Frequent hiccups causes and treatment. Medicines for the treatment of hiccups in pregnant women. What disease can hiccups be a sign of?

Hiccups are involuntary, sharp, consecutive breaths, accompanied by a characteristic sound. Hiccups may be physiological and not require special treatment. Or it can be pathological, that is, a symptom of a serious illness.

Hiccups - what is it, its classification

Hiccups are a special inhalation caused by clonic spasms of the diaphragm with simultaneous contraction of the intercostal and laryngeal muscles. This breath occurs involuntarily, sharply and stereotypically repeated. Hiccups are accompanied by a jerky protrusion of the abdomen and a characteristic sound. Its source is the glottis narrowed and blocked by the epiglottis.

Based on duration, hiccups are divided into:

• short-term or episodic - lasts no more than 15 minutes;
• persistent - lasts from several hours to 2 days;
• intractable - can last 1-2 months or more. Sometimes hiccups that do not go away for two or more days (up to 2 months) are called persistent hiccups. And lasting more than two months - persistent or insoluble.

Episodic hiccups in the vast majority of cases are physiological. Intractable and persistent are forms of pathological hiccups, which are characterized by frequent relapses that debilitate the patient and change him psychological condition. Pathological hiccups are an indication for a thorough examination of the patient in order to determine the causes and mechanisms of its occurrence.

Hiccups are a rather unpleasant phenomenon due to its suddenness and uncontrollability. Especially if it occurs in situations where a person needs to talk, eat or perform physical work. Uncontrollable hiccups can cause neurosis, depression, insomnia, dehydration, sharp decline body weight, cardiac arrhythmia and even social, including professional, failure.

At the moment of hiccups, the glottis closes, closes the epiglottis, and air practically stops flowing into the lungs. If hiccups are short-lived, it does not affect a person’s health in any way. With persistent and intractable hiccups, the patient may suffer from suffocation.

Men hiccup much more often than women, and their number is constantly growing. severe attacks hiccups, the causes of which cannot be identified even with a comprehensive examination.

Hiccups by themselves cannot lead to death. But it could be a symptom dangerous disease, which if untimely diagnosed and untreated can be fatal.

Causes of hiccups

The causes of short-term physiological hiccups are as follows:

• general hypothermia of the body;
• incorrect posture while eating;
• hasty eating;
• binge eating;
• eating excessively spicy, salty, hot or cold foods, as well as dry and hard foods;
• fear, fright;
• alcohol abuse;
• drinking carbonated drinks;
• laughter;
• side effect certain medications, such as anesthetics;
• long-term use some painkillers may cause allergic reaction, manifested by hiccups.

Physiological hiccups, from a medical point of view, are an attempt by the body to push out the air accumulated in the stomach and regulate the digestion process in it. Air enters the stomach during eating, breathing and talking. An air bubble reduces the useful volume of the stomach, which can be filled with food, bloats, overstretches it and interferes with normal digestion.

Physiological hiccups do not require special treatment. To cope with it, it is often enough to eliminate the cause of the disease: warm the person, exclude carbonated drinks from the diet, adjust the diet, etc.

Pathological hiccups (persistent and intractable), depending on the cause that caused it, are divided into three types (described below).

The first type is central hiccups. It is caused by diseases that occur with damage to the spinal cord or brain, namely:

• injuries with cerebral hemorrhages;
• tumors;
• circulatory disorders (stroke);
• vascular damage (vasculitis, for example, with systemic lupus erythematosus, aneurysms);
• encephalitis;
• Parkinson's disease;
• epilepsy;
• meningitis;
• autoimmune diseases (multiple sclerosis, Devic's syndrome).

The second type is peripheral hiccups. It occurs in diseases and conditions accompanied by damage or irritation of the phrenic nerve, including:

• tumors of the mediastinum, esophagus, lungs;
• lymphogranulomatosis;
• sarcoidosis;
• respiratory diseases (pneumonia, bronchitis, laryngitis);
• diseases of the cardiovascular system (myocardial infarction, rhythm disturbances, for which implantation of a pacemaker is indicated);
• pathology of the gastrointestinal tract (hernia hiatus diaphragm, esophageal diverticulum, gastric ulcer and duodenum, tumors of the pancreas and stomach, pancreatitis, intestinal obstruction, subphrenic abscess and etc.).

A type of peripheral hiccup is referred hiccups. It occurs with pathology of organs located at a distance from the zones innervated by the phrenic nerve. Giardiasis, helminthiasis, pathology of the intestines, uterus, appendages - these and other diseases can cause referred hiccups.

The third type is toxic hiccups, which can be caused by the following diseases and conditions:

• violations electrolyte balance(hypokalemia, hypocalcemia);
• diabetes;
• severe forms infectious diseases;
• exposure to certain medications, namely: glucocorticosteroids, chemotherapeutic agents, antiparkinsonian drugs, morphine, azithromycin, anesthetics and drugs used in psychiatry;
• alcoholism;
• nicotine intoxication.

