Hiccups

Hiccups are known to everybody. Everybody might have experienced this atleast one in life time. We make sounds in a typical way e.g. Hic, Hicc, for a while. We feel embarrassed in getting hiccups when we are in company with others. The person getting hiccups as also others sitting in front feel uneasy. Normally hiccups last for a few minutes only and then subside, but if they continue for hours to-gether then the matter should be viewed with concern. To learn about hiccups we should know first about respiratory system (breathing process). During respiration, we should know about the changes accruing in the muscles of our body.

Respiration (Breathing process)

When we breathe in and breath out air, our lungs expand with air and contract afterwards this is known as respiration. Diaphragm plays an important role in respiration. Diaphragm is like an inverted bowl made of hard muscles it separates the chest portion from the abdomen. When we breath in air, the glottis and epiglottis present in the throat open like flaps. After the entry of air diaphragm contracts smooth and slide down.

Due to this, the lungs expand to facilitate the air to fill up. When we breathe out, the diaphragm returns to its original shape. This is our "Respiratory Process". What happens during hiccups is that, we breathe in air unknowingly which results in closing of glottis and epiglottis thus turning to diaphragm upwards, making peculiar sound (Hicc, Hicc ) from the vocal cord in short intervals.

Why do we get hiccups?

Medical science does not give much prominence to Hiccups, the following are the reasons for getting hiccups.

Over eating, drinking. Eating, drinking in haste. Eating and drinking very cold or hot items. Entering into or coming out of very cold and hot rooms. Sudden excitement getting emotionally upset and anxiety. We may get hiccups without any reason.

In rare cases, the phrenic nerves connected with diaphragm gets irritated, then also the hiccups will come.

If hiccups last for one or two days, doctor should be consulted. Symptoms affecting Kidneys, liver, lungs, and abdomen may also result in producing hiccups.

How to get rid of hiccups

We can treat simple hiccups at home if not chronic, those are

Carbon dioxide removes hiccups. For which we have to hold the breath as long as we can. Due to this, the carbon dioxide accumulates in our body and stops hiccups. Hold a paper bag on to your mouth and nose breath in and out the air into the bag . The carbon dioxide which you take in reduces hiccups. Use only paper bag not plastic bag. Put two three spoons of sugar into your mouth and chew. Pulling out the tongue with fingers. Licking of ice. Insert fingers into the mouth touching small tongue and try to vomit. Insert cloth wrapped stick or finger into the mouth and touch upper palate and tickle. Lie on your back, bend both your knees and pull them to your chest and press. Follow anyone of the above mentioned remedies to stop the hiccups.

What does the doctor do ?

If hiccups are very severe and continued for long time, doctor would prescribe sleeping pills or breathing of 5% carbon dioxide(Co2). If the hiccups are severe and do not stop, the doctor may excise half portion of the phrenic nerves connected with the diaphragm. This may affect the respiration and also may not give the expected result . Normally hiccups do not cause much inconvenience, But if you want to know severe symptoms of hiccups, you can ask Charles Osborne of IOWA in America. The poor fellow suffered from hiccups from 1922 to 1988. How many hiccups did he have? 43 crores.