Hiccups

Hiccups

Definition of Hiccups

Hiccup or singultus is a common condition that can be experienced by everyone, from infants to adults. A condition characterized by the sound of “hic” This occurs when the diaphragm, or membrane of the muscle that separates the chest cavity and abdominal cavity, contraction. Each contraction of the organ that plays a critical role in the breathing will cause the vocal cords to close suddenly so as to produce a distinctive sound hiccups.

Trigger hiccups

Most hiccup short lived or only a few minutes. This is normal and nothing to worry about. This brief hiccup allegedly triggered by several things, including as a result of:

1. hot drinks
2. Soft drink
3. Alcoholic beverages
4. Eating spicy foods
5. Eating too fast
6. Smoke
7. Stress, fear, or joy
8. Abdominal bloating

But in some cases, hiccups also there can be long, ie more than two days. Usually this kind of hiccups caused by health problems or underlying conditions, such as:

1. Metabolic disorders, such as hypoglycemia, hyperglycemia, and diabetes.
2. Vagus nerve disorders, for example as a result of meningitis, pharyngitis, and mumps.
3. Nervous system disorders, such as severe injury to the brain, brain tissue inflammation or encephalitis, tumors, and stroke.
4. Respiratory disorders, such as disease pleurisy, pneumonia, and asthma.
5. Psychological reactions, such as stress, joy, sadness, fear, or shock.
6. Gastrointestinal disorders, such as intestinal obstruction, colitis, and gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Hiccups lasting can also be caused by the consumption of drugs.

1. The chemotherapy drugs for cancer treatment.
2. Drugs known as opioids or pain reliever, such as methadone and morphine.
3. Benzodiazepines or sedative to treat anxiety.
4. Preoperative anesthesia or drugs.
5. Methyldopa, a drug for hypertension.
6. Barbiturates, ie drugs to prevent seizures.
7. Corticosteroids, the drug used to treat swelling and inflammation

See your doctor if you had the hiccups for more than two days. It is feared that prolonged hiccups are a symptom that you are suffering from a serious condition.

Diagnosis hiccups

In diagnosing the hiccups that lasted a long time, a number of tests may be performed by physicians, among them:

1. Endoscopy. Examination using a small hose equipped with lights and cameras do if hiccup allegedly associated with digestive disorders, diseases such as stomach acid or gastroesophageal reflux (GERD)
2. The electrocardiogram (ECG). Examination by measuring electrical activity in the heart is done if hiccup allegedly associated with heart problems.
3. X-ray scanning, scanning with computed tomography or CT scan, and magnetic resonance scanning or MRI. One of the three scanning can be done if the doctor suspects a hiccup caused by infections or tumors.
4. Blood tests. This test is done if the hiccups thought to be caused by impaired liver, kidney, or diabetes.

Treatment of hiccups

If hiccups not caused by an underlying condition or reaction to drugs, then the hiccups will usually subside by themselves without medication. There are several ways you can do to help stop hiccups faster, although these methods have not been medically proven.

1. Make facedown to press your chest to the floor.
2. Lying or sitting, pulling your knees up to your chest.
3. Breathe in the bag made of paper.
4. Vinegar taste.
5. Swallowing sugar.
6. Lemon bite.
7. Holding his breath in a relatively short time.
8. Drinking cold water slowly.

If the hiccups are caused by a health problem or as a result of reaction of drugs consumed, the hiccups will be discontinued after these things resolved. For example, if asthma causes hiccups, then the asthma should be addressed first. If hiccups caused by the use of a drug reaction, then the doctor may adjust the dose of the drug or even replace it with another drug that does not cause side effects hiccup.
Treatment of hiccups which has no known cause
If hiccups longstanding and has no known cause, although the checks have been carried out, then there are several types of drugs that can be used to overcome the hiccups, among them:

1. gabapentin
2. metoclopramide
3. baclofen
4. haloperidol
5. chlorpromazine

Check with hiccups you experience if it does not improve within 48 hours.