What is Hiccups
What is hiccups is a condition that occurs as a result of sudden contraction of the diaphragm muscle located in the lower part of the lungs.
Why Hiccups Happen
The answer to the question of why hiccups occur does not actually depend on a single cause. Many conditions can cause hiccups. The main condition that causes hiccups is the contraction of the diaphragm muscle with the release of hormones that stimulate the diaphragm muscle. Situations that cause this condition are usually;
- Stress
- Concern
- Anxiety
- Unexpected emotional changes
- It is a kind of adaptation process of the body as a result of the reaction to sudden situations.
- Consumption of carbonated drinks
- Too much alcohol consumption
- Eating more food than your stomach can hold
It is not known exactly why the diaphragm muscle, which facilitates breathing, contracts and causes hiccups. Most of the time, hiccups start spontaneously and pass spontaneously without the need for intervention. Usually hiccups can last for a few minutes or up to 1 hour. However, in cases exceeding two hours, it may be necessary to consult a specialist physician. When a specialist is consulted with the complaint of hiccups, he/she takes the clinical history of the patient and then performs a physical examination while listening to the clinical history of the patient, and thus examines the external auditory canal, eardrum, neck and head area, for example, whether there is an infection anywhere. The thyroid, neurological examination and abdominal area should also be examined in detail. After all examination procedures are completed, a detailed examination is ordered. Blood tests, i.e. laboratory tests and radiological imaging are used in the detailed examination. Detailed tests are required to make a clear diagnosis.
Hiccup complaint is usually divided into 3 groups within itself
- Hiccups lasting less than 48 hours or persisting during this period
- hiccups that last for 48 hours-1 month, which we call perstan
- Persistent hiccups lasting over 1 month
How to Pass Hiccups, How to Pass Baby Hiccups
How the hiccups pass;
How to get rid of hiccups in adults
- You can drink a glass of water, which can help with the contractions caused by the air cavity.
- Holding your breath: Holding your breath can help to relieve hiccups as it can intervene instantly in sudden contractions.
- Breathing into an object such as a paper bag can also be useful.
- Sneezing also helps to relieve hiccups.
- Eating a candy or a hard piece of bread can also help to relieve hiccups.
- Pulling the tongue out and eating lemon also helps to pass the hiccups.
How hiccups pass in babies;
- Breastfeeding the baby when the baby hiccups and massaging the baby's back by holding the baby in an upright position when breastfeeding is over will help the baby's hiccups to pass.
- To ensure that the baby does not drink a lot of milk at once, to ensure that the baby drinks milk frequently and little by little.
- If the baby has started supplementary food, that is, if the baby has completed the 6th month, some water can also be given.
- If it is necessary to make sure that the baby is calm for the baby's hiccups to pass, the baby's back can be massaged in a slightly upright position to calm it down.
- It is useful to see a specialist physician in case of prolonged and persistent hiccups.