What Triggers Hiccups?

What Hiccups Are

Hiccups are involuntary sounds that occur when the diaphragm muscle spasms. The diaphragm is a sheet-like muscle that sits like a hammock below our lungs. With the intercostal muscles of the ribs, the diaphragm helps us breathe.

When it spasms, the negative pressure causes us to suck air into our bodies quickly. This rush of air causes the epiglottis in our throat to slam shut.

Usually, the epiglottis separates things we breathe in from things we ingest. The epiglottis acts like a lid to our larynx. It shuts closed to prevent foods and drinks from entering our windpipe.

The closure of the epiglottis is what causes the ‘hic’ sound during hiccups.

Most hiccups will resolve on their own after a few minutes. If you’re experiencing hiccups that last longer than a few minutes, it could be a sign of an underlying disease process. There are also some medications that may cause prolonged hiccupping.

Symptoms of Hiccups

All of us are keen on what hiccups look and sound like. But, not all hiccups are created equal.

Here are a few signs that you may be hiccupping, even if it doesn’t seem like it:

• You feel a sharp contraction between your chest and abdomen
• Your body involuntarily sucks air into your throat
• You feel a shutting mechanism in your throat

Whether you experience one or all of these sensations, they should go away in a few minutes. If you’re having prolonged hiccups, you should talk to your healthcare provider about whether you have an underlying problem causing your hiccups.

Facts About Hiccups

Hiccups are fascinating. They may seem annoying while they’re happening, but our bodies are doing something that’s pretty cool.

Here are some facts about hiccups you might have not known:

1. The longest hiccup streak lasted 68 years
2. The medical term for hiccups is singultus
3. Hiccups occur in almost all mammals
4. Hiccups occur more often in infants than in other humans
5. Fetuses can hiccup in the womb
6. Scientists don’t know why we have hiccups (but there are plenty of theories)
7. Hiccups can happen up to 60 times per minute
8. People in Medieval Times referred to hiccups as “hockets”
9. The more you hiccup, the more likely you’re going to hiccup again
10. There are several remedies out there to ease hiccups from multiple causes

Hiccups have been around for as long as humankind can remember. Yet, there are still some mysteries we have yet to learn about them.

Causes of Hiccups

Hiccups occur when the diaphragm spasms. Like other parts of the body, the diaphragm moves based on when the nervous system says to move. In other words, the nervous system controls how the diaphragm reacts to stimuli.

Hiccups occur when particular stimuli trigger the nervous system to move the diaphragm.

Scientists aren’t sure why this happens. But, we do know what some of the triggers are.

What Triggers Hiccups

Hiccups can start due to a variety of reasons. Sometimes, there may be no reason at all.

All we know is that the majority of triggers place pressure on the diaphragm in one way or another. This pressure could be what causes the spasms we see with hiccups.

Here are some of the most common triggers for hiccups:

• Eating food too quickly
• Eating hot or spicy foods
• Indigestion
• Consuming too much alcohol
• Drinking fizzy or carbonated drinks
• Smoking cigarettes or vaping
• Enduring too much stress
• Smelling bad odors
• Being pregnant

As you can see, there is a wide range of triggers for hiccups. And, this isn’t a complete list.

Each person may experience hiccups for a number of different reasons. Some people may have them for no reason at all.

Chronic Reasons for Hiccups

Prolonged hiccups could be a sign of underlying disease. Physicians consider hiccups “prolonged” when they last for days, weeks, or even years.

The most common culprits of diaphragm spasms are lung and brain disorders since they affect our breathing mechanism and nervous system respectively.

Additionally, patients who have had chest or abdominal surgery may experience prolonged hiccupping. As for medications, some epilepsy medications can cause hiccups as can nicotine gum.

Here are some of the most common conditions associated with prolonged hiccups.

Esophagitis

Esophagitis is a condition in which the tissues of the esophagus become inflamed. The esophagus is the tube in our throats that carry food from the mouth to the stomach. Inflammation from esophagitis can cause this tube to swell, making transporting food more difficult.

Patients with esophagitis may experience chest pain, difficulty swallowing, pain with swallowing, and even hiccups.

The reason why hiccups occur with esophagitis is unclear. But, some scientists suggest that receptors in our esophagus may send impulses to the vagal nerve. These impulses then travel to respiratory motor neurons, causing hiccups.

Hyperthyroidism

Hyperthyroidism occurs when your thyroid gland is overactive. When overactivity of the thyroid gland happens, it produces too much thyroxine, which is a hormone that regulates all kinds of mechanisms in our bodies. These mechanisms include breathing, metabolism, heart rate, and more.

Patients with hyperthyroidism may complain of weight loss, a fast heart rate, heat intolerance, and more. Although rate, some patients can develop hiccups with hyperthyroidism.

The thyroid affects all areas of the body, including the hiccup center. High levels of thyroxine in the blood can set off the hiccup reflex, making patients with hyperthyroidism hiccup more than usual.

Keep in mind that you could have hyperthyroidism without hiccups. If you’re displaying other symptoms of the condition, you should talk to your medical provider about getting a thyroid panel done.

Pleurisy

Pleurisy is a medical term that refers to inflammation of the pleurae, which make up the lining of our lungs. The swelling and irritation that comes with pleurisy can cause pain with breathing.

