Hiccups can be annoying. But should you be worried if your hiccups last longer than usual? Let’s look at what normally causes hiccups, how to stop them, and what are hiccups a sign of.
What are hiccups?
Hiccups are your diaphragm’s involuntary contractions. Your diaphragm is a muscle with a vital role in breathing. It separates your chest and abdomen. After every involuntary contraction, your vocal chords suddenly close up, causing the sound you make when you hiccup.
Causes
Hiccups can be caused by multiple factors.
You have certain nerves from your neck to your chest. When these are irritated, this can cause hiccups. Here are some instances when these nerves could become irritated:
- Having your stomach full with food, alcohol, or air
- Getting excited, stressed, or feeling other strong emotions
- Sudden change in temperature
- Chewing gum (this can cause you to swallow air)
Home remedies for hiccups
To get rid of these hiccups and resume your daily activities, you can try some remedies on your own. As long as your hiccups aren’t recurring or persistent, you can try these methods first. Although these methods aren’t proven to help everyone experiencing hiccups, you can still try if these may work on you.
You can try the following:
- Try to hold your breath for a short period of time
- Drink ice cold water slowly
- Breathe into a paper bag but don’t put it over your head
Hiccups lasting longer than 48 hours are called persistent hiccups. There may be underlying medical conditions that cause these. If your hiccups last longer than 48 hours, it is best to contact your healthcare provider for a proper check-up.
In addition to persistent hiccups, you may also experience recurring hiccups that affect regular daily life. It is also advisable to consult with a doctor on this.
