Hiccups

Symptoms
Hiccupping is a symptom. It may sometimes be accompanied by a slight tightening sensation in your chest, abdomen or throat.

Causes
Common triggers that cause hiccups lasting less than 48 hours include:

• Drinking carbonated beverages
• Drinking too much alcohol
• Over-eating
• Excitement or emotional stress
• Sudden temperature changes
• Swallowing air while chewing gum or sucking on candy

Hiccups that last more than 48 hours may be caused by varied factors:
Nerve damage or irritation
Damage to or irritation of the vagus nerves or phrenic nerves, which serve the diaphragm muscle, could be due to the following reasons:

• A hair or something in your ear that touches your eardrum
• A tumour, cyst or goiter in your neck
• Gastroesophageal reflux
• Sore throat or laryngitis

Central nervous system disorders: A tumour or infection in the central nervous system or damage to the central nervous system due to trauma may disrupt the body’s normal control of the hiccup reflex.
Examples include:

• Encephalitis
• Meningitis
• Multiple sclerosis
• Stroke
• Traumatic brain injury
• Tumours
• Metabolic disorders and drugs

Long-term hiccups can be triggered by:

• Alcoholism
• Anaesthesia
• Barbiturates
• Diabetes
• Electrolyte imbalance
• Kidney disease
• Steroids
• Tranquilizers

Risk factors
Men are more prone to develop long-term hiccups than women. Other factors that can increase the risk of hiccups include:

Mental or emotional issues: Short-term and long-term hiccups can be triggered by anxiety, stress and excitement.
Surgery: Some people develop hiccups after administration of general anaesthesia during surgery, or after procedures involving abdominal organs.
Complications
Prolonged hiccups may interfere with:

• Eating
• Sleeping
• Speech
• Wound healing after surgery

When to see a doctor
See your doctor if your hiccups last more than 48 hours or if they are so severe that they interfere with eating, sleeping or breathing.