Brief hiccups. What causes hiccups and how to stop them

Hiccups or Hiccup is the body's reaction to external or external irritants. internal character. Short hiccups do not pose any danger to humans.

When frequent occurrence attacks, use available home remedies and medications. Everything depends on the diagnostic results.

1. Definition of Hiccup

Convulsive repeated contractions of the diaphragm of a jerky nature, combined in a series, cause dysfunction external respiration, manifested in short, often intense breathing movements.

In other words, hiccups are a muscle spasm located on the border of the pectoral and abdominal cavity, which results in a sharp change in volume chest. A sharp and involuntary inhalation is caused by stretching lungs.

The result is irritation. nerve endings areas of the laryngeal mucosa and reflex closure of the glottis. The duration and frequency of attacks allows us to divide diaphragmatic spasms into two types.

Types of hiccups

The classification of Hiccup made it possible to distinguish two main types:

Episodic or short-term. The duration of the attack is about a quarter of an hour.
Pathological or long-term. The attack lasts from one hour to a day. Repeats daily for two or even more weeks.

In turn, pathological hiccups are divided into three more types:

Central. It is a symptom of brain damage such as meningitis or encephalitis.
Peripheral. It is provoked by pathology of the phrenic nerve.
Toxic. Characteristic symptom damage to nerve endings as a result of poisoning.

Hiccups - causes and treatment. How to get rid of hiccups

2. Causes of attacks

The most common cause is hypothermia. Another reason is overeating. A stomach overloaded with food causes diaphragm cramps in the same way as a shorted pacemaker.

Reasons pathological hiccups It is no longer elementary violations of the regime that appear, but serious problems with health:

Disturbances in the activity of the central nervous system;
Increased intracranial pressure;
Sudden compression of a nerve root caused by a hernia intervertebral disc;
The presence of neoplasms in the neck, esophagus, and lungs.

3. Diseases that cause pathological hiccups

A number of diseases accompanied by the Hiccup symptom include:

4. Carrying out diagnostics

Diagnostics identifying the causes of hiccup attacks pathological nature includes conducting a number of examinations and passing several types of tests.

Analyzes

To determine serum electrolytes and trace element content;
Detection of kidney damage by determining blood urea nitrogen and creatinine;
Determination of blood sugar levels.

Research

X-ray examination of the chest to detect damage to the vagus and phrenic nerves;
Carrying out endoscopic examination throat, upper sections gastrointestinal tract and esophagus;
X-ray revealing the presence of an obstacle with the obligatory intake of a barium mixture;
Determination of acidity level.

MRI of the brain and computed tomography chest.

If as a result diagnostic examination any diseases have been identified, one of the symptoms of which is hiccups, treatment is prescribed, as a result of which this symptom disappears.

5. Treatment for hiccups

Despite the fact that after eliminating the main cause of the symptom, it usually disappears, it can and should be treated.

Medical methods

You can get rid of attacks by using next advice, which is often suggested by doctors. The method involves swallowing saliva frequently and quickly, sticking out your tongue strongly, and lightly pressing on the eyelids of your closed eyes.

However, the best way remains to eliminate the symptom with medical supplies. Add to list medicines includes:

Corvalol,
atropine,
cerucal,
motilium.

Their effect is aimed at normalizing the functions of the gastrointestinal tract.

If we're talking about O neurological reasons ah, then drugs related to antidepressants, antipsychotics or drugs that have an anticonvulsant effect will help.

The use of medications does not always give positive effect. In this case, means such as hypnosis, novocaine blockade and conducting acupressure.

Home remedies

Among the most common methods for eliminating attacks of convulsive contraction of the diaphragm at home, the most common are:

6. Prevention of hiccup attacks

In order to prevent the sudden and not always timely appearance of hiccups, you must adhere to simple rules:

The overall prognosis for Hiccup treatment is favorable. Treat the underlying disease and you will get rid of pathological attacks. Take medications or attend acupressure sessions, and the results will not be long in coming. Concerning short-term hiccups, then folk methods suitable for home use can cope quite effectively.

Engaged in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the stomach, esophagus and 12 duodenum, diseases of the pancreas and liver of alcoholic etiology. Treats intestinal dysbiosis and constipation.

