Are you experiencing frequent hiccups and you’re wondering what the root cause is?
If hiccups last shorter than 48 hours, acute hiccups are possible. We all have had the impression of hiccupping that we became self-conscious and worried. A plethora of media stories and theories boosted these fears.
There are a handful of potential causes that originate within your body. Your nervous system, digestive tract, throat, and mouth all work together to create a wonderful occurrence when you hiccup.
Keep reading to learn about the causes of frequent hiccups and how to stop them.
Eating Too Fast
When you eat too fast, you swallow air along with your food. This extra air builds up in your stomach and intestines and makes its way back up your esophagus. The air then escapes your mouth it appears like a hiccup.
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Drinking Carbonated Beverages
When you drink something carbonated, the carbon dioxide bubbles create pressure in your stomach. This can cause your diaphragm to contract and spasm, which results in the “hic” sound.
Drinking a glass of water or holding your breath for a few seconds may help to stop the spasm.
Spicy Foods
When you eat spicy foods, the spices irritate the diaphragm, the large muscle that helps us breathe. This irritation causes the diaphragm to spasm, and the spasm causes a hiccup.
It also increases the amount of acid in your stomach, which causes hiccups.
Cigarettes
The nicotine in cigarettes irritates the nerves that control the diaphragm, the muscle that controls breathing. This irritation causes the diaphragm to contract, and the air exhaled from the lungs causes the stomach to expand.
The combination of the two motions causes the hiccups reflex.
Alcohol
When someone drinks too much alcohol, it can irritate the stomach and cause the muscles in the diaphragm to spasm. Alcohol interferes with the normal functioning of the brain, which can lead to uncontrolled contractions of the diaphragm.
This can lead to hiccups that may last for several minutes or even hours.
Chemotherapy
Hiccups in adults and children are also common side effects of chemotherapy. The drugs used in chemotherapy can irritate the stomach and cause indigestion, which are causes of hiccups.
In most cases, when the treatment is complete, the hiccup will stop.
Radiation Therapy
It can often damage the surrounding healthy tissue when using radiation therapy for treating cancer. This can also lead to nerve irritation and damage, which causes frequent hiccups.
The damage may be temporary or permanent, depending on the amount of radiation exposure.
Anesthetics
Patients use this drug during surgery, which can cause hiccups. This is because they can interfere with the normal functioning of the phrenic nerve, which controls the diaphragm.
These hiccups may last for days or even weeks after the surgery is over.
Know More About the Causes of Frequent Hiccups
There are many potential causes of frequent hiccups, such as eating or drinking too fast. Other potential causes include eating spicy foods, drinking carbonated beverages, smoking cigarettes, and alcohol consumption.
If you experience frequent hiccups, it’s essential to see your doctor to rule out any underlying medical conditions.
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