Causes of Hiccups

This article dwells on the causes of hiccups in adults as well as in infants and toddlers. In adults one of the main causes of hiccups is eating too fast, while in infants it's swallowing air while feeding. Read on to know more.

We all have hiccups bothering us on and off. Though we've experienced them all our life and even know some simple measures to quickly get rid of them, we've never really bothered to find out what exactly causes hiccups. Have we ever been bothered by the curiosity to know why we keep jerking and making weird sounds called hiccups. Let's find out what are the causes of hiccups and how do they come about.

What are Hiccups - How Do they Occur?

The dome muscular sheet present below the chest is responsible for these bouts of hiccups that we face. Normally when the diaphragm contracts, air is drawn into the lungs, whereas, when it relaxes air is pushed out. Sometimes, when this diaphragm gets irritated and involuntarily contracts suddenly, an abrupt gulp of air to rush into the trachea. The vocal cords are quickly snapped shut, thereby trapping the air gulped. This sudden snapping of vocal cords is what causes the 'hiccup sound' that we are all quite familiar with. This is the most common theory prevailing about how hiccups occur, however, there is little scientific evidence to back it. Thus, causes of hiccups in infants, children and adults have been quite disputed upon. Read more on what causes hiccups.

Causes of Hiccups in Adults

Hiccups can be caused by any of the below mentioned conditions. The causes of hiccups in adults are:

Eating a lot of fatty foods

Drinking lots of fizzy or carbonated drinks

Eating spicy food

Overeating

Stress

Indigestion

Pregnancy

Excessive smoking

Excessive alcohol consumption

Irritation in the throat or stomach

Sudden anxiety, nervousness or excitement

Eating something cold and hot one after the other

Causes of Hiccups in Babies and Toddlers

Newborns have hiccups far more often than we adults do. However, this common occurrence of hiccups does not seem to bother the baby. Babies swallow a large amount of air while feeding and usually take it in their stride and do not get troubled by it. Hiccups are harmless provided they do not occur persistently. If you find that your baby has hiccups while feeding, don't stop feeding. There is no danger of milk entering the wind pipe, because the epiglottis will cover the opening of the wind pipe. Thus, causes of hiccups in newborns and its occurrence is not something of grave concern. It's a common issue. Read more on what causes hiccups in infants.

If you find that your baby is having hiccups, the best remedy would be to wrap your child in swaddles, pick him or her up and rock for some time. Patting your baby on the back and stroking her head on and off helps comfort the baby. The hiccups will disappear as soon as the swallowed air gets absorbed into the body system. If you find your baby is having unusually large number of hiccups, make sure you meet the pediatrician. Read more on hiccups in newborns.

As infants grow older, their tolerance level to hiccups reduces. Consumption of carbonated drinks and over eating are also causes of hiccups in children. Though you cannot try any particular home remedies to reduce hiccups for babies, for older children you can try out some remedies like asking them to eat peanut butter, drink water, hold their breath, etc. Read more on hiccups in babies.

Home Remedies for Hiccups

Though hiccups mostly last only for a few minutes, they are also times when it is observed that hiccups have lasted for a few hours to few days. There are several cures for hiccups that people use, to get rid of these annoying hiccups. Let's have a look at some ways to cure hiccups.

Hold your breath and count one to ten.

Recite the alphabet in reverse order.

Place sugar under the tongue.

Have somebody startle the person suddenly.

Concentrate on something complicated.

Eat something hard to swallow.

Eat a spoon of jam, honey or hot sauce.

Use smelling salts.

The above mentioned remedies usually get rid of the hiccups, however, if the hiccup does not subside and its intensity is severe, then it is important to consult the doctor. He will administer muscle relaxants, anti-convulsive drugs, sedatives, etc. to stop the hiccups. He may even place a rubber suction into the nose to stimulate the pharynx.

Read more on:

What Causes Hiccups and How to Get Rid of Them

How to Get Rid of Hiccups

Hiccup Remedies That Work

After reading the causes of hiccups, we now realize why we've been told to eat slowly and chew our food properly. So next time you eat, make sure you eat more of food and swallow less of air!