Such a condition as hiccups is familiar to absolutely everyone. It occurs as a result of contraction of the intercostal muscles and the diaphragm. Usually hiccups last no more than a few minutes, but even during this time it causes severe discomfort. From painful state you can get rid of it, but first you need to find out what the reasons for its appearance are. Treatment of hiccups - is it required or should it not be given special attention such spasms?

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Why do we hiccup

Adults may experience frequent hiccups after a heavy meal, as a result of excessive alcohol intake, with excitement and as a result of drinking cold drinks.

Scientists put forward different theories to explain the occurrence of spasms, and among them there are both plausible and incredible.

Thus, some believe that the reflex that causes hiccups is nothing more than a modified sucking reflex.

Still, conservative experts agree that this state in an adult healthy person causes the following reasons:

Binge eating. When the stomach is full, the intercostal muscles begin to contract involuntarily. A person who begins to hiccup after eating a large meal should start eating in moderation.
Sudden fear, including after sleep. If the body is in an uncomfortable position for a long time, and then a person gets scared, a sharp breath causes contraction of the diaphragm muscles.
Alcohol intoxication. When poisoning occurs, the body tries to get rid of toxins, so smooth muscles contract intensely.
Nervous tic. Disruption of the nervous system causes involuntary contractions various groups muscles, and a special case of this condition is diaphragm spasms.
Hypothermia. Reflex muscle spasm is how the body reacts to cold. Some adults begin to tremble, while others hiccup.

Hiccups while sleeping

Hiccups during sleep are more often observed in representatives of the stronger sex, but sometimes an unpleasant syndrome is also observed in women and children. Here typical reasons this state:

cold in the room where the person sleeps;
eating and drinking plenty of food at night;
heart rhythm disturbances;
chronic diseases of the kidneys, liver, spleen, pancreas, stomach;
heart and vascular diseases;
, pneumonia;
problems with the brain and spinal cord;
malignant neoplasms.

Frequent hiccups in men can also be a consequence of short-term stress, rescheduled the day before.

After a delicious lunch

After eating, hiccups occur quite often in adults. The root cause is always the same - severe irritation receptors sympathetic and vagus nerves responsible for the functioning of the diaphragm, and the source of the problem must be sought among various factors.

Spasmodic contractions of the diaphragm occur for one of the following reasons:

binge eating;
reaction to spicy food Strong smell, specific taste, ;
hypothermia (long stay in the cold, cold food, drink);
too hot drinks and dishes;
semi-finished products, dry food, food on the go;
myocardial infarction;
disease, affecting organs breathing or cerebral cortex;
damage nerve cells (neurons) of the brain;
pathologies affecting the central nervous system;
malignant or benign tumors organs of the digestive system;
intracranial hypertension;
intervertebral hernia;
uremia - autointoxication that develops with renal failure;
pneumonia;
nervous tic;
tumors affecting the spinal cord.

In more in rare cases After eating, hiccups in adults are caused by the following factors:

intravenous administration of sodium methohexital;
traumatic brain injury;
insufficient chewing of food;
meningitis;
encephalitis;
various household reasons.

One of dangerous reasons hiccups – atrophic gastritis, accompanied by disregenerative and dystrophic changes gastric epithelial cells

How to stop hiccups

If it is known for certain that the state of health is normal and the life of an adult is not in danger, you can quickly stop hiccups using one of the express methods. Here's what to do if an adult has hiccups:

Drinking water. It is necessary to slowly drink a few sips, while the diaphragm is irritated and subject to temperature fluctuations. As a result, the condition returns to normal.
Breathing into a paper bag. You need to take a bag made of craft paper (plastic is not suitable), exhale so that it inflates, then draw in the air.
Place butter or sugar under your tongue. It is necessary to dissolve the product gradually, while saliva is released, Increases aperture sensitivity, triggered swallowing reflex and the functioning of the esophagus is normalized.
Fright. If a person is startled by a pop, scream, or other sound, there is a chance that the hiccups will stop as a result of contraction of the diaphragm. But this method should be used with caution.
Incline. The hiccupper should sit down, tuck his knees to his chest and lean forward. Squeezing the diaphragm will stop the hiccups.
Holding your breath. You need to inhale with your stomach, taking in as much air as you can, and not exhaling for several seconds. This will put the diaphragm under pressure and the condition will return to normal.