In addition, pathological hiccups can be of a psychogenic (neurogenic) nature, that is, develop on a nervous basis.

Diseases, one of the symptoms of which may be hiccups

Pathological hiccups - no characteristic feature any diseases, but it can help the doctor suspect in time serious illness, promptly begin examination and prescribe treatment.

Diseases and conditions that may be accompanied by painful, incessant hiccups:

Diseases of the central and peripheral nervous system:

• ischemic/hemorrhagic stroke;
• encephalitis;
• meningitis;
• epilepsy;
• brain tumors, including brain stem;
• spinal cord tumors;
• Parkinson's disease;
• traumatic brain injuries with intracranial hemorrhages;
• hydrocephalus;
• syringomyelia;
• neurosyphilis;
• brain abscess;
• arteriovenous malformation of cerebral vessels;
• cerebral aneurysms.

Autoimmune and other systemic diseases:

• systemic lupus erythematosus;
• Devic's syndrome;
• multiple sclerosis;
• sarcoidosis;
• giant cell temporal arteritis (Horton's disease).

Diseases of the abdominal organs:

• tumors of the pancreas, liver, stomach;
• subphrenic abscess;
• gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD);
• gastritis;
• pancreatitis;
• hepatitis;
• peptic ulcer of the stomach and duodenum;
• intestinal obstruction;
• pathology of the biliary tract;
• Crohn's disease;
• nonspecific ulcerative colitis.

Diseases of the chest and neck organs:

• tumors of the mediastinal organs (esophagus, trachea);
• lung tumors;
• thyroid tumors;
• cysts and other tumors of the neck;
• mediastinitis;
• pericarditis;
• esophagitis;
• pleural empyema;
• chest injury;
• hiatal hernia;
• esophageal diverticulum;
• myocardial infarction;
• aortic aneurysm;
• pulmonary embolism;
• pneumonia;
• bronchitis, laryngobronchitis;
• pleurisy.

Diseases of lymphoid tissue:

• lymphogranulomatosis (Hodgkin's disease);
• non-Hodgkin's lymphomas.

Diseases and conditions occurring with severe toxic-metabolic disorders:

• diabetes;
• chronic alcoholism;
• renal failure, uremia;
• herpes zoster;
• malaria;
• flu;
• tuberculosis;
• hypocalcemia;
• hyponatremia;
• hypokalemia.

Spinal diseases:

• hernia intervertebral disc;
• circulatory disorders in the vertebrobasilar system.

Conditions after surgical interventions under general anesthesia with intubation and other manipulations.

Features of hiccups in children, pregnant women and fetuses

Hiccups in a child at any age are usually physiological. It does not occur often, passes quickly enough and does not threaten health. You should contact your pediatrician if your child has hiccups frequently and attacks last up to an hour or more.

Newborns usually hiccup after feeding or vice versa when they are hungry or thirsty. Hiccups can occur if the baby is cold or frightened by some external irritant. To cope with an attack, it is enough to warm the baby, distract his attention, give him food/drink, or, if he has just eaten, hold him upright until the air leaves the stomach.

From the menu of a nursing mother it is necessary to exclude foods that cause increased formation of gases in the intestines. This will help prevent baby's bloating and hiccups. You should never force feed your newborn. He will indicate that he is hungry by worrying or crying. To avoid hypothermia or overheating of the baby in the children's room, the optimal temperature and humidity should be constantly maintained. You need to remove all external irritants from the house that could frighten your baby.

The causes of hiccups in older children are similar to those in adults.

Causes of hiccups in pregnant women:

• pressure of the growing uterus on the abdominal organs and on the diaphragm, respectively;
• excitement of the expectant mother;
• hypothermia;
• binge eating;
• uncomfortable body position of a pregnant woman.

Causes of hiccups in the fetus:

• ingestion of amniotic fluid, which occurs when thumb sucking;
• hiccuping, the child trains his muscles while massaging internal organs;
• hiccups maybe indirect sign intrauterine fetal hypoxia;
• By hiccupping, the baby reacts to changes in the mother’s mood, wanting to communicate with her and the world around her.

A woman can feel fetal hiccups starting from the 25-26th week of pregnancy.

Which specialist and when should you contact with complaints of hiccups?

Intractable hiccups do not indicate a temporary disorder, but a serious illness. Therefore, you need to consult a doctor in the following situations:

• an attack of hiccups does not go away for an hour or more;
• hiccups are accompanied by pain in the chest and back;
• hiccups combined with heartburn;
• hiccups are accompanied by coughing or drooling;
• attacks of hiccups occur regularly, several times a day.

Doctor's advice: If you suffer from pathological hiccups, do not hesitate to consult a physician. He will prescribe an examination for you and, if necessary, refer you for a consultation with specialized specialists (gastroenterologist, pulmonologist, surgeon, neurologist, etc.). The cause of hiccups can be a disease of the central nervous system, respiratory system, digestion, cardiovascular system, etc. A timely diagnosis is the key to successful treatment.

