The cause of hiccups is a reflex arc. That is, the neuromotor pathway that turns a physical response into a sensation. The sensations in the reflex arc come from the throat, ear, nose, brain, diaphragm, abdominal organs and chest.
Sensory signals are sent to an area of the brain known as the hiccup center along with the upper spinal cord. From this area, the signals return to the diaphragm and the muscles between the ribs. As a result, the muscles begin to twitch. Due to the twitching of these muscles, we draw air into the lungs, and this sudden breathing causes the opening between the vocal cords to close tightly.
Anything that affects the reflex arc can cause hiccups. For example, swelling of the stomach due to a large meal or soft drinks. Hiccups can also occur due to smoking, eating hot peppers, and overstimulation.
If an attack of hiccups lasts less than 48 days, it will most likely go away on its own. In addition, there are ways to suppress hiccups. Valsava maneuver (holding the breath for a while by pinching the nose), drinking iced drinks, applying light pressure to the eyeball. But there is little scientific evidence that all these techniques work.
Hiccups that last for more than two days are called postural hiccups. And if the hiccups last for more than two months, then this is chronic hiccups. In this case, the person must already undergo a comprehensive examination.
News cannot be equated with a doctor’s prescription. Consult an expert before making a decision.
Source: Ferra
I am a professional journalist and content creator with extensive experience writing for news websites. I currently work as an author at Gadget Onus, where I specialize in covering hot news topics. My written pieces have been published on some of the biggest media outlets around the world, including The Guardian and BBC News.