Diseases with hiccups

Hiccups are a sign of what disease is this unpleasant condition? If an adult hiccups for 24 hours or longer, this may indicate diabetes mellitus. oncological problems, diseases of the digestive system or respiratory system . Often, pathological hiccups occur after injuries and are a sign of a pathological process occurring in the body. With pancreatitis, spasm of the diaphragm is observed against the background of inflammation or tumor of the pancreas. These are the most common reasons in adults.

During a stroke, an unpleasant condition is accompanied by the following phenomena:

dyspnea;
weakness;
strong headache;
weakness of the facial muscles, immobilization of the face on one side;
blurred vision;
loss of balance;
inability to speak, etc.

In people suffering from toxic hiccups, toxic hiccups are observed against the background of belching with unpleasant aftertaste and the smell burning pain V epigastric region. In case the symptom is caused by an allergic reaction body to anything, a person may hiccup for a long time and painfully, but the condition is not difficult to alleviate, for example, just take a deep breath and exhale several times, and then hold your breath for 5-6 seconds.

What is the danger

In addition to the fact that hiccups cause discomfort, this condition may signal serious illness.

Therefore, an adult whose attacks of hiccups are repeated frequently and occur at any time, and not just during sleep, when frightened, hypothermia or after eating, needs to be examined.

The therapist will tell you which specialists to go through. If you have hiccups every time after eating, it is not immediately possible to determine what disease this may be a sign of.

Self-treatment, including traditional methods, can only be used on adults, if you are sure that the condition is not a symptom dangerous pathology. Conducting any experiments on children is unacceptable!

Pathological hiccups are dangerous frequent complications, among which are nausea, headache, loss of strength, fatigue. especially sensitive people a stroke may occur.

Treatment methods

When the cause is identified, the doctor prescribes physiotherapeutic procedures, narrowly targeted medications, or one of the following drugs:

Sedaphyton. Helps cope with stress, tidies up the nervous system.
Ketamine. Relieves pain caused by muscle tension.
Gabapentin. Eliminates shortness of breath, normalizes breathing, has a slight relaxing effect.
Omeprazole. Reduces concentration of hydrochloric acid in the stomach, helps remove toxins from the body.
Ranitidine. Normalizes the production of gastric juice.
Aminazine. Relaxes the muscles of the diaphragm and intercostal muscles.
Baclofen, haloperidol. They act almost identically contribute to stabilization smooth muscle aperture.

Here's how to stop hiccups in adults using non-drug methods:

blockade or stimulation of the phrenic nerve;
hypnosis sessions;
acupuncture.

Traditional medicine methods

Treatment of hiccups with traditional methods can help an adult if it is not possible to see a doctor, and it is known for certain that the condition is caused by a harmless cause.

Here are a few methods that are practiced by residents of villages and villages:

Pressing on the root of the tongue. This action causes spasm of the esophagus but eliminates spasm of the diaphragm.
Effect on muscles oral cavity. Need to take the tip of your tongue and pull it down or to the side.
Drink. A glass of water should be drunk in small, slow sips.
Sour taste. Should eat a piece of lemon or drink water with a little added lemon juice or vinegar.
Beer with sugar. Sweetened low alcohol drink relaxes the muscles, but not immediately, but after 15–20 minutes.
Massage eyeballs. You need to close your eyes and make several soft massaging movements in a circular manner.
Hold your breath while inhaling. 10–15 seconds is enough.
Exercise. As soon as the hiccups begin, you need do push-ups on the floor until the spasms stop.
Swallowing a small piece of bread or ice. This method helps many.

Note! Every adult needs to take care of their health, including avoiding stress and nervous overload.

Video: causes and treatment of hiccups

Conclusion

If nothing works, you can wait a while. Most likely, the condition will go away on its own, and treatment for hiccups will not be required. Prolonged spasms are a reason to consult a doctor. Long, debilitating hiccups (for a day or longer) can lead to heart problems, which will ultimately lead to an attack.

Everyone has hiccups, and everyone knows what they are and how unpleasant they are. Enough a rare case at the doctor family medicine there is continuous hiccups. She could be a sign serious illness.

