as always, is very individual.

What is needed to stop hiccups?

1. Freeing the vagus nerve from irritation.

2. Relaxation of the diaphragm.

3. Calming, switching and distracting the nervous system from the reflex.

4. Stimulation of the breathing center of the brain.

Interesting! It is easier to stop hiccups as long as you hiccup no more than 10 times. If this does not happen, then you will have to suffer with hiccups and try several methods to combat it.

Proven effective methods and ways to get rid of hiccups

Breathing and breathing exercises for hiccups:

1. After several deep breaths, hold your breath as you inhale. The effect will be enhanced if you mentally count to 10, 20 or 30, jump, do a few bends or any physical exercise. You can drink water while holding your breath. Also, while holding your inhalation, you can simply tense your abdominal muscles. This method is called Valsava's maneuver. The main thing is that the exhalation should be slow and calm.
2. Rapid breathing within a minute.
3. Blow up a balloon or blow a lot of soap bubbles. This will not only relax the diaphragm, but also bring positive emotions, which are able to block the hiccup reflex.
4. Breathe through a paper bag, but don't overdo it.

2. Try not to pass on and eat right, don’t eat before bed, walk more fresh air. Frequent meals in small portions and “light foods” are the key proper digestion, wellness and normal weight.

3. Don’t be nervous about little things – this not only leads to hiccups, but also to poor blood circulation in the fetus. Only positive emotions are useful for the baby and mother.

4. Drink water in small sips in different ways after holding your breath for a short time.

5. For heartburn, bicarbonate mineral water (Borjomi, Essentuki) will help. The main thing is to release gases and drink small amounts in small sips.

6. You can eat a piece of lemon or orange.

7. Breathing exercises is also effective, but you cannot overdo it - severe overstrain of the abdominal muscles is not recommended for expectant mothers.

8. Physical exercise Undesirable for pregnant women, especially before 12 weeks. The knee-elbow position will help reduce pressure on the diaphragm and vagus nerve. Stay in it for a few minutes, this will not only help you cope with hiccups, but will also relieve other organs, in particular the kidneys and vena cava, and reduce swelling, pelvic and lumbar pain. If hiccups torment you during your sleep, then lie on your side or in a reclining position.

9. Suck on a piece of sugar or a spoonful of honey.

11. Do not try to scare a pregnant woman: she will not stop hiccupping, but the nervous system will suffer, the tone of the uterus will increase, and even the baby may turn into an incorrect presentation, for example, into a breech position.

But hiccups can also indicate that the baby is uncomfortable. If hiccups last more than 20 minutes and are accompanied by pronounced motor activity of the fetus, this is a cause for concern and an urgent trip to the doctor. Prolonged hiccups may be the cause of lack of oxygen or fetal hypoxia. Hypoxia always has a negative effect on the baby and can lead to delay intrauterine development, to congenital pathologies of the central nervous system, premature birth.

Hiccups in newborns

Hiccups in infants are very common and quite normal. Babies normally hiccup much more often than adults.

Why do newborn babies hiccup often?

Frequent hiccups in newborns are associated with physiological characteristics of this age:

• Immaturity of the nervous system– as a result, the nerve endings of the vagus nerve and the regulatory centers of the brain are very sensitive to various irritating factors, which leads to contraction of the diaphragm and hiccups.
• Immaturity of the digestive system– few enzymes, intestinal spasms, small stomach size quickly and often lead to overeating and bloating.

Therefore, even seemingly minor irritants can lead to hiccups. In premature babies, there is even greater immaturity of the internal organs and nervous system, so they hiccup even more often.

Causes of hiccups in infants

1. Hiccups after feeding- This is the most common type of hiccup. It is especially pronounced in bottle-fed children. During sucking, especially through a pacifier, the baby swallows air, which leads to bloating. Excess air irritates the vagus nerve receptors and provokes an attack of hiccups. Also, hiccups begin if the child has eaten too much; excess food, like excess air, irritates the vagus nerve. Formula-fed children overeat more often. Breast milk can also cause hiccups if the nursing mother does not adhere to the diet.

2. Hypothermia. Children are more sensitive to low temperatures, which is due to imperfect thermoregulation. For this reason, children become hypothermic and overheated very quickly. When hypothermia occurs, in order to produce heat, the body tones all muscles, including the diaphragm. Any freezing can result in hiccups.

3. "Nervous hiccups." The baby may also be nervous, he may also not like something, but he still does not know how to restrain his emotions. Therefore, any “dissatisfaction” can lead to crying and hiccups. In addition to excitation of the nervous system, when crying, the child additionally swallows air, which contributes to hiccups.

4. Unpleasant odors, polluted and smoky air irritates the branches of the vagus nerve in the pharynx.

5. ARVI also causes hiccups in babies.

Various diseases of the respiratory, nervous, digestive, of cardio-vascular system can lead to pathological hiccups, the attack of which lasts more than 20 minutes and is constantly repeated.

Pathological hiccups are often found in children with hydrocephalus, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, congenital pathologies of the stomach and intestines, as well as heart defects.

How to get rid of hiccups in a baby?

