A Family Doctor's Tale - HICCUPS

DOC I GOT HICCUPS

Hiccups (A Simple Guide to Hiccups)is a symptom, not an illness.

It is the sound produced in the throat when the epiglottis( a flap covering the top of the vocal box to prevent food from entering the windpipe) flip backwards during a sudden involuntary contraction of the diaphragm (a large muscle which separate the chest from the stomach and intestine)

Many of us have hiccups at least once in our lifetime especially if you take your meals too fast or too full.

1.a full stomach pressing against the nerve to the diaphragm causing an involuntary contraction of the diaphragm
 
2.hasty swallowing of food or air which distends the stomach and causes it to press against the nerve to the diaphragm.
 
3.unexplained unregulated nervous activity of the diaphragm

Hiccups is initiated when a sudden involuntary movement of the diaphragm causes a sudden drop in air pressure in the lung.

As air rushes in through the mouth to enter the lungs,it causes the epiglottis to flip backwards causing the hiccup sound.

Most hiccups are harmless and can last for a few hours to 1 day. Some hiccups have known to last for years.
Treatment of Hiccups:
 
1.holding the breath as long as possible and repeating it several times. 
Holding the breath may prevent air from rushing into the lungs through the epiglottis.
 
2.breathing into a paper bag until the hiccup stop (usually within 3 minutes). breathing into a paper bag cause accumulation of carbon dioxide in the air in the bag which may slow down activity of the part of the brain controlling the diaphragm hence causing the hiccup to stop.
 
3.Drinking a whole glass of water without stopping at one time. This has the same effect as holding the breath because you cannot drink and breathe at the same time.
 
4.Taking medications such as an anti-epileptic or anti-spasmodic may be able to stop the hiccups by stopping the contraction of the diaphragm.  

Hiccups are usually harmless but irritating to the patient.