In quite rare cases, family medicine doctors have to deal with an attack of hiccups during an appointment, which can continue for a long time- more than 48 hours. Such attacks are difficult for patients to endure and lead to insomnia, weight loss and even cardiac arrhythmias. A prolonged bout of hiccups may stop on its own, but usually requires pharmacological treatment.

Persistent hiccups are a sign of a serious illness and such a patient needs careful evaluation. The mechanisms of the occurrence of prolonged attacks of hiccups have been little studied in family medicine. continuous hiccups. The causes of this disorder can be very different, but they are usually associated with diseases of the gastrointestinal tract or central nervous system. In almost half of cases, persistent hiccups are the result of gastroesophageal reflux.

Other causes may include pathology of the gastrointestinal tract (tumors of the liver, pancreas, hernia, tumor or infection of the esophagus - fungal or herpetic, gastric distension, surgery on the abdominal organs), pathology of the chest organs, metabolic disorders, neurological disorders and intoxication (alcoholism and tobacco addiction).

Neurological causes may include stroke, infections, brain trauma and tumors, and hydrocephalus. Cause an attack continuous hiccups may include pneumonia, pneumothorax, hiatal hernia, tuberculosis, goiter, chest tumors, pericarditis and myocardial infarction, as well as diabetes and kidney diseases. Often, prolonged bouts of hiccups are associated with psychological distress and infections - influenza or AIDS.

Medications that may cause this disorder include corticosteroids, tranquilizers, antibiotics, methyldopa, and nicotine medications.

Diagnosis of the disease may require the participation of specialist doctors from various branches of medicine.

Therapy for this disorder should certainly be aimed at treating the underlying disease. But first, family medicine doctors have to provide care to the patient almost blindly, and the goal is to immediately alleviate the patient’s condition.

To remove this unpleasant symptom, a patient with this disorder may be asked to breathe into a plastic bag. Thus, the concentration in the inhaled air increases carbon dioxide, and it stops the hiccups.

Swallowing finely crushed pieces of ice, sugar, or crackers may be effective, stimulating the nerves in the pharynx. Similar effect has throat stimulation and soft palate or pressure on the eyeballs.

By choosing among pharmacological agents is chlorpromazine ( psychotropic drug). Another effective medicine– baclofen (muscle relaxant). Taking these drugs gives very good results. They soothe the center of the hiccups, which is supposed to be at the very top spinal cord.

Metaclopramide and haloperidol act at the same level and are also used to treat this disorder. Some studies recommend taking methylcellulose to treat hiccups.

From the very beginning of therapy, it is usually prescribed combination treatment baclofen (acting on the nervous system) and a drug acting on gastrointestinal tract– omeprazole or famotidine.

In case of ineffectiveness conservative treatment held surgery ablations or nerve stimulation, as well as epidural blockade.

Hiccups are involuntary, sharp, successive breaths, accompanied by characteristic sound. Hiccups may be physiological and not require special treatment. Or it can be pathological, that is, a symptom of a serious illness.

Hiccups - what is it, its classification

Hiccups are a special inhalation caused by clonic convulsions diaphragm with simultaneous contraction of the intercostal and laryngeal muscles. This breath occurs involuntarily, sharply and stereotypically repeated. Hiccups are accompanied by a jerky protrusion of the abdomen and a characteristic sound. Its source is the glottis narrowed and blocked by the epiglottis.

Based on duration, hiccups are divided into:

short-term or episodic - lasts no more than 15 minutes;
persistent - lasts from several hours to 2 days;
intractable - can last 1-2 months or more. Sometimes hiccups that do not go away for two or more days (up to 2 months) are called persistent hiccups. And lasting more than two months - persistent or insoluble.

Episodic hiccups in the vast majority of cases are physiological. Intractable and persistent are forms of pathological hiccups, which are characterized by frequent relapses, exhausting the patient and changing him psychological condition. Pathological hiccups are an indication for thorough examination patient in order to determine the causes and mechanisms of its occurrence.

Hiccups are a rather unpleasant phenomenon due to its suddenness and uncontrollability. Especially if it occurs in situations where a person needs to talk, eat or perform physical work. Uncontrollable hiccups can cause neurosis, depression, insomnia, dehydration, sharp decline body weight, cardiac arrhythmia and even social, including professional, failure.

