It always happens at the most inconvenient moment. One second, you’re in the middle of a conversation, and then suddenly…hic. And again. Hic. Your friend can’t help but laugh as you respond with a pointed glare. Hic.
For most people, hiccups are an occasional, but incredibly irritating experience. The spasms result from an involuntary contraction of the diaphragm, a muscle located below the lungs that is essential to normal breathing. This contraction, caused by irritation to the nerves controlling the muscle, is followed by a sudden, temporary closure of the vocal cords—hence, the infamous “hic” sound.
Hiccups often start unexpectedly and without reason; however, there are some situations that can trigger the spasms to occur. Consuming too much alcohol or carbonated beverages, or swallowing air when chewing food are common culprits. During your next meal, you can prevent hiccups by skipping the soda and avoiding eating too quickly. Other less common triggers of hiccups include recent abdominal surgery, diseases that affect the diaphragm, and stroke.
The duration of hiccups can vary, but hiccups tend to subside after a few minutes. However, if your hiccups are bothersome and won’t go away naturally, there are many potential ways to get rid of them. Common suggestions include slowly sipping a glass of water or holding your breath. Breathing into a paper bag and eating a spoonful of sugar also appear to be good solutions. These tactics are based on the notion that a secondary sensation of some kind can interrupt the spasm of the nerves causing the hiccups. As a general rule of thumb, hiccups are nothing to worry about unless they last for more than several days. If they persist, the hiccups may be a sign of something more serious, such as nerve damage, a central nervous system disorder, or a metabolic disorder.
Despite the annoyance of hiccups, the important thing to remember is that for the most part, they are completely harmless. If you find yourself afraid to open your mouth because of that dreaded “hic”, give some of the aforementioned techniques a shot. The sooner you find what works for you, the sooner you’ll be free to return to your conversation without being interrupted by those pesky hiccups.
Feature Image Source: A Thirst by Kate Dreyer
