A Simple Guide to Hiccups

A Simple Guide to Hiccups
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What is Hiccups?
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Hiccups is a symptom, not an illness.
It is the sound produced in the throat when the epiglottis flip backwards during a sudden involuntary contraction of the diaphragm

What are the causes of Hiccups?
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Hiccups is initiated when a sudden involuntary movement of the diaphragm( the large muscle separating the chest from the abdomen)causes a sudden drop in air pressure in the lung.
Air rushes in through the mouth to enter the lungs.
As it rushes in , it causes the epiglottis(the valve that closes the windpipe during swallowing or drinking) to flip backwards causing the hiccup sound.

Hiccups may occur when :
1.a full stomach pressing against the nerve to the diaphragm causing an involuntary contraction of the diaphragm

2.hasty swallowing of food or air which distends the stomach and causes it to press against the nerve to the diaphragm.

3.unexplained unregulated nervous activity of the diaphragm

Most hiccups are harmless and last for a few hours to 1 day.
Some hiccups have known to last for years.

What are the treatment of Hiccups?
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1.holding the breath as long as possible and repeating it several times.
Holding the breath may prevent air from rushing into the lungs through the epiglottis.

2.breathing into a paper bag until the hiccup stop (usually within 3 minutes).
Breathing into a paper bag cause accumulation of carbon dioxide in the air in the bag.
The increased level of carbon dioxide in the blood may slow down activity of the part of the brain controlling the diaphragm hence causing the hiccup to stop.

3.Drinking a whole glass of water without stopping at one time.
This has the same effect as holding the breath because you cannot drink and breathe at the same time.

4.Taking medications such as an anti-epileptic or anti-spasmodic may be able to stop the hiccups by stopping the contraction of the diaphragm.