Hiccups- What Are They?
- Dawn C. Turner
- Jul 5
- 3 min read
Charles Osborne. While not one of the most prominent names in American history, Mr. Osborne, born in 1894, holds the Guiness World Record for “longest attack of hiccups”- 68 years.
Hiccups affect people of all ages and backgrounds. They can occur before you are born or while you are on your deathbed. There is plenty of folklore behind hiccups. They have been thought to indicate that someone is thinking about or missing you. They have even been blamed on elves. Hiccups are a part of life. But why? What are hiccups? Is there a reason we get hiccups? Can they be stopped?
Involuntary spasms of the diaphragm.
What does that mean? Let’s talk first about the diaphragm. The diaphragm is a muscle that sits just under your lungs. It internally separates your chest (lungs) from your abdomen (stomach). The diaphragm changes shape with every inhale and exhale, kind of like an umbrella. When your diaphragm is relaxed it forms a dome shape and the pressure in your chest forces breath out of your lungs, known as exhaling. When the diaphragm contracts (or pulls down), space opens in your chest, the pressure changes again, and air is pulled into your lungs. This is called inhaling. This process happens without our knowledge through a complex system of nerves, muscles, and brain activity, allowing us to breathe.
Now let's tackle 'spasm.' Merriam-Webster defines a spasm as an “abnormal muscular contraction.” When the diaphragm spasms it contracts suddenly, quickly opening space in your chest. When this happens, your vocal cords close so quickly that they make a ‘hic’ sound. And there you have it. Hiccups are involuntary spasms of the diaphragm.
Different types of hiccups.
There are three types of hiccups: acute, persistent, and intractable. Acute hiccups are the most common and usually don’t last more than 2 days. Hiccups are considered persistent when they last more than 2 days. They become intractable when they last for more than a month. Like the hiccups Mr. Osborne endured.
What causes hiccups?
As disappointing as it may be, modern science tells us that elves are not the cause of our hiccups.
Acute hiccups are common and not usually dangerous. They can be caused by a variety of different factors such as eating too much, drinking too much, fizzy beverages, sudden changes of temperature, being excited, being stressed, or swallowing air, which can happen when chewing gum or smoking.
Persistent and intractable hiccups can sometimes indicate a more complex issue. Nerve damage, infections, heartburn, asthma, bronchitis, diabetes mellitus, electrolyte imbalances, medication problems, or hair tickling your eardrum are all potential causes.
Hiccups can cause issues that affect your sleep, how well you are eating and drinking, or your speech. If you do have hiccups for more than 2 days, or experience complications that affect your daily life, you should reach out to your primary healthcare provider.
Hiccup treatments.
Most likely, we have all heard of different ways to cure hiccups. My favorite cure from childhood was to stand on your head and attempt to drink cold water from a cup without the use of a straw. It was more likely that those who recommended this treatment were eager to have a good laugh rather than help me with my hiccups.
Think though about what causes most hiccups in the first place- spasms of the diaphragm (which is tied to that intricate network of nerves.) In most cases, hiccups will go away on their own. But if you choose to try a home remedy, try something that might help calm the diaphragm muscle or stimulate the nerves such as slow, deep breathing, holding your breath, taking a bite of lemon, breathing into a paper bag, or sipping cold water. Also, lifestyle changes such as mindful eating, dietary adjustments, or quitting smoking have the potential to prevent hiccups.
Hiccup
Hiccups affect everyone. Most of the time they are not problematic despite the annoyance of having them. If your hiccups stick around for more than 2 days or they start to affect your daily life, reach out to your primary provider for help. Otherwise, try slow, deep breathing and maybe eating a lemon.
Sources
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