The Sources of Hiccups

Hiccups can strike at any time and in any setting, whether you are drinking, talking or laughing. Once the telltale "hic" sound begins, you may have four to 60 hiccups a minute, according to the MayoClinic.com. While most hiccups usually last only a few minutes, others can persist for hours or months. Understanding what causes hiccups and what increases your risk of having them will help reduce your chances of developing them.

What They Are

• Hiccups, also known as hiccough or singultus, are a condition that occurs when your diaphragm, the large muscle below your lungs responsible for breathing, suddenly contract repeatedly. This forces a large amount of air into your lungs, causing you to inhale quickly. In response, your vocal chords close shut immediately, causing hiccups.

Risk Factors

• Several risk factors increase your chances of developing a bout of hiccups. Females are less likely to develop long-term hiccups that last more than 48 hours compared with men. Experts have also linked certain medical procedures to a higher risk of long-term hiccups. These include general anesthesia before surgery; intubation, a procedure in which doctors insert a tube down your throat to help you breathe; having your neck extended during intubation; and abdominal swelling after an endoscopy, an exam that allows doctors to view the inside of your body using a scope and camera. Additionally, anxiety, excitement, grief and stress may also boost your chances of having hiccups.

Short-Term Causes

• Scientists are not really sure why hiccups occur, but several factors are known to trigger cases of hiccups that last less than 48 hours. Drinking alcohol or carbonated drinks may irritate the phrenic nerve that controls the diaphragm, causing hiccups. Eating too much or eating too quickly, which both cause your stomach to bloat, can also irritate the diaphragm.

Long-Term Causes

• Factors or conditions that damage or irritate the phrenic nerve, disorders of the central nervous system and other conditions or medications may cause long-term hiccups, or hiccups that last more than 48 hours. Acid reflux, a condition that results when the muscle at the end of the esophagus does not shut properly, allowing stomach contents to flow back into the esophagus, is the most common cause of long-term hiccups. Acid reflux, eardrum irritation, a sore throat or tumor may irritate the phrenic nerve to prompt hiccups. Conditions affecting the brain and spine such as stroke, multiple sclerosis, meningitis, encephalitis and traumatic brain injury may also trigger the condition. Other conditions such as heart attack; kidney failure; diabetes; an imbalance of electrolytes in your body responsible for nerve and muscle function; steroids and tranquilizers are also associated with hiccups.

Research

• Research published in a February 2003 edition of "Bioessays" suggest human hiccups are a mechanism that first developed in amphibians and evolved to humans. The researchers trace the process to tadpoles that breathe in the water using their gills. Tadpoles fill their mouths with water, close their vocal chords and push water out through their gills, a process scientists believe is similar to that of hiccupping.

Treatment and Prevention

• Most cases of hiccups disappear in minutes without the need for any medical treatment. If your hiccups last longer than a few minutes, try a home remedy such as breathing into a paper bag or holding your breath for a short period. In severe cases, medication or surgery may be necessary. To prevent a bout of hiccups, avoid common triggers such as having a large meal or eating too quickly.