What causes Hiccups?
Hiccups. We've had out fair share of this bizzre reflex. But, why do we get hiccups? Is it something that serves us any biological purpose or is it just a trivial glich in our almost perfect system?
@healthbiztips by Arlene Gentallan
Hiccups is a natural reflex that is produced when our diaphragn involuntary contracts causing us to gasp air quickly followed by a sudden closure of vocal cords causing a "hic" sound.
Hiccup is also known as synchronous diaphragmatic flutter (SDF) or singultus. A hiccup usually lasts for a few seconds, but there are cases that lasted to as long as hours, days, weeks, months, and even years!
There's a long list of possible things that can cause a hiccup, but pinpointing the exact cause for each individual at any given time is impossible.
Here's a list of possible causes of hiccup:
Taking these medications can cause hiccups:
Hiccups can also be caused by a number of medical conditions:
If your hiccup lasted for more than 48 hours (2 days), you should consult a doctor. Hiccup cam be caused by many things ranging from a typical spicy food to serious medical condition.
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Hiccups can be caused by something as innocent as a hot chocolate drink or as deadly as a brain tumor.
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@healthbiztips by Arlene Gentallan
Hiccups is a natural reflex that is produced when our diaphragn involuntary contracts causing us to gasp air quickly followed by a sudden closure of vocal cords causing a "hic" sound.
Hiccup is also known as synchronous diaphragmatic flutter (SDF) or singultus. A hiccup usually lasts for a few seconds, but there are cases that lasted to as long as hours, days, weeks, months, and even years!
There's a long list of possible things that can cause a hiccup, but pinpointing the exact cause for each individual at any given time is impossible.
Here's a list of possible causes of hiccup:
- Excitement
- Fear
- Smoking
- Stress
- Emotional upset
- Sudden change in temperature
- Excess alcohol intake
- Eating spicy foods
- Consuming hot foods or beverages
- Drinking carbonated beverage
- Bloating from excess food or air
Taking these medications can cause hiccups:
- Anesthetic agents
- Barbiturates
- Benzodiazepines
- Methyldopa
- Opiatea
- Steroids
- Tranquilizer
Hiccups can also be caused by a number of medical conditions:
- Electrolyte imbalance
- Encephalitis (inflammation of the brain)
- Brain tumor
- Meningitis (inflammation of the meninges of the brain)
- Traumatic brain injury
- Stroke
- Multiple sclerosis
- Otitis media (ear infection)
- Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
- Intestinal obstruction
- GERD (gastroesophageal refux disease)
- Peptic ulcer
- Pleurisy (inflammation of the lining of the lungs)
- Pneumonia (inflammation of the lungs)
- Rhinitis (nasal inflammation)
- Laryngitis
- Pharyngitis
- Asthma
- Hyperthyroidism
- Goiter
- Cysts or tumor in the neck
- Sore throat
- Diabetes
- Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar level)
- Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar level)
- Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)
- Hepatitis (inflammation of thr liver)
- Liver cancer
If your hiccup lasted for more than 48 hours (2 days), you should consult a doctor. Hiccup cam be caused by many things ranging from a typical spicy food to serious medical condition.
