Hiccups – contractions of the diaphragm. May occur without cause in healthy individuals, usually resolves quickly.
Causes of hiccups
- Overfilling the stomach directly with food. Overeating, hasty food, dry food, food on the go.
- General hypothermia, especially in young children and when intoxicated.
- Irritation of the diaphragmatic nerve ending, transmitted to the muscles of the diaphragm.
- Severe emotional shock.
- Sparkling water can easily trigger hiccups.
- Alcohol abuse.
Hiccups are sometimes a symptom of diseases of the spinal cord, brain, inflammatory changes in the abdominal cavity, infectious diseases, diabetes, mental agitation, myocardial infarction, kidney failure, a tumor or abscess in the chest, as a side effect of drugs.
In some cases, the psychological nature of hiccups associated with a sense of fear, or a reaction to painkillers in the postoperative period, is detected.
Ways to get rid of hiccups
- A well-known method using water. It is recommended to drink a glass of water slowly in small sips. It washes away food particles, eliminating nerve irritation. For greater effect, the body should be tilted forward. Sometimes they suggest rotating the glass.
- Swallow something bitter or sour (lemon).
- Sprinkle some sugar on the center of the tongue and then swallow it.
- Hold the tongue with your hand for a few seconds, slightly pulling forward.
- Put your finger in your mouth, as if inducing vomiting, but don’t bring it up.
- Release the zone of the belt (unfasten the belt), hold your breath on a deep breath for as long as you have enough strength, repeat several times until the attack stops. Method variant: exhale into a paper bag and inhale again from it. This will allow carbon dioxide to fill the blood.
- Influence on reflex points: press over the collarbone or on the eyeballs.
- Swallow a piece of ice. You can drink cold water.
- Sit down, forcefully squeeze your stomach in the diaphragm area with your hands.
- Plug your index fingers in your ears, twist them a little.
- Lie on the floor with your head up and slowly drink water.
- Bite, swallow sugar pre-soaked in vinegar.
- Close your hands behind your back while sitting on a chair, raise your head up, drink water.
- Induce a sneeze (smell the pepper).
- Put a mustard plaster between the ribs.
- Swallow a hard crust of bread, inhale deeply, hold your breath.
- Push up or pump the press until the attack stops completely.
- Stand on your hands or lie down so that your head is below the diaphragm.
- Chamomile tea. The substances contained in it have the properties of muscle relaxants.
- Auto-training to manage your emotions in case of a psychological nature.
- Try to calm down, in a calm state, relaxation affects other muscles.
- In children, bandaging the head at the level of the bridge of the nose with a red ribbon or thread is used. This distracts attention, and the baby stops hiccuping.
Fun Methods
- Tickling: in the process, laughter is delayed, and, accordingly, breathing.
- Betting on money. Put money on the table. A bet is made with a hiccup: he will stop hiccuping in a minute. Effective method.
- Sudden fright method. Do not overdo it, otherwise the hiccuping person may become a stutterer.
Indications for visiting a doctor
- longer than an hour
- frequent seizures
- presence of additional symptoms: heartburn, chest pain, difficulty swallowing
In such a situation, the doctor will first prescribe an x-ray to identify an obstruction in the esophagus. Depending on the cause of the disorder, medications may be prescribed to treat hiccups.
