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Hiccups in Adults

Hiccups occur when there is an involuntary spasm of the diaphragm, which causes the vocal cords to temporarily close and produce a sound, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Most people will experience hiccups at some point during their adult life. The condition tends to affect men more often than women, according to the Mayo Clinic. Hiccups often last for a short period of time.

  1. Short-term Hiccups

    • When hiccups last for less than 48 hours, they are generally considered short-term. Short-term hiccups generally last from a few minutes to a few hours. Common causes of short-term hiccups in adults include consuming spicy foods or beverages, drinking carbonated beverages and consuming excessive amounts of food or alcoholic beverages. It can be challenging to identify the cause of short-term hiccups, but they usually go away on their own.

    Long-term Hiccups

    • When hiccups last for days, weeks or months, they are considered long-term hiccups. Long-term hiccups may require medical treatment. There are a number of medical conditions and medications that can be responsible for long-term hiccups. These include alcoholism, barbiturates, brain injury, diabetes, electrolyte imbalance, encephalitis, goiter, kidney failure, laryngitis, meningitis, multiple sclerosis, sore throat, stroke, tranquilizers and tumors, according to the Mayo Clinic. Abdominal surgery and surgeries requiring anesthesia are other possible causes of long-term hiccups.

    Home Treatments

    • Although it is not possible to stop hiccups, there are certain home remedies that have been used over the years that are thought to be effective at getting rid of the condition. An individual who is suffering from hiccups may want to try consuming a teaspoon of sugar, holding their breath, drinking a glass of cold water or breathing into a paper bag, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. However, home remedies are not always effective at treating hiccups.

    Medical Treatments

    • The need for medical treatment is rare in the case of hiccups, but it may be necessary if the condition lasts for longer than 48 hours. Doctors may pump the stomach, massage the carotid sinus, administer medications or perform a tube insertion or phrenic nerve block, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Medical treatments are generally successful at treating hiccups. If the doctor suspects that there is a medical condition that could be causing the condition, he may perform diagnostic tests. Treating the medical disease or condition responsible for the hiccups may also relieve the problem.

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