At the moment of hiccups, the glottis closes, closes the epiglottis, and air practically stops flowing into the lungs. If hiccups are short-lived, it does not affect a person’s health in any way. With persistent and intractable hiccups, the patient may suffer from suffocation.

Men hiccup much more often than women, and their number is constantly growing. severe attacks hiccups, the causes of which cannot be identified even with a comprehensive examination.

Hiccups by themselves cannot lead to death. But it can be a symptom of a dangerous disease, which, if diagnosed untimely and untreated, can be fatal.

Causes of hiccups

The causes of short-term physiological hiccups are as follows:

general hypothermia of the body;
incorrect posture during meals;
hasty eating;
binge eating;
eating excessively spicy, salty, hot or cold foods, as well as dry and hard foods;
fear, fright;
alcohol abuse;
drinking carbonated drinks;
laughter;
side effect certain medications, such as anesthetics;
long-term use some painkillers may cause allergic reaction, manifested by hiccups.

Physiological hiccups, with medical point vision is an attempt by the body to push out the air accumulated in the stomach and regulate the digestion process in it. Air enters the stomach during eating, breathing and talking. An air bubble reduces the useful volume of the stomach, which can be filled with food, bursts, overstretches it and interferes with normal digestion.

Physiological hiccups do not require special treatment. To cope with it, it is often enough to eliminate the cause of the disease: warm the person, exclude carbonated drinks from the diet, adjust the diet, etc.

Pathological hiccups (persistent and intractable), depending on the cause that caused it, are divided into three types (described below).

The first type is central hiccups. It is caused by diseases that occur with damage to the spinal cord or brain, namely:

injuries with cerebral hemorrhages;
tumors;
circulatory disorders (stroke);
vascular damage (vasculitis, for example, with systemic lupus erythematosus, aneurysms);
encephalitis;
Parkinson's disease;
epilepsy;
meningitis;
autoimmune diseases (multiple sclerosis, Devic's syndrome).

The second type is peripheral hiccups. It occurs in diseases and conditions accompanied by damage or irritation of the phrenic nerve, including:

tumors of the mediastinum, esophagus, lungs;
lymphogranulomatosis;
sarcoidosis;
respiratory diseases (pneumonia, bronchitis, laryngitis);
organ diseases of cardio-vascular system(myocardial infarction, rhythm disturbances for which implantation of a pacemaker is indicated);
pathology of the gastrointestinal tract (hernia hiatus diaphragm, esophageal diverticulum, gastric ulcer and duodenum, tumors of the pancreas and stomach, pancreatitis, intestinal obstruction, subphrenic abscess and etc.).

Referred hiccups are considered a type of peripheral hiccups. It occurs with pathology of organs located at a distance from the zones innervated by the phrenic nerve. Giardiasis, helminthiasis, pathology of the intestines, uterus, appendages - these and other diseases can cause referred hiccups.

The third type is toxic hiccups, which can be caused by the following diseases and states:

violations electrolyte balance(hypokalemia, hypocalcemia);
diabetes;
severe forms infectious diseases;
exposure to certain medications, namely: glucocorticosteroids, chemotherapeutic agents, antiparkinsonian drugs, morphine, azithromycin, anesthetics and drugs used in psychiatry;
alcoholism;
nicotine intoxication.

In addition, pathological hiccups can be of a psychogenic (neurogenic) nature, that is, develop on a nervous basis.

Diseases, one of the symptoms of which may be hiccups

Pathological hiccups - no characteristic feature any diseases, but it can help the doctor to suspect a serious illness in time, begin a timely examination and prescribe treatment.

Diseases and conditions that may be accompanied by painful, incessant hiccups:

Diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system:

ischemic/hemorrhagic stroke;
encephalitis;
meningitis;
epilepsy;
brain tumors, including brain stem;
spinal cord tumors;
Parkinson's disease;
traumatic brain injuries with intracranial hemorrhages;
hydrocephalus;
syringomyelia;
neurosyphilis;
brain abscess;
arteriovenous malformation of cerebral vessels;
cerebral aneurysms.

Autoimmune and other systemic diseases:

systemic lupus erythematosus;
Devic's syndrome;
multiple sclerosis;
sarcoidosis;
giant cell temporal arteritis (Horton's disease).

