Fun to some, embarrassing to others, hiccups are a phenomenon that affects us all (even babies!). When not recurrent, hiccups are completely benign. On the other hand, in the case of chronic hiccups, a medical consultation is advisable.
Hiccups are a physiological reflex that corresponds to spasmodic, involuntary and repeated contractions of the diaphragm, a muscle located between the thorax and the abdomen. The glottis closes, which prevents air from passing through. It is this braking on the arrival of air that will cause a vibration in the vocal cords, which produces the sound that we know, characteristic of hiccups.
However, hiccups are sometimes due to irritation of the afferent or efferent nerves that control the respiratory muscles. This is the case for some people during the consumption of hot drinks or abdominal infections in particular. The stimulation of the nerves then causes the contraction of the diaphragm, and the hiccups.
When it is not recurrent, hiccups are a benign phenomenon, which can affect all ages, even babies. This benign hiccup, also called acute hiccup, can last from a few seconds up to two days. It usually follows intestinal disorders such as bloating, or alcohol consumption. However, if it becomes regular, it is best to consult a doctor to find out the causes.
A hiccup of several years, is it possible?
Yes! The proof:a man had hiccups for 68 years… at a rate of 40 hiccups per minute! This is Charles Osborne, an American, whose hiccups started while he was carrying something heavy. The cause:a blood vessel that burst in his brain at the time, causing his hiccups.
Chronic hiccups deserve medical follow-up. It is identified by attacks lasting more than 48 hours and up to several weeks, and/or which recur on a regular basis. Your doctor can then prescribe an endoscopy, a medical imaging examination, to determine the causes. Indeed, suffering from chronic hiccups can be a symptom of another underlying disease, such as reflux esophagitis, which causes damage to the esophagus. It can also be nerve damage to that muscle, or brain damage to the area that controls it. But chronic hiccups can also be the consequence of the consumption of certain medications such as glucocorticoids, antibiotics, opiates and dopaminergic agonists.
It is also important to consult if you notice chest or stomach pain, vomiting or regurgitation during your hiccup attack. Likewise, difficulty swallowing or fever are symptoms to be taken seriously and reported to a doctor.
Hiccups in infants?
In their first year, a baby is likely to experience infant hiccups repeatedly. This hiccup can last several minutes, but is not serious. It is the consequence of excessive absorption of air or liquid, especially during breastfeeding or after drinking a bottle. It is therefore common when an infant has a full stomach… but can also happen while a baby is sleeping. It may even have already taken place in your womb, when baby was just a fetus! Indeed, the latter can hiccup from the 20 e week of pregnancy, when her stomach fills with amniotic fluid. Be careful, however, not to confuse infant hiccups with regurgitation of milk, such as GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease).
Looking to stop your hiccups? Here's a tried and true technique for adults:lie on your back with your knees bent to your chest to compress the diaphragm. Then drink a bottle of water with your head flat until the hiccups stop. Another technique:drink very cold water in large sips, without catching your breath between each sip. A sugar soaked lemon to melt in the mouth can also help relax the diaphragm.
In a baby, the most effective way to stop a hiccup attack, but also to avoid it, is to position him in an upright position, especially after meals. This will help him digest better. If you are bottle-feeding, a teat with a low flow rate can help him better manage the flow of milk and thus not swallow air when he suckles.
Stop false good techniques
Posing a spoon to your forehead, drinking upside down, holding your breath for 30 seconds, counting...there are many urban legends and "grandma's" techniques to stop hiccups...that don't work. not really at all.
Do you have hiccups? Rest assured:your crisis is probably mild. It will eventually pass without you realizing it. Same thing if you have an infant, although his crisis is impressive. If your hiccups persist, or are frequent, it is however advisable to see a doctor , to rule out possible irritation of the esophagus or disorder of the nervous system.
Source:
https://www.doctissimo.fr/html/sante/encyclopedia/sa_953_hoquet.htm
https://amelioretasante.com/hoquet-chronique-est-il-possible-de-le-treat/
https://www.femmeactuelle.fr/sante/news-sante/la-plus-longue-crise-de-hoquet-dans-le-monde-a-dure-68-ans-comment-est-ce-possible- 2076944
https://www.edimark.fr/Front/frontpost/getfiles/17159.pdf
https://www.mariefrance.fr/equilibre/sante/naturel-parallele/7-techniques-stopper-hoquet-353346.html#item=3
