Getting hiccups or Vikkal - Their causes, remedies etc!!
Do you get harmless but frustrating hiccups often?
An involuntary spasm of the diaphragm (a large muscle that separates abdomen and chest) is termed as hiccups. It must be noted that sudden closure of glottis could lead to hiccups and this is often revealed by a gulping sound.
There are some common reasons for getting hiccups and these are
Daily habits:
It must be taken into note that by eating fast or overeating or eating spicy foods our diaphragm would get irritated. This can lead to hiccups.
Sudden changes in temperature:
We can get hiccups if we suddenly change from hot teat to chilled water. The nerves linked to diaphragm would get stimulated by this. This can lead to spasms.
Excitement & stress:
Our nervous system can get over-stimulated when w e feel anxious, stressed or even in excitement etc. This can lead to hiccups in us.
Metabolic issues:
There are also possibilities of getting chronic hiccups due to kidney disease or dye to electrolyte imbalance etc.
Medical conditions:
There are chances of getting chronic hiccups when we have GI disorders, injury to nerves, strokes, encephalitis etc. Lung conditions like pulmonary embolism pneumonia etc can also cause chronic hiccups.
Length of hiccups:
It is worthy to note that most hiccups would be there for some minutes. No treatment is needed for this. Sometimes, hiccups would be present in us for hours or even days tighter. This is serious and must be treated without fail. In such a situation, it is necessary to visit a gastroenterologist or a doctor compulsorily.
Home remedies for hiccups:
By holding breath:
In the first step, we must inhale deeply and next we must hold the breath for 10 to 20 seconds. By this, carbon dioxide would get increased in the lungs and diaphragm would get relaxed. Hiccups would not be there
Vagus nerve would get stimulated by sipping cold water slowly. This would further cause the diaphragm to relax.
By pulling knees to chest and leaning forward:
Diaphragm would get relaxed by pulling knees towards the chest. This would stop hiccups.
By gargling with ice water:
Nerves in the throat would get stimulated by doing this. This would disrupt the hiccup cycle.
By biting a lemon:
Taste receptors would get activated due to sourness of the lemon and this would stop hiccups from coming.
By eating peanut butter:
Not many would know that eating peanut butter can also stop hiccups from happening. Truth is that sticky texture would make us focus on swallowing. Breathing would get altered.
By gentle burping etc:
When we swallow air, we could get hiccups. We could get relief by releasing the air. Therefore, this is also an important and effective remedy.
