Hiccups

Hiccups – General Information

Hiccups are considered conditions characterized by involuntary spasms of the patient’s diaphragm. Usually, these spasms repeat several times a minute. In most cases a sudden rush of air that gets in the patient’s lungs and makes the epiglottis close. In this way, the condition’s “hic” sound is created. Generally, these symptoms go away on itself without medical intervention, but there are cases in which the individual can apply several home remedies and medication that can short the duration. The medical term of the symptom that is caused by the condition is singultus. Most of the Hiccups conditions appear spontaneously, but sometimes it can develop in certain situations, such as eating too quickly, taking a cold drink while eating a warm product, belching, eating very spicy or hot food, laughing or coughing, drinking alcoholic products in excess, crying, smoking situations caused by an abnormal inhalation, such as tobacco and cannabis, electrolyte imbalance, talking too much, and a lack of nutrients. Generally, Hiccups are caused by pressure to the patient’s phrenic or vagus nerve by other parts of his body, or even tumors and specific kidney affections. The condition can also appear as a side effect of the medication therapies applied for other disorders. There are also cases in which the condition developed from other metabolic diseases that affect the patient’s kidneys, or developed from surgery, because general anesthesia and following complications can cause an intractable form of the condition. It is important to treat the condition in an early stage to prevent complications.

Hiccups – Symptoms

There are two forms of this condition-Hiccups, each one caused by certain factors, and can include acute or transient and persistent or intractable forms. The acute form of the condition is usually triggered by the following factors: eating spicy foods, causing irritation to the nerves that control the diaphragm contractions, drinking carbonated products, causing the distension of the patient’s stomach, drinking alcohol, which relax the diaphragm and vocal cords, sudden temperature changes, either inside or outside the patient’s body, tobacco use, which irritate the nerves, and sudden excitement or emotional stress, affecting the vagus nerves. The persistent form of the condition usually lasts for more than 48 hours, and can be triggered by the following factors: nerve damage or irritation, usually the vagus and phrenic nerves, which is the most common cause of the condition, central nervous system disorders, such as tumors or infection in the system, metabolic disorders, that affect the patient’s kidneys, surgery, the use of general anesthesia, and emotional factors such as anxiety, stress and excitement. The most common symptom of the condition is the hiccup sound, which is usually preceded by a tightening sensation in the chest, abdomen or throat. In most of the cases, the symptoms last for few minutes, or there are more severe cases in which the symptoms can last for more than two days. The severity and length of the Hiccups condition’s signs and symptoms depend on the form of the condition the patient is suffering from and the risk factor that caused it.

Hiccups – Treatment

The Hiccups are a common disorder, but when it lasts for more than 48 hours, the doctor must perform a physical exam and talk to the patient about his medical history. There are cases in which the doctor can find out other more severe diseases that have caused the condition. To confirm the presence of other disorders the doctor can perform blood tests, in which he takes a sample of blood to reveal the infection, metabolic diseases or tumor, chest X-rays, which help detecting the abnormalities that affect the vagus nerve, phrenic nerve or diaphragm, ear exam, in which he exams the patient’s external ear canal for foreign substances that can cause the disease, and fluoroscopy, which is a type of X-ray which uses weak radiation to produce images of a area of the patient’s body in motion. This kind of procedure can be unilateral and bilateral, depending on the part of the patient’s diaphragm has been affected by Hiccups. This procedure is also used to discover other diseases. If the risk factor that caused the disease remains unclear after applying one of these tests, the doctor can perform some additional tests, depending on the patient condition. In most of the cases, the Hiccups condition disappears on its own only after few weeks, without any medical treatment. There are also some cases in which the condition has developed from another disorder and the treatment for that underlying condition can lead to the curing of the condition. If the patient’s medical condition is intractable and persistent the doctor can recommend medications, carotid sinus massage and the use of nasogastric tube. There are many available medications that can be used to treat Hiccups – they have proved to be very effective. The most common medication that the doctor uses to treat the condition is chlorpromazine, prescribed as Thorazine. Doctors can use many other medications such as metoclopramide, prescribed as Reglan, which, in some cases, is more effective than chlorpromazine. There are cases in which the patient’s condition is advanced and the common medicines that are applied are anticonvulsants, benzodiazepines and baclofen, prescribed as Lioresal. Another way to treat Hiccups is the carotid sinus massage. Generally, the carotid sinus is located in the patient’s neck, just below his jaw and above the point where the carotid artery, the type of blood vessel that supplies the patient’s brain with blood, divides into two main branches. The massage of this sinus can cure the condition. This kind of procedure must be done only by specialized doctors. It is contraindicated to apply carotid sinus massage at home because it can be dangerous. To treat the condition, doctors can use nasogastric tubes. If the patient’s stomach is distended, the health care provider inserts a thin, flexible tube through the patient’s nose and into his stomach to stop the condition to provide relief from stomach distention. In almost all the cases, the tube is removed after the condition has been eliminated. In rare cases, doctors can apply and injection to block the patient’s phrenic nerve.

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Hiccups

Hiccups – General Information

Hiccups – Symptoms

Hiccups – Treatment

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