The diaphragm is a powerful muscle that separates the thoracic cavity from the abdominal cavity and plays an important role in breathing. Involuntary contraction of the diaphragm muscle is called hiccups.
What is a hiccup?
Hiccups are derived from the characteristic "hic" sound that occurs after the vocal cords are suddenly closed with the contraction of the diaphragm muscle. It is a condition that is very common in individuals of all ages in daily life, especially in infancy.
Most of the time, the most important reason leading to hiccups; swallowing air with the consumption of food and drink. Hiccups usually last for a few minutes or up to half an hour and then stop. If this situation is not repeated very often, it does not pose any problem for individuals and is quite natural.
However, hiccups that are recurring, that last for a long time or that do not stop can indicate any health problem. For this reason, if the hiccups last more than two days or are repeated very often, health institutions should be consulted and a health examination should be performed.
Hiccups are uncontrollable (involuntary) contractions in the diaphragm muscle. The diaphragm, which is located just below the lungs and forms a curtain between the thoracic cavity and the abdominal cavity, regulates breathing. With the contraction of the diaphragm, while the lungs are filled with air, the air in the lungs is evacuated by its relaxation.
The disruption of the contraction rhythm of the diaphragm for any reason and the involuntary contraction of the diaphragm cause sudden closure of the vocal cords and the larynx. As a result, as a result of the sudden air flow to the lungs, the distinctive sound of the hiccup and the body response occur.
The problem of hiccups, which can be caused by many reasons, may develop in some cases without any reason. It cannot be considered as a health problem as it usually goes away after a few minutes. However, in some cases, it can also occur as a symptom of various diseases. Hiccups, which affect individuals of all ages, are quite common, especially in infancy.
Mothers who have hiccups in their babies are frequently asked questions� There are questions such as whether hiccups make the stomach grow, what can be done for the baby who has hiccups, whether hiccups are seen during sleep. It is normal to have hiccups frequently in babies for various reasons. However, since hiccups can sometimes be seen in health problems such as reflux disease, mothers who frequently observe hiccups in their babies should consult their pediatrician.
Why Does Hiccups Keep?
abnormal contraction. There may be many factors causing this. The most common causes of hiccups can be listed as follows:
- Eating too fast
- Overfilling of the stomach as a result of excessive food consumption
- Consuming alcoholic and carbonated drinks
- Sudden temperature changes
- Swallowing air
- Stress
- Allergies and irritations
Other than that, in the case of hiccups that are stuck and disturbingly recurring;
- sore throat,
- goiter,
- tumors,
- diabetes ,
- renal diseases,
- reflux,
- other stomach diseases,
- respiratory tract diseases,
- meningitis and many other types of diseases can be effective.
What Causes Hiccups in Babies?
Hiccups are more common in babies than adults. Hiccups can be seen in babies even during the process in the mother's womb. There are many natural causes of hiccups in babies who are considered normal.
The reasons such as breastfeeding between sleep and the enlargement of the stomach again Hiccups can also be seen in babies during the sleep process, depending on the conditions. Removing the baby's gas after each meal is also effective in preventing hiccups. In addition, if the problem of vomiting is frequently seen in addition to hiccups, the possibility of infant reflux is quite high. Pediatricians should be consulted in such cases.
How to get rid of hiccups?
Questions such as how to get rid of hiccups or how to stop hiccups are among the most researched topics for individuals with this problem. There are some common traditional practices among the people to get rid of hiccups. Such practices, such as standing upside down or being intimidated, for hiccups, have no scientifically proven effect.
Although some experts emphasize that practices that cause carbon dioxide accumulation in the lungs, such as holding the breath for a while, may be effective in stopping hiccups, there is no consensus in the medical world on this issue. However, there are some situations that can be counted among the applications that help prevent hiccups. Some of them are as follows:
- Trying to stay away from sudden emotional changes such as stress and fear
- Eating little and often
- Avoiding the consumption of alcoholic and carbonated drinks
- Avoiding sudden temperature changes
- Making lifestyle changes to prevent fatigue and insomnia
- Eating healthy and consuming enough water
Patients who apply to the physician due to hiccups should definitely mention these if they also experience different problems such as abdominal pain and nausea along with this problem. The underlying health problem can be determined by applying diagnostic methods such as gastric endoscopy, blood analysis, and pulmonary function tests, accompanied by the signs and symptoms at hand.
In cases that last for a short time and do not affect daily life, no medical treatment is required for hiccups. Individuals who experience this problem frequently can pay attention to whether they are exposed to the above-mentioned conditions that cause hiccups, and they can take precautions accordingly. In some people, hiccups may appear as a seizure and continue intermittently or uninterruptedly for days. There may be an underlying neurological disorder. Therefore, health institutions should be consulted.
This type of hiccup, which is rare, is more common in men than women. In such patients, some drug treatments are usually administered by physicians. The most common health problem where hiccups are seen as a symptom is gastroesophageal reflux disease. In this disease, stomach acid escaping from the stomach into the esophagus causes irritation and damage, often leading to hiccups.
Antacid drugs and less frequent feeding techniques can be used for this condition, which is one of the common causes of hiccups, which is very common in babies.
The choice of foods included in the nutrition plan is also very important in hiccups due to stomach diseases in adults. Avoidance of acidic foods and beverages, quitting smoking or alcohol habits, not consuming very hot and very cold foods, avoiding spicy and spicy foods are among the practices that can help improve the hiccups problem.
If a different disease causing hiccups is detected, a disease-specific treatment plan should be determined.
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