What tests can a doctor prescribe for hiccups?

For persistent and intractable hiccups, the doctor, in addition to questioning and examination, may prescribe additional tests to the patient, namely:

• clinical blood test;
• general analysis urine;
• biochemical research blood;
• blood test for electrolytes;
• spinal tap;
• X-ray of the skull;
• chest x-ray;
• radiography of the spine;
• bronchoscopy;
• Ultrasound of the neck, abdominal and pelvic organs;
• MRI and CT of the head, chest, abdominal cavity, pelvis;
• fibrogastroduodenoscopy (FGDS);
• angiography;
• electrocardiography (ECG);
• phonocardiography (PCG);
• echoencephalography (Echo-EG);
• electroencephalography (EEG), etc.

How to deal with hiccups

You can cope with hiccups on your own only if they are short-term and physiological in nature. Universal remedy There is no way to get rid of hiccups, but there are a huge variety of folk methods. All of them are based on holding and normalizing breathing, switching attention, changing activity vagus nerve, muscle relaxation, etc. Each person, through trial and error, can choose one method that is effective for themselves. Any medications (muscle relaxants, anticonvulsants, sedatives and other drugs) can only be taken with the permission of a doctor.

It will not be possible to get rid of pathological hiccups at home, since it is a manifestation of some kind of disease. Therefore, the treatment of indomitable hiccups is the elimination of its cause, that is, the treatment of the disease that caused it.

Is it possible to prevent hiccups?

Preventing hiccups means not provoking its occurrence, that is:

• eat food measuredly, leisurely and without talking;
• exclude excessively cold and very hot dishes from the menu;
• limit alcohol and carbonated drinks;
• forget about eating on the run and dry;
• try not to overeat;
• avoid hypothermia and stress;
• undergo regular medical examinations in order to timely identify and prevent the development of diseases that can cause pathological hiccups.

In today's article we will take a closer look at you with such an unpleasant sensation as hiccups. So...

Hiccups(eng. Hiccup) - a nonspecific disorder of the function of external respiration, which occurs as a result of a series of convulsive jerky contractions of the diaphragm (the muscle located on the border of the abdominal and thoracic cavities human body, not subject to the conscious control of a person, controlled by the autonomic nervous system) and is manifested by subjectively unpleasant short and intense respiratory movements.

To put it simply, hiccups are nothing more than a spasm of the diaphragm. Its sudden jerky contraction leads to a sharp change in the volume of the chest. The lungs are stretched, and a kind of involuntary sharp breath is obtained. The sudden movement of air irritates the nerve endings located in the mucous membrane of the larynx, and the glottis closes reflexively. This is how a person hiccups.

Hiccups are one of the possible symptoms of overeating and other conditions of the body.

Hiccups - ICD

ICD-10: R06.6
ICD-9: 786.8

Types of hiccups

Short-term (episodic hiccups)

Typically, an attack of such hiccups lasts 10-15 minutes. It occurs spontaneously for several reasons: due to hypothermia, “excesses” in nutrition (overeating, “fast food”, dry food, etc.), a state of “sucking in the pit of the stomach” or simply hunger, thirst.

Hiccups are prolonged

It occurs daily for two or more weeks and lasts longer than usual, sometimes for hours or even days. Frequent and prolonged hiccups, especially with accompanying vomiting, are a reason to consult a doctor, as this can be a sign of a number of serious diseases! These may be diseases of the central nervous system and digestive system, diseases of the liver, gall bladder or pancreas, vasoconstriction, or infections, including giardiasis, helminthiasis. The final diagnosis is made after a series of studies, including tests for worms, and a visit to a neurologist.

Prolonged hiccups are divided into three types:

Central hiccup– neurology explains its origin as a result of brain damage, or encephalitis.

Peripheral hiccups– occurs as a result of pathological processes of the phrenic nerve.

Toxic hiccups- occurs when there is a lesion nerve endings as a result of taking the drug.

Causes of hiccups

The cause of hiccups is sharper than usual contractions of the diaphragm, while inhalations are accompanied by a short suffocation.

Hiccups sometimes occur in healthy people without apparent reason and, as a rule, is a harmless, quickly stopping phenomenon. Hiccups can occur during general cooling (especially in children early age), when the stomach is overstretched (overfilled with food), as well as when the phrenic nerve is irritated (a case of prolonged hiccups with a contraction frequency of the diaphragm equal to the heart rate when the damaged wire from the pacemaker is shorted to the phrenic nerve).

Also, the causes of hiccups can be: hunger, thirst, dry food (bread, buns, etc.), fast food, excessive consumption of alcoholic beverages, anxiety, sharp changes temperature, .

