Why Do Hiccups Happen and how to Manage?

2 minute read
2 minute read

Why Do Hiccups Happen?

Hiccups happen when the diaphragm undergoes sudden involuntary contraction. It can be caused by ischemia or lack of blood supply to the diaphragm or an irritation of the nerves.

Hiccups can also occur because of some other reasons, some of them can be physical or emotional. Some common causes include:

1. Eating too much or too fast

2. Feeling nervousness or excitement

3. Taking carbonated beverages or too much alcohol

4. Emotional Stress

5. An unexpected change in temperature

Should I go to a Doctor?

Hiccups are usually temporary, but in rare cases, they can stick around for a while. It’s usually because of damage or aggravation to the nerves connected to the diaphragm. Medical attention is necessary if the hiccup is lasting more than 48 hours or if it is seriously affecting sleep, eating or breathing.

Medical attention is required for pathological hiccups, such as cardiac hiccups which occur in persons having congestive heart failure, uremic hiccups which occur due to renal failure and cerebral hiccups.

Metabolic disorders like diabetes or kidney failure can also cause Long-term Hiccups. Drugs like steroids or some tranquilizers too can trigger long-term hiccups.

Home Remedies

Hold Your Breath: Simplest remedy for hiccups is to hold your breath. Take a deep breath, hold the breath behind the belly button then gradually exhale.

Brown Bag Remedy: Take a paper bag open it, hold the edges near your nose and breathe into the bag (Both exhaling and then inhaling).

Both these techniques will increase the Carbon dioxide concentration in your lungs which will allow the diaphragm to relax. Continue both remedies for 1 to 2 minutes. Your hiccups should quickly be relieved.

Get Updates on Email

You might also enjoy

Feeling dehydrated! Here’s how to keep yourself hydrated this summer
Feeling dehydrated! Here’s how to keep yourself hydrated this summer

4 minute read Hello SUMMER!

Summer comes with so many gifts – fresh fruits and vegetables to fill your tummy, warm sun rays making your skin cells alive, a land filled with rich nutrients, fresh air to breathe, shining white blue sky, sweet smells of the blooming flowers, soothing sounds of birds chirping, happy song of the nightingale, the buzzing sound of the bees and what else. But these pleasant surprises also bring a change in your body.

Read More
Spring season, Ayurvedic lifestyle and diet, seasonal regimen
How to Welcome Spring Season – In Ayurvedic Style

4 minute read Spring season – all things becoming hot, fresh fragrance in the air you breathe, bees buzzing around bloomed flowers, hot wind with a glass of cool drink, laying on the burning beach sand to get your skin tanned, solid lake water melting like an ice cube, clear blue sky with warm sunlight.

Read More