Here is a small topic that we all know something about. After all, we have all had hiccups at one time or another, have we not? Hiccups are involuntary noises that result from spasm of the diaphragm and closure of the vocal cords. They may be quite distressing, uncomfortable, and even painful.
There is often no clear cause, but some factors have been identified that may lead to hiccups:
- Alcohol
- Swallowing air
- Eating too quickly
- Spicy foods
- Gastro oesophageal reflux
- Anxiety
- Lung conditions such as pneumonia
- Brain damage, or stroke, that affects the brain’s ‘hiccup centre’
Your doctor will want to decide if you have any lung condition, or if there is any suggestion of a brain disorder, both of which are fairly uncommon. There seems to be no reliable treatment for hiccups but the following are perhaps worth trying:
- Holding your breath
- Drinking lots of water, very slowly
- Breathing into a paper bag
- Drinking vinegar (or any extremely unpleasant substance)
- Persuading somebody to frighten you
…each of these, and other ideas, have their fans. But in truth there is no 100% reliable and effective way to manage an attack of hiccups. Frustrating, but true. In severe cases of intractable hiccups (hiccup bout that lasts for a month or more), various medications and even surgery may be used, with some success.
Hiccups are irritating but rarely serious. There are several causes and contributing factors. The array of home remedies are almost all unproven but still used. In the most severe cases, specialised medical care can be helpful.
Written by Dr Colin Burns