Prolonged debilitating hiccups can be caused by damage to the central nervous system, in particular, metabolic disorders (with diabetic, uremic or hepatic coma), intoxication (alcohol, barbiturates, muscle relaxants, benzodiazepines), traumatic brain injury, arteriovenous malformations. Hiccups can be an ominous sign of an increasing intracranial pressure or space-occupying lesion in the posterior cranial fossa.

The causes of hiccups can also be compression of the CIV root by a hernia intervertebral disc, neck tumors, mediastinal tumor, lymphogranulomatosis or sarcoidosis, tumor of the esophagus or lungs, esophageal diverticulum, reflux esophagitis, laryngobronchitis, mediastinitis, diseases of the abdominal organs ( , and , intestinal obstruction, subphrenic abscess, diseases of the biliary system, tumors of the stomach, pancreas , liver), .

In young women, hiccups are sometimes psychogenic in nature.

Diagnosis of prolonged hiccups

If hiccups continue for several days, you should consult a doctor to rule out the possibility of damage to the body due to serious illnesses. The doctor prescribes a series of tests for the patient. For example, laboratory tests of the patient for kidney disease, infection, or. Endoscopic tests look for possible problems in the windpipe or esophagus, using a special camera located at the end of a flexible, thin tube that is lowered down the throat into the esophagus. Fluoroscopy can detect possible problems in the diaphragm, as well as damage to the vagus and phrenic nerves. These tests include , and chest.

So, how can hiccups be treated?

The only true and correct method There is no fight against hiccups: for some, drinking a glass of water helps, for others, holding your breath helps. Some recommend scaring the hiccupper, which, in fact, is also a very controversial remedy. The hiccups should go away on their own 5-15 minutes after they start - just as involuntarily as they started.

It should be noted that in case of prolonged hiccups, treatment, first of all, involves influencing the underlying disease, which must be established by a doctor, therefore, if hiccups do not leave you for a long time, be sure to consult a doctor.

Now let's look at what methods and means of getting rid of hiccups are:

Drug treatment

Neurology involves treating prolonged intractable hiccups with medications: antidepressants, antipsychotics and anticonvulsants. They will calm the excessive bioelectrical activity of the brain and help get rid of hiccups. However, it should be remembered that anticonvulsant and antiepileptic drugs can cause lethargy and lethargy.

Medicines for hiccups:" ", " ", "Scopolamine", "Pipolfen", "Haloperidol", "Finlepsin", "Difenin", "Corvalol".

Diaphragm nerve block

In cases where drug treatment does not help get rid of hiccups, a blockade of the diaphragm nerves with novocaine, which was developed by Vishnevsky, is used. This type of hiccup treatment is surgical and improves the sympathetic functions of the nervous system.

Folk remedies against hiccups

I would like to note that some methods may be completely opposite to each other, but nevertheless, some help some people, others help others. If you, dear readers, know your methods, write in the comments, and perhaps your method will help many people get rid of hiccups. So…

1. Hiccups are a spasm of the diaphragm. If you straighten the diaphragm as much as possible, the hiccups go away. Usually it is enough to inhale the maximum volume of air while standing, then sit down and lean forward, wait about a minute. If hiccups are felt even with a deep breath, it means that the breath was not full enough;

2. Take a deep breath and hold your breath;

3. Hold your breath three times in succession;

4. Hold your breath as you exhale before the spasm, then you can breathe shallowly and hold it again before the spasm. 2-3 times is enough;

5. Breathe frequently for a while;

6. Take as deep a breath as possible and, without exhaling, perform actions similar to inhalation;

7. Drink a large glass of water;

8. Several small continuous sips of water. In this case, you must definitely swallow the water and not breathe;

9. Ingest one teaspoon of regular granulated sugar in dry form without drinking water. You can drink it a little later;

10. Raise your arms above your head and take deep breaths in and out;

11. Fold your little finger and thumb pads facing each other on both hands;

12. A slightly strange, but very effective way is to take a small bag and tightly close your nose and mouth with it (as when vomiting), leaving a volume for inhalation and exhalation of 200-300 ml, hold it so that no outside air passes through. Breathe in this way until you feel a lack of air. Usually one time is enough;

13. Bend your torso forward as much as possible, clasp your hands behind your back and then, with the help of another person who will hold the glass, drink water in small sips;

14. It also helps to lie on your side and lie down for a while;

15. Lying on your back, raise your arms up. Take your left hand with your right at the wrist and make springy movements up and down with a small amplitude so that the vibration transfers to the chest. Do this for a short time and the hiccups will go away;

16. Apply a cold compress or ice cubes to your throat;

17. Try putting a mustard plaster on your neck;

18. Place a rubber heating pad with cold water to the diaphragm (where it ends rib cage);

19. Place your arms to the sides, cross your fingers, straighten your back, push your chest into a “wheel” and breathe through your nose. Particularly effective after a couple of sips of water;

20. Sitting on a chair (office chair, etc.), lean back and stretch your arms as high as possible and slightly back (about 15 degrees from the vertical), as much as you can, for 10-15 seconds. In most cases, hiccups go away immediately;

21. Spread the root of the tongue with mustard;

22. Plug your ears with your fingers and drink some liquid;

23. Focus on something, such as doing simple physical exercise and so on.;

24. Take 250 milliliters cool water, add a teaspoon apple cider vinegar, drink quickly;

25.