Diseases of the abdominal organs:

tumors of the pancreas, liver, stomach;
subphrenic abscess;
gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD);
gastritis;
pancreatitis;
hepatitis;
peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum;
intestinal obstruction;
pathology of the biliary tract;
Crohn's disease;
nonspecific ulcerative colitis.

Diseases of the chest and neck organs:

tumors of the mediastinal organs (esophagus, trachea);
lung tumors;
tumors thyroid gland;
cysts and other tumors of the neck;
mediastinitis;
pericarditis;
esophagitis;
pleural empyema;
chest injury;
hiatal hernia;
esophageal diverticulum;
myocardial infarction;
aortic aneurysm;
thromboembolism pulmonary artery;
pneumonia;
bronchitis, laryngobronchitis;
pleurisy.

Diseases of lymphoid tissue:

lymphogranulomatosis (Hodgkin's disease);
non-Hodgkin's lymphomas.

Diseases and conditions occurring with severe toxic-metabolic disorders:

diabetes;
chronic alcoholism;
renal failure, uremia;
herpes zoster;
malaria;
flu;
tuberculosis;
hypocalcemia;
hyponatremia;
hypokalemia.

Spinal diseases:

intervertebral disc herniation;
circulatory disorders in the vertebrobasilar system.

Conditions after surgical interventions under general anesthesia with intubation and other manipulations.

Features of hiccups in children, pregnant women and fetuses

Hiccups in a child at any age are usually physiological. It does not occur often, passes quickly enough and does not threaten health. You should contact your pediatrician if hiccups occur frequently in your child and their attacks last up to an hour or more.

Newborns usually hiccup after feeding or vice versa when they are hungry or thirsty. Hiccups can occur if the baby is cold or frightened by some external irritant. To cope with an attack, it is enough to warm the baby, distract his attention, give him food/drink, or, if he has just eaten, hold him upright until the air leaves the stomach.

From the menu of a nursing mother it is necessary to exclude foods that cause increased formation of gases in the intestines. This will help prevent baby's bloating and hiccups. You should never force feed your newborn. He will indicate that he is hungry by worrying or crying. To avoid hypothermia or overheating of the baby in the nursery, you should constantly maintain optimal temperature and air humidity. Everything needs to be removed from the house external stimuli, which can scare the baby.

The causes of hiccups in older children are similar to those in adults.

Causes of hiccups in pregnant women:

pressure of the growing uterus on the abdominal organs and on the diaphragm, respectively;
excitement of the expectant mother;
hypothermia;
binge eating;
uncomfortable body position of a pregnant woman.

Causes of hiccups in the fetus:

swallowing amniotic fluid what happens when thumb sucking;
hiccuping, the child trains his muscles while massaging internal organs;
hiccups maybe indirect sign intrauterine hypoxia fetus;
By hiccupping, the baby reacts to changes in the mother’s mood, wanting to communicate with her and the world around her.

A woman can feel fetal hiccups starting from the 25-26th week of pregnancy.

Which specialist and when should you contact with complaints of hiccups?

Intractable hiccups do not indicate a temporary disorder, but a serious illness. Therefore, you need to consult a doctor in the following situations:

an attack of hiccups does not go away for an hour or more;
hiccups are accompanied by pain in the chest and back;
hiccups combined with heartburn;
hiccups are accompanied by coughing or drooling;
attacks of hiccups occur regularly, several times a day.

Doctor's advice: If you suffer from pathological hiccups, do not hesitate to consult a physician. He will prescribe an examination for you and, if necessary, refer you for a consultation with specialized specialists (gastroenterologist, pulmonologist, surgeon, neurologist, etc.). The cause of hiccups can be a disease of the central nervous system, respiratory system, digestion, cardiovascular system, etc. A timely diagnosis is the key to successful treatment.

What tests can a doctor prescribe for hiccups?

For persistent and intractable hiccups, the doctor, in addition to questioning and examining, may prescribe to the patient additional research, namely:

clinical blood test;
general analysis urine;
biochemical research blood;
blood test for electrolytes;
spinal tap;
X-ray of the skull;
chest x-ray;
radiography of the spine;
bronchoscopy;
Ultrasound of the neck, abdominal and pelvic organs;
MRI and CT of the head, chest, abdominal cavity, pelvis;
fibrogastroduodenoscopy (FGDS);
angiography;
electrocardiography (ECG);
phonocardiography (PCG);
echoencephalography (Echo-EG);
electroencephalography (EEG), etc.