Inflamed pleurae cannot act as a lubricant for our lungs to expand and compress as we breathe in and out.

Symptoms of pleurisy include fast breathing, shallow breathing, shortness of breath, dry cough, fever, and pain while breathing. Patients with pleurisy may also experience persistent hiccups.

Patients’ bodies may develop hiccups because of the disturbance in breathing patterns. Since inflamed pleurae can’t lubricate our lungs properly, we may experience difficulty breathing.

Our bodies may perceive this as a problem with breathing in enough oxygen. So, our bodies set off our hiccups to make up the difference.

Hiccups allow our bodies to quickly suck in air. So, hiccups may be able to help patients get more air in while their body heals.

Pneumonia

Pneumonia is an infection of one or both lungs. It can occur due to the infiltration of bacteria, viruses, or fungi. The type of pneumonia you develop will determine the kind of treatment you need to cure it.

Pneumonia can be fatal as the condition can cause our lungs to fill with pus and other liquids, making it harder to get the oxygen we need.

Pneumonia is very common, but it is most concerning in the youngest and oldest patients. People with pneumonia may experience sharp chest pain, fever, chills, fatigue, fast breathing, shortness of breath, coughing, wheezing, and more.

Another symptom that may present with pneumonia is hiccuping. In fact, hiccups may be the primary presenting symptom for some patients.

Some scientists believe that pneumonia causes inflammation of the phrenic nerve as well as the pericardial branch. As the inflammation presses on the nerves, it can cause the diaphragm to spasm. Therefore, pneumonia can lead to hiccups.

Kidney Disease

Kidney disease is a chronic condition that occurs when the kidneys aren’t able to properly filter waste from the blood anymore. Damage to the kidneys may occur for a variety of reasons, including prolonged hypertension and uncontrolled diabetes.

Symptoms of kidney disease include chronic fatigue, loss of appetite, sleep disturbances, foot and ankle swelling, hypertension, change in urination pattern, and nausea and vomiting.

Some patients may even develop hiccups with kidney disease. Hiccups with kidney disease seem to occur because of a multitude of reasons.

The main reason scientists looked toward is electrolyte imbalances. Kidney disease can cause uremia, low sodium, low potassium, and other imbalances. Electrolyte imbalances like these can affect the hiccup center of our bodies.

If the body believes that it’s off balance and not receiving the nutrients it needs, it may hiccup in response.

Brain Damage

Brain damage may include trauma from strokes, tumors, traumatic brain injuries, and other conditions affecting the brain. Each one of these conditions has the ability to harm the neurologic system because of its close proximity to the brain and spinal cord.

Patients with brain damage may experience headaches, fatigue, paralysis, weakness, tremors, seizures, and similar neurologic symptoms. Additionally, patients can experience hiccups.

Scientists believe that persistent hiccups may occur in these patients because of damage to the phrenic nerve. There could also be some damage done to the brain itself via intracranial lesions.

Persistent hiccups in these conditions can cause more complications, not to mention become annoying for the patient. Hiccups can cause a lot of movement for individuals with brain damage who need to remain still.

While the hiccups work to bring oxygen into our bodies, they may cause more damage from excess movement and stress. This is why managing persistent hiccups is important for neuro patients.

Treatments for Hiccups

While there is no cure for hiccups, there are several strategies you can use to ease your hiccups. From self-help strategies to medicinal treatments, there are plenty of ways you can ease your hiccups.

Self-Help Strategies to Stop Hiccups

Over the centuries, humans have accumulated multiple ways of stopping hiccups. Some believe that you have to scare them out, others believe you have to get more oxygen in your body, and others believe a multitude of other things.

No matter what your hiccup theory is, here are some self-help strategies you might use the next time you have the hiccups:

• Holding your breath
• Taking deep breaths
• Breathing into a paper bag
• Asking someone to scare you
• Eating ice
• Gargling water
• Sitting down and leaning forward over your knees
• Sucking on a lemon
• Drinking hot water and honey
• Eating a spoonful of sugar
• Eating a little bit of ginger

You may have heard of some of these. In fact, you’ve likely used some of them.

Some of these strategies may seem silly to you, but the power of suggestion behind them may be the true hiccup-stopping strategy.

Other Treatments to Stop Hiccups

If you’re looking for a scientifically-backed treatment for hiccups, you should consider using Hiccupops. These are lollipops that can help you stop hiccups.

We used science to make our lollipops rather than depending on old folklore about the origins of hiccups.

The ingredients that we put in our lollipops help reset the hiccupping reflex. This returns your breathing to normal.

All you have to do is enjoy the lollipop.

If you’re curious about what others have been saying about Hiccupops, check out our reviews.

How to Stop Hiccups Fast

So, what triggers hiccups? Well, just about anything can do it.

You may have a little too much stress, eat a little too much food, or something else. Small changes in your body can cause hiccups to start.

Hiccups may help equalize our bodies by bringing in a good supply of oxygen, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t annoying, especially when they aren’t necessary.

If you’re looking to stop your hiccups fast, try our Hiccupops. We created these lollipops using the science behind hiccups. Knowing how the body reacts, we were able to formulate the right formula.

Contact our team if you have any questions.