26. Water and juice will also help get rid of the problem. It must be drunk quickly in large sips;

27. Chamomile tea. The drink needs to be brewed for at least half an hour. The substances contained in have muscle relaxant properties; they can also stop contractions of the diaphragm, which cause hiccups;

28. Place 20 drops of Valocordin, Corvalol or something similar into a teaspoon, drink and wash down with a glass of warm water;

29. To stop hiccups, a person must be suddenly frightened;

30. Warm up (if the cause is hypothermia): dress in dry, warm clothes, drink a hot soft drink, etc.;

31. Not a tip for everyone – try handstands. Or simply lie on the bed so that your head is very low. The idea is to get your head below your diaphragm. This often stops the hiccups;

32. Dip the tip of your tongue a little in salt and press it to the upper palate, while you need to sit in a chair and relax;

33. Try to provoke sneezing, for example with pepper;

34. Take half a glass of slightly warmed water, add fifteen drops of cherry laurel water, drink in one gulp;

35. Sometimes pressure on the eyeballs or the exit points of the phrenic nerve (above the collarbone at the edge of the sternocleidomastoid muscle) helps;

36. American Francis Fesmire, as well as three of his Israeli colleagues, discovered in 2006 that hiccups can be cured with rectal massage, for which they received the Ig Nobel Prize in Medicine. The discovery was made by them in different years independently of each other.

37. Ask the Lord to take hiccups away from you. Prayer is the most strong remedy against any complications in human health.

Superstitions about hiccups, or how not to deal with hiccups

I can’t help but add a few lines to this article regarding superstitions, or so to speak, the Slavic heritage, thanks to which sometimes a person is exposed to serious complications in life, without even knowing the causes of his problems.

So, there are methods for getting rid of hiccups, such as for certain actions, which I will not write about, so as not to be a source of temptation, you need to read the Lord’s Prayer in reverse. Or use incantations and spells in the fight against hiccups.

It is important to understand that these manipulations in the spiritual world can harm a person. Thus, prayers said in reverse are magic spells that come into contact with evil spirits, and have destructive consequences, the same applies to all sorts of conspiracies, trips to grandmothers-witches, etc.

In addition, you should not tie your hands with threads or bury anything in the ground. Fortunately there are more safe methods which are listed in the article above.

If we are talking about a newborn baby, then most often the baby hiccups because he is cold or has swallowed air while eating. When your baby nurses, he may also experience hiccups. It is the air that gets into the stomach that causes it.

What should you do if your newborn baby has hiccups?

First, check if the diapers are wet - maybe this is the reason.

Perhaps the room is too cold, then close the window, or eliminate other sources of cold and wrap the baby warmly.

If similar phenomenon appeared after eating, carry the baby in a “column”, stroking his back. The air will come out and will not cause this phenomenon. This often happens in newborn babies. After all, they are just learning to eat, breathe and everything else.

If your baby is no longer so small, then the causes of hiccups may be different. Perhaps he ate without drinking dry food, such as a bagel, cookies, crackers. Sometimes this phenomenon in children is associated with gluttony. Maybe the baby has eaten too much and the stomach cannot cope with such a volume of food. Or it is possible that the child is simply thirsty.

And, of course, the option with hypothermia should not be forgotten either. Check to see if your child's feet are wet. Give him a warm drink with honey. It could be milk or tea - whichever he likes best.

If your baby rarely has hiccups, then you don’t have to worry and don’t contact a specialist. If this phenomenon occurs frequently in a child and lasts a long time, then go to the doctor. Sometimes it indicates problems with the central nervous system, the phrenic nerve, or the presence of an aneurysm in the diaphragm area. Also, hiccups in babies are often a sign of the presence of worms.

The body of a pregnant woman is generally very different from female body in another physiological state. What normally doesn’t cause much inconvenience can become a real problem during pregnancy. Some expectant mothers begin to hiccup more often and for longer than before pregnancy.

Perhaps the increase in hiccups during pregnancy is due to indigestion, which many of you suffer from. And in some cases, and this is not uncommon, hiccups are triggered by nervousness and tension. It is no secret that some expectant mothers worry excessively about the future and the successful outcome of pregnancy and childbirth. Such fears can also cause hiccups.

When hiccups appear against the background of emotional stress, try to relax, think about good things, and sing a funny song out loud. Learn to distract yourself from hiccups. Talk to your doctor. Maybe a little mild sedative or herbal tea will help you relax your nervous system and get rid of those annoying hiccups.

