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| Why do we get hiccups and how can we get rid of it |
We all get hiccups from time to time and sometimes it's impossible to control them.
The process of involuntary contraction of the diaphragm in the human body is called hiccups. The diaphragm is the muscle that separates your chest from your stomach, which plays an important role in breathing. When this involuntary jerky contraction occurs, the vocal cords in the throat also close suddenly for a moment.
The medical term for hiccups is singultus. It is derived from the Latin word 'singular' which means 'crying breath'.
For most of us, hiccups are not bothersome and do not last long. But for some people, hiccups may last longer or may last more than two days.
The good news about this problem, however, is that there are simple ways to relieve common hiccups and even treat them when they persist for too long.
What causes hiccups?
Hiccups are caused by a reflex arc—a neuromotor pathway that converts sensation into a physiological response. The senses in this arc include the brain, ears, nose and throat, diaphragm, and organs of the chest and abdomen.
(According to expert research, hiccups are called neurogenic dysfunction of the "valve function" between the inspiratory complex and the glottis closure complex.)
In this case, the sensation signals go to the part of the brain known as the 'hiccup center' along the upper part of the spinal cord.
Signals from the hiccups center travel back to the muscles between the diaphragm and your ribs (intercostal muscles), causing them to twitch with jerks.
The contraction of these muscles pulls air into the lungs and it tightly closes the opening in the throat between the vocal cords or glottis on a sudden breath. This rapid closure produces a 'hiccup' sound.
Anything affecting the arch can cause hiccups. Involuntary stretching of the stomach is most common from eating large meals or drinking soft drinks. This means that sensational signals from the gastrointestinal tract can trigger the reflex arc.
Hot pepper consumption, alcohol, smoking, and excessive excitement can also trigger the reflex, causing hiccups.
Hiccups have also been observed in healthy fetuses during prenatal ultrasound checks in the womb of expectant mothers. In fact, some researchers believe that hiccuping begins shortly after birth to prepare the baby's lungs for breathing.
How long do hiccups last? And what can you do to control it?
An attack of hiccups that lasts less than 48 hours is nothing to worry about. Such an attack usually goes away on its own.
Where it does not go away on its own, there are ways to control the reflex arc. The 'Valsalva' maneuver, the use of ice-cold drinks and light pressure on the eye socket increases the activity of a long nerve (vagus) in the brain.
Techniques such as rebreathing into a paper or plastic bag work by increasing the amount of carbon dioxide in the blood in a confined space. This helps to suppress the muscle movements associated with hiccups. However, rebreathing carries a small but serious risk of cardiac arrest and should only be done under medical supervision.
However, there is very limited evidence that these methods and clinical interventions work.
When should we worry about hiccups?
If hiccups last more than two days, it is called persistent hiccups. If they last more than two months, it is known as intractable hiccups. Chronic and unbearable hiccups, collectively known as chronic hiccups, can be quite distressing and may indicate a serious underlying cause, so it is important to contact your doctor immediately.
People with chronic hiccups will undergo a thorough and comprehensive examination. Their medical history often gives very important clues to the cause. Certain medications such as anti-epileptic drugs, alcohol, smoking, and recreational drug use have all been linked to the development of hiccups.
Because the organs of the chest and abdomen are involved in the reflex arc, investigations of these organs such as lung imaging or upper endoscopy (where a tube with a small camera is inserted into the throat to view the upper digestive tract) may be needed. can
A study in France found that 80 percent of patients with chronic hiccups had abnormalities in the esophagus and stomach, with reflux disease (backflow of the stomach and esophagus) being the most common.
Your doctor will also examine your ears, nose, and throat for any foreign bodies entering the bodyAn ear infection or throat infection can cause hiccups.
Brain imaging may be necessary, especially if there are associated symptoms such as speech changes and facial and limb muscle weakness.
How are chronic hiccups treated?
If possible, the underlying cause should be treated after a thorough investigation.
People with hiccups often have problems with gastric reflux, so treatment may include a short course of anti-reflux medication.
Other evidence-based medications used to treat hiccups include the anti-nausea drug metoclopramide and baclofen, which are used to treat muscle spasms. are used.
There is growing evidence that gabapentin, a drug used to treat seizures, may also be effective for hiccups.
What treatments can we see in the future?
Researchers recently developed an inflexible drinking tube with an internal valve that requires active suction to draw water from a cup into the mouth. This tube is called a 'Forced Inspiratory Suction and Swallow Tool', or 'FIST' (FISST).
The 'fist' is believed to inhibit the hiccup reflex arc by stimulating sensory nerves to cause contraction of the diaphragm and gluteus maximus.
In a study of 249 participants who tried Fist, only 90 percent reported better results than home remedies.
However, research on FIST has not yet compared it to a control group that did not receive the treatment. Therefore, it is not yet clear how much more effective 'Fist' is than a placebo (a home remedy given as medicine), or an unproven drug.