How to deal with hiccups

You can cope with hiccups on your own only if they are short-term and physiological in nature. Universal remedy there is no cure for hiccups, but there is huge variety folk ways. All of them are based on holding and normalizing breathing, switching attention, changing activity vagus nerve, muscle relaxation, etc. Each person, through trial and error, can choose one method that is effective for themselves. Any medications(muscle relaxants, anticonvulsants, sedatives and other drugs) can only be taken with the permission of a doctor.

It will not be possible to get rid of pathological hiccups at home, since it is a manifestation of some kind of disease. Therefore, the treatment of indomitable hiccups is the elimination of its cause, that is, the treatment of the disease that caused it.

Is it possible to prevent hiccups?

Preventing hiccups means not provoking its occurrence, that is:

eat food measuredly, leisurely and without talking;
exclude excessively cold and very hot dishes from the menu;
limit alcohol and carbonated drinks;
forget about eating on the run and dry;
try not to overeat;
avoid hypothermia and stress;
take place regularly medical examinations with the aim of timely detection and preventing the development of diseases that can cause pathological hiccups.

Hiccups are convulsive contractions of the diaphragm in which a person performs short breathing movements and protrudes his stomach greatly. Essentially, this is a reflex that helps get rid of excess air from the digestive organs.

Causes

There are many factors that influence the appearance of this condition. So, the causes of hiccups include the following:

Stomach fullness. In such a situation, the volume of the digestive organ increases significantly. It compresses the diaphragm and the vagus nerve, causing the person to hiccup after eating.
Hiccups after eating due to hot and cold foods, spicy dishes, dry food. In such a situation, food leads to irritation of the lining of the esophagus. As a result, the vagus nerve is affected, and information about this is sent to the brain. As a response, a sudden contraction of the diaphragm occurs, and the person experiences hiccups after eating.
Alcohol consumption. When drinking alcohol, the mucous membrane of the esophagus and pharynx is irritated, which provokes intoxication of the human body. As a result of alcohol consumption, the functioning of the diaphragm and vagus nerve is disrupted. This is why hiccups occur during heavy meals and alcohol consumption.
Intoxication with medications. In such a situation, in adults it is by-effect from the use of drugs. Their components provoke problems in the functioning of the nervous system. As a rule, this symptom appears under the influence of muscle relaxants, sulfonamides and anesthesia drugs.
Stressful situations. They have a serious impact on the functioning of the nervous system and cause problems with the transmission of impulses from the brain to the organs. In this case, the center is excited, which is responsible for contracting the diaphragm, after which the disease occurs.
Hypothermia. Convulsive contraction muscle tissue aimed at preserving heat. Vibration of the diaphragm reminds a person of hiccups.
Laughter. In this case, following with a strong breath the person takes several sharp exhalations. As a result, the functioning of the respiratory center suffers.

The most dangerous thing is that hiccups can be a sign of a serious illness if they appear too often:

Heartburn
Gastritis
Cholecystitis
Peptic ulcer disease.

Diseases of the heart and blood vessels. The appearance of constant hiccups leads to:

Aortic aneurysm
Myocardial infarction.

Pathologies of the respiratory system. These include:

Bronchitis
Pneumonia
Pleurisy
Tumor formations.

Besides, frequent occurrence Nuduga can be a consequence of such serious diseases as:

Meningitis
Stroke
Tumor formations
Multiple sclerosis
Spinal hernia
Traumatic head injuries.

If this condition does not go away for several days, you need to undergo comprehensive examination– perhaps it is one of the symptoms of a dangerous disease.

Symptoms

Manifestations of pathological hiccups include the following:

Systematic contraction of the diaphragm - throughout the day or several times a week
Chest pain when hiccupping or swallowing
The appearance of heartburn
Sensation of a foreign object in the esophagus
Heavy salivation - indicates a disturbance in the functioning of the nervous system or brain
A sudden cough that accompanies hiccups and provokes pain in the side or back may indicate pulmonary disorders
Headache, discomfort in the shoulder and joints - similar symptoms may indicate osteochondrosis.

