What Causes Hiccups?

There is a lot of speculation about how to get rid of hiccups, and almost everyone has had them at some point... but what causes hiccups? Hiccups refer to the gulping sounds that are caused by the involuntary spasms of the diaphragm. 

Knowing what causes hiccups involves understanding the diaphragm. The diaphragm is a muscle that separates your chest from your abdomen to aid in your proper breathing. If this diaphragm spasms for some reason, the air flow is disturbed and you begin to hiccup.

Hiccups may be triggered when you eat too fast or eat too much food. They can also be caused by consuming foods and drinks that are either too hot or too cold, or by drinking soda and other carbonated beverages. Other answers to what causes hiccups include stress, sudden excitement, cold showers or entering or leaving a cold or hot room.

According to experts, hiccups are not a serious medical condition and will usually disappear on their own within just a few minutes. If your hiccups last for more than 24 hours, this could be a symptom of another condition or even injury. You should consult with a doctor if you experience prolonged hiccups. 

Other Causes of Hiccups

There are several other factors that lead to the development of hiccups:

• Bloated stomach – you get a bloated stomach when you eat too quickly or when you overeat. When too much air gets into our stomach, it can become swollen.
• Too much alcohol consumption – drinking too much alcohol may lead to more air entering your body. This may lead to hiccups.
• Too much smoking – chain smoking can promote the entry of air into the stomach. This can trigger hiccups.
• Emotional stress – this type of stress may be manifested through hiccups.

Prolonged Hiccups

Hiccups cases which last for more than 48 hours may be caused by different contributing factors including:

• Irritation or nerve damage: The major cause of long term hiccups is irritation or damage of the phrenic nerves or vagus nerves which both serve the diaphragm muscle. Factors that can cause irritation or damage to such nerves include: a sore throat or laryngitis, hair or any object in your ear that touches the eardrum, gastroesophageal reflux or a cyst, goiter, or tumor in the neck.
• Disorders in the central nervous system: Any infection or tumor in your central nervous system, or any damage to it brought about by a trauma, may affect your body’s control of the hiccups. Such conditions include: meningitis, traumatic brain injury, stroke, encephalitis, and multiple sclerosis. 
• Drugs and Metabolic disorders: Steroids, Barbiturates, Tranquilizers, Anesthesia, Diabetes, Kidney Failure, Electrolyte imbalance, and Alcoholism can all lead to prolonged hiccups.

Hiccups in Babies

Hiccups are common occurrences, especially in newborns. They seem to just randomly spring up and can be quite violent at times. This often concerns parents (especially first time parents!) but in actuality, hiccups aren’t harmful to babies.

The exact cause of hiccups in babies remains unknown. Some experts believe that babies get hiccups primarily due to drinking their milk or formula too fast. Drinking too fast may cause babies to swallow lots of air, especially when drinking from a bottle. A baby who is upset can also drink milk more quickly than normal. This will often be followed by hiccups.

Most newborns won’t even be bothered by the hiccup, no matter how loud or violent they can get. In most cases, it is the parents who are more upset when their baby is having hiccups. To prevent hiccups in babies, encourage your baby to drink his or her milk slowly. You can do this by closely watching the bottle or carefully watching while you breastfeed. If you notice that the baby is gulping too fast, you may gently withdraw the breast or bottle so your baby can calm down.

After the baby calms down, begin feeding again. You may also burp your baby more frequently to relieve gas. Once hiccuping occurs, gently pat your baby’s back to encourage relaxation. Distracting your baby may also help. You can do this by walking around your home.

Getting Rid of Hiccups

For adults, a few tips can help you get rid of hiccups. Next time you find yourself hiccuping, you can:

• Drink two glasses of water
• Hold your breath for 40 seconds
• Breathe into a paper bag
• Consume a pinch of sugar
• Put an ice cube in your mouth
• Breath fast and wait for a few minutes