Hiccups
Medical Author: John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP
Medical Editor: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD
What are hiccups?
A hiccup is a sudden, involuntary contraction (spasm) of the
diaphragm muscle. When the muscle spasms, the vocal cords snap shut, producing the hiccup
sound.
Hiccups are often rhythmic. They are usually just a temporary minor
annoyance, but prolonged hiccups may signal a major medical problem.
What causes hiccups?
Most of the time, there is no obvious cause for hiccups. However, there are
some common known causes of hiccups.
Some causes of hiccups include:
- Eating too quickly and swallowing air along with foods.
- Eating too much (fatty or spicy foods, in
particular) or drinking too much (carbonated beverages or alcohol) can distend
the stomach and irritate
the diaphragm, which can cause hiccups.
- Any disease or disorder that irritates the nerves that control the diaphragm
(such as liver disease,
pneumonia, or other lung
disorders).
- Abdominal surgery can also irritate the nerves that control the diaphragm,
causing hiccups.
- Strokes or
brain tumors involving the
brain stem, and some
chronic medical disorders (such as
renal failure) have also been reported to cause hiccups.
- Some medications may also have hiccups as a side effect, for example:
- Noxious fumes can also trigger hiccups.
Next: What are the symptoms of hiccups? »
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Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD, Heartburn) »
What is GERD (acid reflux)?Gastroesophageal reflux disease, commonly referred to as GERD or acid reflux, is a condition in which the liquid content of the stomach regurgitates (backs up or refluxes) into the esophagus. The liquid can inflame and damage the lining (cause, cause esophagitis) of the esophagus although visible signs of inflammation occur in a minority of patients. The regurgitated liquid usually contains acid and pepsin that are produced by the stomach. (Pepsin is an enzyme that begins the digestion of proteins in the stomach.) The refluxed liquid also may contain bile that has backed-up into the stomach from the duodenum. (The duodenum is the first part of the small intestine that attaches to the stomach.) Acid is believed to be the most injurious component of the refluxed liquid. Pepsin and bile also may injure the esophagus, but their role in the production of esophageal inflammation and damage is not as clear as the role of acid.
GERD is a chronic c...
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