Here are the reasons why you experience a hiccup
Having a hiccup can be annoying because it can be a disturbance to what you are doing and here are the causes to better understands this condition.
This starts from the diaphragm, which is the dome-shaped muscle between your lungs and stomach. Normally, when you inhale, the diaphragm pulls down. This in order to let the air into your lungs. When you exhale, it relaxes so air can flow back out of your lungs to exit your nose and mouth. However, the diaphragm experience spasm when something irritates it. The irritant is forcing you to suddenly suck air into your throat, where it hits your voice box, based on the article from WebMD. Your vocal cords will suddenly close, thus the sound “hic!” comes out.
Hiccup can happen because of two main reasons – physical and emotional. The actual irritation happens in the nerve connecting the brain, that explains it. The possible causes of this condition are:
- Eating too much or too quickly
- Feeling nervous or excited
- Drinking carbonated beverages or too much alcohol
- Stress
- A sudden change in temperature
- Swallowing air while sucking on candy or chewing gum
Why hiccups can be a long-term condition?
Normally, hiccups are just temporary. However, in rare cases, it can be a long-term condition. This happens when there is a damage or aggravation to the nerves connected to the diaphragm. The said nerves can be damaged by everything – from a hair touching your eardrum to a sore throat can affect these nerves, according to the article.
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Aside from that, serious health conditions such as a tumor, goiter, or cyst in the neck can affect the nerves. Another factor to the long-term hiccups is a disorder in the central nervous system such as encephalitis or meningitis, or metabolic disorders like diabetes or kidney failure.
Moreover, drugs can also affect the longevity of hiccups. Steroid and tranquilizers are known drugs that could trigger this condition. Procedures can also be a factor, especially ones that require anesthesia. Based on the article, it is advisable to consult a doctor once your hiccups can already interfere with your normal daily routine or if it lasts for 2 days.
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