Hiccups may have different durations. Depending on this, there are the following varieties:

Short-term or episodic – lasts 10-15 minutes. As a rule, it appears when overeating, hypothermia, drinking alcohol, or taking certain medications.
Long lasting – appears every day and does not go away for several hours or even days. This is a more serious condition that is caused by the presence of dangerous diseases. Thus, central hiccups occur with meningitis, heart attack, gastritis, peptic ulcer, glaucoma and other pathologies, peripherally caused pathological processes in the diaphragm, and toxic is associated with the use of drugs and alcohol.

Features in children

In newborns, this condition occurs quite often. As a rule, it does not pose a health risk and is associated with swallowing air while eating. Other reasons for this condition in infants associated with fear, bloating or hypothermia. To stop it, it is enough to calm it down, give the baby something to drink or feed.

Sometimes this symptom indicates problems with the nervous system or diaphragm. Also, hiccups in children can be a consequence of helminthic infestation.

In older children, the disease is usually caused by rapid absorption of food. If the baby hiccups briefly and not often, there should be no cause for concern. To remove this symptom, you can give the child something to drink, breathing exercises or massage your earlobe.

If this condition occurs quite often in children or the child complains of other symptoms, you should consult a doctor. The causes of constant hiccups in children can be hernias in the esophagus, pneumonia and even cancer.

Diagnostics

To determine the causes of the disorder in adults and children and select adequate treatment, it is necessary to conduct the following studies:

Analysis of the patient's medical history and complaints - frequency of occurrence and duration of the disease, dependence on food intake.
Study of life history - the presence of pathologies of the digestive organs, diseases of the endocrine or respiratory system.

In some cases, the patient requires consultation narrow specialists– for example, a surgeon or gastroenterologist. You may also need to be examined by a neurologist and psychiatrist.

Ways to get rid of hiccups

Ideally, hiccups should stop involuntarily after about 5-15 minutes, but you can get rid of them faster at home. Help stop hiccups in children and adults special exercises:

You need to take a deep breath and then exhale the air little by little. In this case, before each exhalation you need to hold your breath a little.
Grasp the edges of the paper bag tightly with your hands and, pressing it to your face, breathe intensely and frequently. It is important to ensure that air does not enter the bag.
You can drink a glass of water in small sips.

It’s easy to get rid of hiccups at home if they are caused by digestive disorders. The following remedies will help remove this symptom:

Eat sweet product– a spoonful of sugar or honey
Eat something sour - for example, a slice of lemon
Drink a glass of cold water
If the condition is associated with alcohol consumption, you need to eat hot food.

Many people are interested in how to get rid of hiccups quickly. Stimulation helps stop this condition reflex zones. To do this you need to influence active points, in which the receptors of the nervous system are localized.

Treatment of hiccups with medications

If no remedy helps, treatment is to use medications. This condition can be cured by a doctor who will determine the causes of this symptom.
Typically, tablets are prescribed for persistent or frequent hiccups - for example, if this symptom does not go away throughout the day. Drug treatment carried out in the following situations:

The symptom occurs regularly
The attack does not go away for more than 48 hours
Accompanied by heartburn and painful sensations behind the sternum
The condition is caused by various diseases.

In addition, the doctor may treat based on symptoms:

For high excitability of the nervous system and stress, antipsychotics are prescribed. They help normalize the functioning of the nervous system and reduce the speed of transmission of impulses from the brain to organs and systems. Your doctor may prescribe a hiccup remedy such as Chlorpromazine or Aminazine.
If the vagus nerve is irritated or pathologies of the respiratory system develop, muscle relaxants are prescribed. They promote relaxation skeletal muscles and reduce the excitability of the diaphragm. In this case, the medicine Baclofen helps stop the disease.
Get rid of hiccups after eating, drinking alcohol or having problems with digestive organs Antiemetic drugs help, which reduce the sensitivity of nerve cells. Treatment can be carried out with the help of Cerucal.

Motor stimulants are also indicated digestive tract. This treatment helps food move through the intestines as quickly as possible and helps relieve the feeling of fullness in the stomach. Peristil or Cisapride will help stop hiccups.

In addition, treatment can be carried out using blockers histamine receptors. Such drugs reduce the synthesis of hydrochloric acid and eliminate inflammation during gastritis. Treatment is carried out with Omeprazole. Its duration is determined by the state of health.