Important! Remember, taking medications and dietary supplements (biologically active additives) without consulting a doctor, it is now strictly contraindicated for you.

Methods for getting rid of hiccups should be as gentle as possible and at the same time effective. Of course, if your pregnancy is still two weeks old, then you can easily try out all sorts of ways to drink water (with and without tilting, from the opposite edge of the glass, and various others). But if your tummy has already become fairly rounded, then it will be difficult to bend over, and you don’t need to strain your abdominal muscles at all.

If you have hiccups, you can try to draw in as much air as possible into your lungs and not breathe for longer. Just don't overdo it. Oxygen starvation is not beneficial for a baby. And try to relax your abdominal muscles too.

Drink half a glass of ice water in small sips. Cold water causes a shake-up in the body, the muscles contract sharply, and the hiccups go away. Sometimes good action herbal teas provide. It could be lemon balm or chamomile. The tea must not be cold. Often, to stop hiccups, it is enough to chew a cracker or a crust of bread.

Try not to get too cold - cold is a known cause of hiccups in both adult and small patients and, of course, pregnant women. If you feel the first signs of hypothermia, immediately change into dry and warm clothes, drink hot tea and coffee.

Starting from the twenty-eighth week of pregnancy, you will feel rhythmic and short movements within yourself. This makes your little one aware of itself. Hiccups for him normal phenomenon. Doctors say that in the mother's belly the child often sucks his finger, when during sucking a little amniotic fluid gets into the tummy, the baby begins to hiccup.

Hiccups help the functioning of the baby's internal organs, such as his heart and intestines. Some doctors believe that hiccups are something like a massage. I have never had such bouts of hiccups before. born child can last up to twenty minutes. Don't worry, this is absolutely normal and does not threaten the baby in any way. Some babies may even have hiccups several times a day. At the same time, doctors believe that the child does not experience any discomfort from hiccups similar to what you and I experience.

Important! It is worth noting that hiccups in your fetus are terrible when they do not go away for a long time. Too long and frequent attacks of hiccups in a baby can be triggered by oxygen starvation. This situation requires control by doctors.

What symptoms of hiccups should you pay special attention to?

- Hiccups, many days, debilitating, with profuse salivation may be a sign of damage to the brain and spinal cord, a disorder of the central nervous system.

— Hiccups combined with an unexpected cough, accompanied by a dull pain in the back or side, may indicate, or another more complex disease of the pulmonary system.

— Hiccups, frequent, complicated by pain in the head, accompanied by general weakness, painful sensations in the shoulders and neck is most likely a symptom.

In any case, when such unpleasant problem As hiccups drag on, you shouldn’t test your body’s strength and wait for it to “go away on its own.” The hiccups may go away, but the illness that your body was trying to “inform” about will take on more severe forms. You must try to find time to diagnose your health.

Charles Osborne (born 1894), Anton, Iowa, USA started hiccupping in 1922. The hiccup attack began while he was cutting a pig. The bout of hiccups continued for the next 68 years until 1990. During this time, he hiccupped about 430 million times. The hiccups did not respond to treatment, but this did not stop Osborne from leading a lifestyle familiar to all people; he got married and had children. The average frequency of hiccups at the beginning of the attack was 40 times per minute, which then decreased to 20-25 times.

Video about hiccups

Hiccups are involuntary myoclonic contractions of the diaphragm and intercostal muscles, simulating forced inspiration. It sometimes occurs in healthy people (after generous intake food, drinking chilled drinks and alcohol, with excitement), lasting no more than a few minutes. Hiccups can be considered as a reflex caused by changes in the abdominal cavity, which closes through the hiccup “center” in the medulla oblongata with the help of the phrenic and vagus nerves.

Causes of hiccups in adults

Every person in the world has experienced hiccups. Even small children know what this is. And when it starts at a crucial moment for you, it is very inappropriate then. It affects anyone, regardless of status, position and age. Maybe she torments you constantly?

Causes of prolonged hiccups

Prolonged debilitating hiccups can be caused by lesions of the central nervous system, in particular

• meningoencephalitis,
• metabolic disorders (diabetic, uremic or hepatic coma),
• intoxications (alcohol, barbiturates, muscle relaxants, benzodiazepines),
• focal lesions of the brainstem (infarction or hemorrhage in the brainstem, brainstem encephalitis, traumatic brain injury, arteriovenous malformations, craniovertebral anomalies).

Hiccups can be a serious sign of increasing intracranial hypertension or a mass formation in the posterior cranial fossa.

Hiccups can also be caused by

• compression of the C 4 root (for example, with a herniated disc),
• neck tumors (thyroid gland, neck lymphoma),
• lesions of the chest (mediastinal tumor, lymphogranulomatosis or sarcoidosis, tumor of the esophagus or lungs, esophageal diverticulum, reflux esophagitis, laryngobronchitis, mediastinitis, myocardial infarction),
• diseases of the abdominal organs (gastrostasis, gastritis, gastric or duodenal ulcers, intestinal obstruction, subphrenic abscess, pancreatitis, diseases of the biliary system, tumors of the stomach, pancreas, liver),
• glaucoma.

