When the diaphragm involuntary spasmodically contracts and the vocal cords rapidly close then a hiccup occurs. In general, individuals experience the hiccups for several minutes to several hours, but rarely as long as a couple days. However, there are some individuals who experience chronic hiccups and these hiccups last for long periods of time. Some claim that hiccups that last from two days to one month are persistent and any episode that lasts longer than a month is considered chronic. Historically, the longest episode of hiccups was 60 years.
In some cases, individuals who are experiencing chronic hiccups may have them because of another type of medical problem. For example, some people who have alcoholism, pneumonia, uremia, diaphragm pleurisy, bowel diseases and stomach or esophagus disorders may experience chronic hiccups. Pregnancy, pancreatitis, liver cancer, bladder irritation, and/or hepatitis may also cause extended hiccups. In some others, lesions, surgery, and tumors could be the cause.
Treatment
Treatment of chronic hiccups can be quite complicated and doctors should first investigate to determine if the hiccups are caused by an underlying medical condition. When this is not the cause other types of remedies may help. For example, some individuals find that holding their breath for a period of time helps to increase the amount of carbon dioxide in the blood thereby decreasing the vagus nerve’s sensitivity. This nerve controls part of the diaphragm and by deactivating it to some degree the hiccups may stop.
Other individuals may try taking a spoonful of sugar. Whether this works or not depends on the person and is not likely to help chronic hiccups, but it’s worth a try.
Another remedy that is considered popular for hiccups include drinking a glass of very cold water very slowly. The rapid change in temperature may be enough to cause the esophagus to relax and stop the hiccups altogether.
Some people try pulling their tongue to get their hiccups to disappear. Others try to tickle the roof of their mouth or the back of their throat. Whatever method you try be sure to keep in mind that most cases of the hiccups pass on their own in a period of time. Anyone who has had chronic hiccups has probably tried all of these methods at least five times each with no results. IN this case, the individual needs to make an appointment with their doctor to get to the root of the problem.
March 13th, 2010 at 10:23 am
Hi, I have hiccups for the past 6 days on and of but they keep happening every day, because normally you have them and soon they go right, well I have them and then I dont because I may hiccup a few times then not at all and this has been happening like I said for the past 6 days. What should do go to the doctors or leave it and see if they go on there own.
May 17th, 2010 at 11:09 am
Hi My father (Gary) has had the hiccups 10 years now everyday! Doctors have tried just about everything. What is causing this and what can he do to get them to stop?