What the Hic are Hiccups... How Do They Start and How Do We Stop Them?
By Darkwing
@Darkwing (21583)
April 10, 2007 11:35am CST
Do you suffer from frequent bouts of the hiccups? What causes them to start? How do we stop them? There are some old wives' tales flying about, of which some work, but some are pretty difficult to apply and even then, they don't seem to quell your hiccups, so I'd like to share some general information about hiccups with you.
When you hiccup, your diaphragm convulses, together with the muscles contained therein, causing you to momentarily gulp air. When you do so, the glottis (the opening at the top of the air passage) slams shut within 35 milliseconds,emitting that "hic" sound.
Some attacks can be cured almost immediately, but if you don't stop by the seventh hiccup you're in for a hard time. Once you start, you'll usually hiccup 63 or more times; maybe a lot more. The record holder had the hiccups continuously for no less than 69 years!
So, what triggers the hiccups off? Normally a reaction to one's stomach and digestive system going awry. This happens when you eat too much, drink fizzy drinks, or swallow too much air whilst eating or drinking. Some get the hiccups for no reason at all whilst others get them regularly. Attacks can also be caused by skull fracture, epilepsy, tuberculosis and believe it or not, constipation and can sometimes be pretty uncomfortable.
Unlike sneezing, passing wind or burping, hiccups don't really serve any purpose. They're just aggravating, embarrassing and pointless! So how the hic do you get rid of them? Home remedies are often based on the idea that you have to disrupt the hiccup cycle; these remedies including holding your breath, blowing into a bag, tugging on your tongue, a sudden fright, drinking water from the far side of a glass or eating sugar. Just drinking water, if done quickly enough, might wash down a fragment of food that's pressing against a nerve in the throat.
Failing these, a doctor could prescribe the drug chlorpromazine, tickle the pharynx with a hollow flexible tube through the nose, or use hypnosis or acupuncture. None of these is much to look forward to, but if they don't solve the problem, you could use extreme measures. A couple of centuries ago a recommendation was made that you blister or burn the skin above the phrenic nerve on the neck and back. Ouch! I think I'd rather "hic" hiccup some more!
It's amusing when somebody else has the hiccups but it sure can drive you crazy when you suffer an attack yourself. I hope this discussion might help some of you. Do you suffer a lot of hiccups and do you now feel that your eating and drinking habits might be changed to prevent them?
4 people like this
10 responses
@cloudwatcher (6861)
• Australia
11 Apr 07
You've researched this very well. I'm sure that will help anyone who suffers from hiccups. (I wonder where the word originated - funny word - anything to do with cups? I suppose it is simply a matter of the sound of hics coming up)
I think I could count on one hand the number of times I've had hiccups, or at least continual hiccups. I've had one or two occasionally. The last time I remember was just a few days ago. They were continual and my husband kept laughing at me. I started work, got involved in what I was doing and hadn't even realised they'd stopped until my husband asked how I'd got rid of them.
Unusual discussion. Thanks Darkwing.
@Darkwing (21583)
•
11 Apr 07
I think the word hiccups originated from the hiccoughs, which was used originally, and also relates to the sound one makes when one 'hics'. I certainly don't think it's anything to do with cups. lol.
I don't suffer with them much any more, Cloud, but they can be uncomfortable if you suffer for too long and the hiccups are harsh. They tend to give pain in the diaphragm, but once you get rid of them, I doubt they can be detrimental to your health. I normally drink out of the far side of a glass of water, whilst bending forward. It normally works, and works the best for me of all the remedies.
Yes, unusual discussion... a friend suffered the hiccups in the pub and it was quite funny to hear them trying to get a whole sentence out, but they were getting frustrated, so I researched it some more and decided it would make for discussion. lol. Do you think I might be running out of ideas??? :-p
Thank you for your response my friend, and brightest blessings.
2 people like this
@cloudwatcher (6861)
• Australia
11 Apr 07
You'll never run out of ideas. The trouble with me is that I am too lazy to think of ideas, so I just respond to everyone else's.
@feralwoman (2199)
• Australia
11 Apr 07
Hi Darkwing, very informative! My hubby gets hiccups when he drinks too much and funnily enough he had them for ages in bed last night! It is funny, I must agree, when someone else has them, but no fun at all if you're the one suffering. I do feel sorry for the poor man who had them for 69 years - it must've been awful for him and those around him! I couldn't imagine what i'd do if I was in his situation. Perhaps i'd have to do the skin burning on the neck and back as a last resort - I guess desperation would mean taking extreme measures to get relief! LOL
2 people like this
@Darkwing (21583)
•
11 Apr 07
Hi Feral. It sounds as though your hubby might try and talk, laugh and drink at the same time, as I do occasionally! ha ha ha. I shouldn't laugh because it's quite painful if you get them for any length of time. If I were him, I would try one of the water remedies... you certainly don't want to give him any sudden frights when he's been drinking. :-)
I'm lucky enough, or careful enough, not to get the hiccups much these days, but yes, I know where you're coming from with the 69 year problem. Imagine, having the hiccups all that time... it would certainly make you desperate but I don't know whether I could go quite that far in an attempt to cure them. + rating for this response my friend. Thank you and Brightest Blessings.
2 people like this
@weemam (13372)
•
21 Jul 07
When I was younger I used to get them a lot , and nose bleeds , My family thought it great fun and gave me frights etc , Thankfully the never lasted long and were only a temporary nuisance , It must have been so exhausting for the man that had them for so many years , poor old soul , xxx
@patgalca (18481)
• Orangeville, Ontario
21 Jul 07
There are two remedies that I use. First I will try and drink a glass of water while holding my breath. Drink as much water as I can without breathing. Usually that works. If it doesn't, I just have a teaspoon of peanut butter and the hiccups disappear.
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
10 Apr 07
I am glad that I seldom find myself in such a situation. And I will normally get over them if any after a while. I would be really embarrassing and inconvenient if one keeps hiccuping. :P
@Darkwing (21583)
•
10 Apr 07
Yes, it is. I used to suffer when I was in my teens but no more, thankfully. By the way, this is much the same as the invisible ink one, which I have corrected. Thank you for pointing that out to me. I think I published without saving. lol.
What would I do without my friends? he he he. Brightest Blessings, Wiz and thank you for your response.
2 people like this
@Darkwing (21583)
•
11 Apr 07
Thank you Why. I tried to make it as informative as possible. Yes, I didn't think of sleep. I suppose the lying down is the thing that helps. I used to have them when I was young but I seem to be fairly free of them now.
Thank you for your response, and Brightest Blessings.
1 person likes this
@Bizziebod (3497)
•
13 Apr 07
Hi, Thank you for your remedies for hiccups, I get them quite often and they don't half drain your energy when you get them. I generally hold my breath in but contract my stomach muscles at the same time, usually it works first time but if not then second or third usually does the trick, it stops the diaphragm from contracting and thus ceases the hiccups!
@Darkwing (21583)
•
13 Apr 07
Hi Bizzie and you're very welcome. I don't get hiccups much these days but I always found the most effective remedy for me was bending forward and drinking water from the other side of the glass. A bit disorientating, but it did the trick for me.
As for the holding of breath, yes, I would have thought if you contracted your diaphragm muscles at the same time... the muscles that caused the problem in the first place... then that should stop them.
Thank you for your response and brightest blessings.
1 person likes this
@Leedsrbest1973 (127)
•
13 Apr 07
Hey... thank you for the info on hiccups. I get them quite often and have tried one or two of the home remedies for stopping them, but they haven't always worked. I'll have to try some of these.
Thank you for this post. It's very helpful.
