Interesting Things That Happen Inside Your Body When You HICCUP And How To stop it!

Last Updated on January 7, 2021

Hiccups are undeniably annoying and embarrassing, especially when you’re in the middle of an important meeting or serious conversation in a silent room… Actually, it’s annoying even when you’re doing something as mundane as sitting on your couch and watching TV when your body involuntarily convulses and you make this funny “hic” sound!

Some common and less common causes of hiccups respectively include: eating or drinking too much or too quickly, swallowing air, emotional stress or anxiety, some medications, phrenic nerve irritation, abdominal surgery, stroke, and sometimes it’s even a sign of pregnancy!

But, have you ever wondered about what happens inside your body when you get the hiccups? If you’re getting a fit of hiccups at this very moment and you want to know just what on earth is happening in your body, the best ways to stop them, and whether they are signs of something serious.

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#1 – How do hiccups happen?

When you breathe in, your diaphragm pushes downward to draw air into your lungs and when you exhale, the diaphragm pushes upward to expel air.

Hiccupping occurs as your diaphragm draws in air between the breaths you take, causing it to spasm in order to prevent more air from rushing into your lungs, and the vocal cords to suddenly close which results in hiccups.

Hiccups are usually harmless and go away after a few minutes. But sometimes they can be caused by medications or serious health issues.

#2 – What medications cause hiccups?

Some medications that can cause hiccups may include opiate drugs, anesthesia, Barbiturates used to treat insomnia, some chemotherapy drugs and Levodopa used to treat symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.

Drugs that treat acid reflux like benzodiazepines can have side effects that may also cause hiccups.

If you take some medications and you experience persistent or severe bursts of hiccups, you should consult your doctor immediately, especially if they are followed by fever, vomiting, shortness of breath, or stomach ache as they may indicate serious conditions.

#3 – What serious conditions cause hiccups?

A number of serious conditions and disorders can result in chronic hiccups including:

● Irritation or damage to the phrenic nerve that passes down between the heart and lungs.

● A tumor or cyst in the neck, or enlargement of the thyroid (goiter).

● Problems with the liver (infection, swelling, hepatitis, liver cancer).

● Brain trauma.

● Meningitis (inflammation of the protective membranes covering the spinal cord and brain.

● Pneumonia.

● Bowel disease.

● Smoking cigarettes.

While this isn’t very common, persistent hiccups can be an early sign of pregnancy because they can be linked to its symptoms like indigestion, shortness of breath, stress, and nausea.

Women in their sixth months of pregnancy may experience “fetal hiccups,” which happens when the baby begins to practice breathing in the womb and hiccups as a result.

#4 – How do you cure hiccups?

People typically cure hiccupping by drinking water, holding their breath, or having someone frighten the hiccups out of them, which actually works!

But when the hiccups are persistent, chlorpromazine, Haloperidol, and metoclopramide drugs are often recommended. Still, you should talk to your doctor before taking any medication.

Leaving chronic, uncontrollable hiccups untreated may reduce your quality of life by causing you complications such as weight loss, fatigue, insomnia, anxiety, and even depression.

#5 – Is there a way to prevent them?

While we don’t have control over when the next fit of hiccups may strike us, some causes of hiccups can be preventable.

If you experience frequent bouts of hiccups, you can try preventing the occurrence of another bout by reducing alcohol and nicotine intake, eating moderately and more slowly, and avoiding overhydration.

Drinking too much water in one go or more than neccessary throughout the day may result not only in hiccups but also water intoxication, leading to kidney problems and other health complications.

Regardless, you should see a doctor if the hiccups are frequent and unstoppable!