Quite often, hiccups overtake us at the most inopportune moment, and even not so easily pass. Many people care not only about where it comes from, but also how one can fight hiccups. Indeed, situations often happen in life when it does not come in handy and you need to urgently do something with it. In the article, we will find out how to cope with a long hiccup in an adult and answer many questions that have long been of interest to readers on this topic.
What is hiccups
If you look at this phenomenon from a scientific point of view, then hiccups are simply reductions in the diaphragm in the form of pushes. The larynx narrows and the glottis closes completely, and as a result, the air intake is blocked.
It is difficult to talk about the exact causes of its occurrence, but there are suggestions that this is due to digestive disorders. And hiccups are observed during neurosis. Often hiccups go away on their own and do not require any additional actions from the person. But if it drags on and does not go away for a very long time, then this is a signal of the presence of serious problems in the body. You should immediately contact a specialist with this. Long-term hiccups more often occur in the male population. If it is repeated throughout the month every day, then such a hiccup can be called chronic.
Causes of Hiccups
As already mentioned, it is impossible to say exactly why hiccups arose, but there are some conditions and conditions of the body that lead to its occurrence:
- The phrenic nerve is located near the esophagus, due to the use of hot food, it can be irritated and as a result, a person begins to hiccup.
- You may notice that if you eat too much, then the problem will not take long.
- You should not eat too fast, as this also leads to the fact that you begin to hiccup.
- Sudden changes in temperature tend to cause hiccups.
- Carbonated drinks quite often cause hiccups in humans.
- Eating too spicy food, as well as a dry man, cause such a reaction of the body.
- Drinking alcohol as well as certain medications can cause a hiccup attack.
Diseases that cause hiccups
There are a number of diseases that have hiccups among their symptoms and side effects:
- In the first place are various diseases of the gastrointestinal tract.
- Such diseases of the respiratory tract as pneumonia, asthma, pleurisy.
- Diseases that affect the central nervous system of a person.
- The usual psychological reaction to a particular event can cause hiccups.
- Diseases that affect the body's metabolism.
Hiccup Complications
Too long and frequent attacks of hiccups cause some complications, which should also be known:
- If little time passes between hiccups, it becomes difficult for a person to eat food and as a result, he loses weight.
- Insomnia may occur if seizures occur too often.
- Speech may be difficult.
- Some patients have developed depression with hiccups often bothering them and they cannot live normal lives.
- Hiccup is dangerous for people who have recently undergone surgery because it interferes with the healing of sutures.
Hiccups in a newborn
Quite often hiccups occur in young children, and mothers are very concerned about the question of how to help a newborn cope with hiccups. First of all, it is worth noting why it occurs in babies. The reason may be the thirst of the child, or perhaps he was a little frozen. Quite often in infants, hiccups occur after feeding. This indicates that too much air got into the body during the ingestion of milk. Something can frighten a child very much, and because of this, he may begin to hiccup. Children who overeat begin to hiccup. Usually hiccups at this age go away on their own and do not last more than fifteen minutes. But if the attacks are too frequent and long, then this is an occasion to go to the pediatrician for an examination.
How to get rid
How to cope with hiccups in a newborn? First of all, it is worthwhile to find out the cause of its occurrence and after that quickly remove it. For example, if the baby hiccups after feeding, then it is worth while to reproach him with a “column” so that all the air can calmly exit the ventricle. Give your child a drink of water, maybe he is just thirsty. Feel the baby's arms and legs, and if they are cold, the baby will freeze. He needs to be covered or dressed warmer. Remove all annoying factors, provide the baby with peace, it is not necessary that bright eyes get into his eyes or music sounds loudly. This can scare the newborn.
How to quickly deal with hiccups
There are many ways to get rid of an unexpected attack of hiccups, but here are the five methods that doctors have stopped:
- You should drink a glass of clean water without gas. You need to drink slowly, in small sips. Now this method has been improved a bit and it is recommended to lean forward a little while drinking.
- Also, to get rid of hiccups, experts recommend eating something sour or bitter. It may be a slice of lemon. When something like this enters the digestive system, the spasm is quickly removed.
- Another good way is to pour a little sugar in the middle of the tongue and swallow it quickly.
- You can try to rely on reflexes. One finger is placed in the mouth in such a way as if you want to induce vomiting, but do not take it to extremes. So the rhythm of urges is interrupted.
- And the last way - you just have to hold on to the tongue. It is enough to stick out the tongue for a few seconds and gently pull it with your fingers. Hiccups should quickly leave you from these actions.
ethnoscience
But here is what traditional medicine says about how to deal with hiccups in an adult:
- Half a tablespoon of mustard should be mixed with a little table vinegar. The resulting mixture is lubricated with half of the tongue, and after a few minutes, the hiccups disappear. It is recommended to wash off the remains of mustard with warm water.
- With frequent urges, it is recommended to prepare an alcoholic tincture of hellebore or purchase it at a pharmacy and mix two drops with a teaspoon of water. Take every day at the first sign of hiccups.
- You can attach an ice cube to your throat or make a cold compress.
- If hiccups do not want to leave you at all, then you can put mustard plasters under the spoon.
- Traditional medicine also advises adding a teaspoon of vinegar to a glass of water and drinking liquid quickly.
Conclusion
As you can see, you can get rid of hiccups, but only if it does not pose any danger to the body. But if this phenomenon is observed too often, then you should consult a doctor so as not to get undesirable consequences. There are many ways to get rid of an attack of hiccups that doctors support and that have long existed among the people. You can try several of them and, choosing the most effective for yourself, always use it if necessary.