If we think about the typical drunk in comedy films, hiccups You can’t miss it. It may even have happened to us at some point when we drank too much. However drunken hiccups It is not as common as it is portrayed in parodies, and for this reason it has not been studied in depth.
They explain this in Living Sciencein an article about which they consulted a doctor George Koob, director of the US National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. He told them two possible hypotheses for the origin of a drunken person’s hiccups.
These are different hypotheses that affect different organs. But there is a coincidence in both excessive muscle relaxation upper half of the body. In one case it is the diaphragm, and in the other a ring separating the esophagus from the stomach. It may also be due to previous conditions that affected them. liver or pancreas. But these will be exceptional cases. In general, let’s figure out how drunken hiccups can occur.
Muscles and hiccups of a drunk
Alcohol contained in alcoholic beverages ethanol. It is known that this can interrupt normal flow of nerve signals. These signs include Electrical impulses Whereby muscles contract and relax. Therefore, although there are no comprehensive studies, much less in humans, it is believed that this may be the cause of drunken hiccups.
For example, in studies conducted on rats, it was found that ethanol interferes with the transmission of signals in diaphragm. This is the muscle that separates the chest cavity from the abdominal cavity. It is responsible for the movements that we make with the chest when we inhale and release air.
This occurs during normal muscle contraction and relaxation. However, if nerve impulses are altered, sudden spasms of the diaphragmwhich cause sudden closure vocal cords and at the same time a characteristic “hip” sound.
What does esophageal reflux have to do with it?
People with esophageal reflux Their symptoms usually include hiccups. This phenomenon occurs when stomach acids mistakenly move upward, filling the esophagus and causing nausea. chest burning and nausea.
This usually does not happen because there is a ring of muscles called esophageal sphincter, which separates the stomach from the esophagus and closes, preventing acids from leaving the stomach. However, ethanol can relax this muscle, causing esophageal reflux and with it drunken hiccups.
It makes sense that this would occur in the majority of people who typically have esophageal reflux. But this can also happen to those who I’ve never suffered from thisjust for drinking.
It’s not serious to feel the hiccups alone after drinking a little alcohol. However, if this becomes too common, it is best to see a doctor. Although one thing is clear: the best way to prevent this is not to drink. Avoiding hiccups while drunk is one of the many benefits of quitting the habit. This could be a good New Year’s resolution.
Source: Hiper Textual