Often, especially in young women, hiccups are caused by psychogenic causes.

Thorough history taking and examination, data additional methods studies (chest x-ray, ultrasonography abdominal cavity, esophagogastroduodenoscopy, computed tomography of the brain) allow us to exclude a serious disease that could cause hiccups. However, in many cases it cannot be found.

Reasons for development occasional hiccups in adults

Episodic hiccups always occur involuntarily. This is a rhythmic inhalation and exhalation with the mouth closed, when the diaphragm sharply contracts. It suddenly appears, for no apparent reason, and then stops on its own.

To date, scientists have not come to a common opinion on what causes hiccups. There are many more axioms. Some opinions of scientists have not been completed.

Simple hiccups are a kind of nervous tic. The phrenic nerve sends a signal to the muscles and they contract. This process occurs according to unknown reasons. And how to get rid of such hiccups is also unclear.

Hiccups are associated with the instinct to suck mother's milk.

Hiccups are the presence of nerve cells that are responsible for the functioning of the gills. These nerve cells preserved in the process of evolution.

Hiccups are a consequence of severe stress and fears of a person, as well as other reasons of a psychological nature.

Also, hiccups can be a consequence of very serious diseases: renal failure, development of a tumor in the esophagus, diaphragm or chest.

12 traditional ways to treat hiccups

Traditional medicine has been looking for ways to overcome this problem for centuries. The most popular way to “scare” does not help, but can only do harm; hiccups can develop into stuttering.

We present to your attention several effective methods from our grandparents:

Reflex method. We press on the root of the tongue, as if calling vomiting reflex. Spasm of the esophagus will help get rid of hiccups (spasm of the diaphragm).

Take your tongue and pull it either down or out.

We drink a large glass of water, but in very small sips.

Drink or eat something sour. To relieve you of painful hiccups, vinegar (a little, diluted with water) or lemon (without sugar) is good.

Drink beer with sugar.

Inhale and hold your breath.

Psychological method of treating hiccups. Bet your money. We start to hiccup. We bet that when you hiccup the next minute, you hand over the money. Doctors say it is a very effective method.

Physiological method. If hiccups occur, do push-ups and pump your abs until you get rid of the attack. This method does not help everyone. But you can try. This way you will not only get rid of hiccups, but also correct your figure.

Still very good way, which includes two. We stand up straight, clasp our hands behind our backs and at the same time drink a glass of water (served by another person).

Close your eyes and massage them.

To get rid of hiccups, we press our fingers on the neck in the place where the collarbone attaches to the sternum.

Swallow a piece of ice or a dry piece of bread.

These methods are quite enough to get rid of hiccups. When you have hiccups rarely and go away quickly, you can not pay any attention to them. But if you have this process frequently, hiccup for a very long time, try all the remedies you know, and nothing helps, then you simply need to consult a doctor. If the problems are big, don’t hesitate, you may have an illness. Get examined, get tested, consult with specialists and be healthy. Dear readers, remember that your health is only in your hands!

What should be done for hiccups in adults on an outpatient basis?

Hiccups can often be stopped with simple techniques, the action of which is based on stimulation of receptors in the back of the pharynx and changes in the activity of the vagus nerve:

the patient is asked to make several swallowing movements,

swallow a piece of sugar for hiccups,

hold your breath after taking a deep breath,

go from chest breathing to the diaphragm,

Stick your tongue out far and inhale the smoke.

What else can be done? Sometimes pressure on the eyeballs or the exit point of the phrenic nerve (above the collarbone at the edge of the sternocleidomastoid muscle) helps.

Or an attempt to provoke sneezing (for example, using pepper).

Often done for hiccups local anesthesia mucous membrane of the nose and oropharynx or inhalation of 10 - 15% carbon dioxide for 3 - 5 minutes, or re-inhalation of air that the patient exhaled into a paper bag.

Drug treatments for hiccups in adults

If these procedures are ineffective, use Metoclopramide (Cerucal), 10–20 mg intravenously or intramuscularly, Atropine, 0.5–1.0 mg subcutaneously or Scopolamine, 20 mg subcutaneously, neuroleptics (Aminazine, 25–50 mg intramuscularly, Haloperidol, 2 .5 – 5 mg intravenously or intramuscularly).

In chronic cases of hiccups, metoclopramide, Domperidone (Motilium), antacids and H2-receptor blockers (Ranitidine), dopamine agonists (Bromocriptine), Amitriptyline, antiepileptic drugs (Carbamazepine, or Finlepsin, Diphenin, Sodium Valproate), Nifedipine (Corinfar) are prescribed orally. , Amantadine (Midantan).

