What Is Hiccup?
Surely you have ever hiccupped in the wrong situation and cursed those uncontrollable noises you made. In addition, it is very common for each person to tell you a different way to avoid or eliminate it. However, do you know what hiccups really are?
The word hiccup comes from ‘ hippos ‘ which, in Greek, means horse. Although we commonly think of the word as referring to the noise we make, hiccups actually consist of an involuntary, jerky contraction of the diaphragm.
The diaphragm is the muscle that separates our abdomen from the chest. It plays a major role in breathing, allowing the entire rib cage to expand and contract to move air to the lungs.
Despite the fact that most of the time hiccups are somewhat reversible and momentary, there are times when it can become persistent. In this article we explain what hiccups are and everything you need to know about them.
What is hiccups?
As we have already mentioned, hiccups consist of a series of involuntary contractions of our diaphragm. When this happens, the vocal cords close suddenly, causing that sound similar to a ‘hip’, which is what we associate with hiccups.
The diaphragm, like any other muscle, works by responding to stimuli sent by the nerves. In your case, the nerve that is responsible for stimulating the movement of the diaphragm is the phrenic nerve. What happens in hiccups is that this nerve sends abnormal impulses that cause it to contract without it being necessary.
Hiccups can be classified according to their duration. It can be sharp, persistent, or intractable. The acute is the most common, which can last 48 hours; it is self-limited and usually disappears in a matter of minutes.
Persistent hiccups are those that last between 48 hours and a month, while intractable hiccups refer to those that last more than two months. The latter affects only one person in 100,000 and is usually associated with serious diseases, such as some type of cancer.
Why does acute hiccups occur?
The most frequent hiccups, the acute ones, are produced by simple situations such as eating too much or doing it faster than recommended. In addition, it can also be due to certain carbonated drinks or alcoholic drinks.
In the same way, it is common that when we eat gum or candy we swallow air; these situations are also conducive to it. Interestingly, acute hiccups can appear in situations of stress or anxiety, although it is less frequent.
Why does persistent hiccups occur?
When hiccups last more than 48 hours, it can be a sign that something is wrong with our body. First of all, you have to know that this can occur due to an injury to the phrenic nerves. As we have explained, they are the ones in charge of sending impulses to the diaphragm.
These nerves run from our brain to the diaphragm. During their journey, they can be injured for different reasons : a tumor, a cyst, a hypertrophy of the thyroid and, even, due to an infection that inflames the throat or larynx.
On the other hand, any injury to the central nervous system can also cause these impulses to go haywire, even if the nerve is healthy. For example, a brain tumor, a stroke, or an infection of the meninges.
Furthermore, persistent hiccups can appear as a side effect of some drugs or anesthetics. It can even be a symptom of diseases such as diabetes or kidney failure.
In conclusion
To conclude, it is important to emphasize that the most common is that it is an acute hiccup that resolves on its own and in a few minutes. However, if it lasts for more than 48 hours, the ideal is to consult a doctor.
In these cases, the main thing is to treat the cause that causes it. If it still remains, there are studies that claim that certain medications can be used to control it, such as baclofen or chlorpromazine.
