What are Hiccups? What Causes Hiccups?

Hiccups, also known as hiccough, synchronous diaphragmatic flutter, or singultus is a common condition that affects nearly every human. A hiccup is an involuntary esophageal contraction of the diaphragm that happens multiple times every minute. The diaphragm is the skeletal muscle that separates the chest from the abdomen and is what enables us to breathe. When the diaphragm involuntarily contracts quickly, it creates a sudden rush of air into the lungs and causes the epiglottis to close, thus making the hic sound. The epiglottis is an elastic flap of tissue that is made of cartilage, which is covered with a mucus membrane and is attached at the root of the tongue.

A hiccup is an involuntary action involving a reflex arc, which is the neural pathway that controls reflex reactions. Experts agree that hiccups really have no purpose; they just happen.

Most of the time hiccups will go away on their own, without and medical interaction. According to the Mayo Clinic, USA, about 1 out of every 100,000 cases of hiccups may persist for months. These severe cases of hiccups are categorized into two types: persistent (protracted) hiccups and intractable hiccups. Persistent hiccups last 48 hours, but no more than one month, while intractable hiccups persist for longer than one month. Short-term hiccups affect both males and females equally. However, persistent hiccups tend to affect males more.

Hiccups may occur after eating a lot, consuming alcohol, experiencing sudden excitement, malnutrition, or exhaustion. They are very rarely seen as a symptom of some underlying medical condition.

I was interested in this article because I have always been curious about what causes hiccups. Also, I always thought it’d be interesting to know this answer, about what hiccups are. I never knew that a hiccup was just caused from the reflex nerve causing your diaphragm to involuntarily contract.

Andrew Janicki - VTPP 434 – 502

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/181573.php