1. It is important to continue breastfeeding, and if necessary artificial feeding You should use only highly adapted mixtures that are ideal for your baby. Those who are breastfeeding will have to stick to a diet, not to eat foods that increase gas formation, fatty, fried, smoked, spicy and too sweet.
2. Don't overfeed your baby. If with breastfeeding a child in most cases eats no more than he needs, then with artificial feeding it is very easy to overeat. Even on the packaging with the mixture, larger volumes of single feeding are often indicated than recommended by pediatricians.
3. Before feeding, place your baby on his stomach for 5-10 minutes. This will improve intestinal motility and free it from excess gases, preparing it for a new meal.
4. After feeding, hold the baby in an upright "soldier" position in order to allow excess air swallowed during eating to escape and not cause bloating.
5. Feed your child one serving, do not feed him 10-20 minutes after the main meal, because... this will increase gas production and can lead to hiccups and regurgitation.
6. Do not feed your baby more often than every 2.5-3 hours. Free feeding is good, but the baby needs time to digest the previous portion. Too much frequent meals leads to overeating increased gas formation and digestive disorders.
7. "Don't stress" your child. Take him in your arms more often, rock him and sing lullabies. Nothing soothes you like a mother's hands and voice.
8. Massage for infants and active movements will help you cope with hiccups. You can simply pat the child lightly on the diaper or stroke the back.
9. In most cases, hiccups go away if the child is distracted, shown a new toy, told or sung something, tickled on the heel, stroked on the head, or played some fun game with the baby.
10. Avoid hypothermia and overheating.
11. Do not try to scare your child when he has hiccups!

Is it possible to feed a baby during hiccups?

If a child hiccups, and this is not associated with overeating, then you can feed him or give him some water or tea to drink. Warm drinking and sucking will help relieve hiccups. But if hiccups occur after overeating, then any additional volume in the stomach can intensify the attack.

Hiccups in a newborn - video

Hiccups in a newborn baby after feeding, what to do: personal experience of a young mother - video

Why do drunk people hiccup? How to get rid of hiccups after drinking alcohol?

Hiccups in the background alcohol intoxication– quite a common occurrence. It is intense in nature and can persist for quite a long time, unnerving not only the drunk himself, but also the people around him.

Alcohol can not only lead to hiccups, but simultaneously affects the entire body and triggers all the processes leading to convulsive contractions of the diaphragm.

Causes of drunken hiccups

• Toxic effect of alcohol on the central nervous system. Alcohol completely disorients the centers of the brain and increases the excitability of nerve receptors. And this is it good conditions for the development of the hiccup reflex arc. The risk of developing drunken hiccups directly depends on the degree and number of drinks.
• The irritant effect of alcohol on the mucous membrane of the stomach and intestines. This leads to irritation of the vagus nerve receptors and to hiccups. The effect is enhanced when drinking alcohol on an empty stomach, in the presence of various diseases of the gastrointestinal tract, as well as with an abundance of snacks.
• Chronic alcoholics often develop chronic alcoholic hepatitis, manifested by an enlarged liver, which compresses the branches of the vagus nerve. With the development of liver cirrhosis, the phenomena of venous stagnation in the hepatic vessels increase. Dilated blood vessels can also lead to irritation of nerve receptors and hiccups.
• Even the “fumes” or alcohol vapors that are released from the stomach and lungs of a drunk person irritate the nerve endings of the esophagus and larynx, which can also trigger hiccups.

It is important to remember that hiccups can be associated not only with the direct effects of alcohol, but also with other serious problems that it can provoke. For example, heart attack, stroke, acute liver and kidney failure can begin with hiccups. Also, hiccups can appear due to poisoning with methanol and other surrogates. In this case, it is long-lasting, cannot be relieved by conventional methods, and may be accompanied by impaired consciousness and the presence of other symptoms. In such cases, it is necessary to urgently transport the patient to medical institution and provide first aid.

So, a seemingly harmless reflex like hiccups can become a sign serious problems in the human body, threatening not only health, but also human life.

How to help a drunk hiccupper?

What to do to avoid hiccups after drinking alcohol?

How to cause hiccups?

In the article itself, we described a lot about the causes of hiccups and methods of dealing with it. But there are people who, on the contrary, want to cause hiccups. For example, you are tired of your interlocutor, or today is the day and hour when you need to hiccup for good luck to come.

If you suddenly decide to poop, then you will have to:

• Something to eat very quickly, chewing poorly and swallowing quickly, you can also talk while eating. Carefully! Eating this extreme can cause you to choke!
• Drink a lot of sparkling water, you can drink it through a cocktail straw.
• Try to swallow air. To do this, you need to take air into your mouth, imagine that it is water, and swallow.
• Can remember something unpleasant, causing the experience and negative emotions. But this can not only provoke hiccups, but also ruin your mood for the whole day.
• You can just laugh heartily, this is more pleasant than negative emotions, and the air swallowed and the contraction of the diaphragm can cause hiccups.
• Hypothermia can lead to hiccups, but this method cannot be called safe, because hypothermia can provoke a sore throat, sinusitis, radiculitis, pyelonephritis and other unpleasant “itises”.

But keep in mind that none of these methods will cause hiccups 100% of the time. Hiccups are uncontrollable reflex process, it absolutely does not depend on the desire of the person himself.