Hiccups

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Medical Author: John P. Cunha, DO, FACOEP
Medical Editor: Melissa Conrad Stöppler, MD

• What are hiccups?
• What causes hiccups?
• What are the symptoms of hiccups?
• When should I contact my doctor for hiccups?
• How are hiccups diagnosed?
• What is the treatment for hiccups?
• Are there any complications of hiccups?
• Can hiccups be prevented?
• Hiccups At A Glance

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:
  
  
  • medications for acid reflux
    
    
  • Most benzodiazepines, including diazepam (Valium), alprazolam (Xanax), and lorazepam (Ativan)
    
    
  • levodopa, nicotine, and ondansetron (Zofran)
    
    
• Noxious fumes can also trigger hiccups.

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