For prolonged debilitating hiccups and ineffectiveness medications for treatment they sometimes resort to

• epidural block at the cervical level,
• blockade or transection of the phrenic nerve.

Almost every person has encountered hiccups in their life. It can occur when drinking carbonated drinks, overeating, hypothermia, and in other situations. In most cases, this phenomenon does not pose any danger and passes quickly enough, but sometimes hiccups become a sign of some disease or serious problems in organism.

The mechanism of hiccups

The occurrence of hiccups is associated with irritation of the diaphragm. In a normal state, when you inhale, it smoothly goes down, and when you exhale, it goes up. If this process is disrupted, the diaphragm begins to move jerkily, which leads to sudden short bursts of air into the throat. This is what causes the characteristic hiccup sounds to appear.

In normal life, the following factors can be the causes of this condition: alcohol abuse, severe stress, worries and worries, consumption of carbonated drinks in large quantities, overeating, sudden changes in temperature, etc. But the appearance of hiccups can be one of the signs of certain diseases.

Hiccups are a symptom of what disease?

A dangerous symptom is considered long duration hiccups – 24 hours or more. This condition can be caused by: taking certain medications, diabetes, injuries, oncological diseases, diseases of the digestive or respiratory system and other pathologies. If you suspect a pathological nature of hiccups, you should definitely visit a doctor and undergo the course of diagnostic measures prescribed by him.

Hiccups in oncology

Hiccups in oncology are a fairly common phenomenon. It is caused by irritation of the nerve or the diaphragm itself, intoxication due to uremia, compression of the nerves or brain by tumors, severe distension of the stomach and other reasons.

Hiccups in stomach cancer

Tumor processes in the stomach usually manifest themselves as characteristic putrid smell when burping. This is due to the retention of food in the stomach and a decrease in acidity, which causes it to stagnate and decompose. In addition to unpleasant belching, the patient has severe heartburn. With stomach cancer, severe persistent hiccups often occur, accompanying other symptoms of cancer.

Hiccups in lung cancer

At tumor processes Compression by the spine may occur in the lungs peripheral nerves. As a result, symptoms such as cough, aphonia, attacks of suffocation, a feeling of lack of air, and others arise. When the vagus nerve is compressed, a convulsive cough and sudden changes pulse rate, and when the thoraco-abdominal nerve is compressed, painful hiccups occur.

Hiccups due to poisoning

In case of poisoning, toxic hiccups are observed. Its appearance is associated with intoxication of the body. Such symptoms can occur with mushroom poisoning, alcohol abuse, in people with diabetes or with kidney pathologies manifested by uremia. Hiccups of this nature may appear after exposure to anesthesia.

If hiccups occur due to poisoning food products or medications, then to get rid of it you can take Creon. But first of all, we need to direct our efforts to fight the poisoning itself. In some cases, it is worth inducing vomiting, this will bring relief and, most likely, stop the hiccups.

Hiccups are one of the signs of a stroke. So as not to miss dangerous condition, you need to know its most characteristic symptoms. These, in addition to hiccups, include:

1. Loss of clarity of vision, vision problems.
2. Confused speech, difficulty understanding people's words, and inability to express your thoughts.
3. Severe weakness in the limbs, loss motor activity and numbness.
4. Impaired sense of balance. It may be accompanied by nausea and dizziness.
5. Severe sudden headaches.
6. Immobility of half the face, weakness of the facial muscles.
7. Increased heart rate.
8. Dyspnea.
9. Severe general weakness, fatigue, disruption of normal mental state.

The appearance of such symptoms should alert you and cause you to immediately call an ambulance.

Hiccups with pancreatitis

Pathological hiccups can occur when the phrenic nerve is compressed. The cause of this condition is often inflammation of the pancreas or a tumor of this organ. As the tumor grows, hiccups occur more frequently and last longer. Hiccups with pancreatitis are painful; they can persist for several hours or even days, especially during exacerbations of the disease.

Hiccups due to stomach ulcers

Hiccups can occur with gastritis or stomach ulcers. In the first case, the causes of the development of the disease are poor nutrition and diet. Peptic ulcer may be a consequence of gastritis or develop independently due to consumption of large quantities of alcohol, smoking and regular stress. Its symptoms are: burning pain in epigastric region a couple of hours after eating, belching with a sour taste and unpleasant smell, loss of appetite, hiccups.

Hiccups due to allergies

For allergies and individual intolerances certain substances or drugs, vomiting may occur, but it is rather an uncharacteristic symptom of such disorders. It is more often observed in people who have undergone surgery. These hiccups can be long-lasting and painful. The most suitable way to combat it is considered to be breathing exercises and holding your breath.

Hiccups in diabetes

Hiccups in diabetes mellitus are a type of toxic hiccups. Its causes may be related to exposure to harmful substances, disorders in the central or peripheral nervous system. In diabetes, metabolic products accumulate in a person's blood as a result of insufficient kidney function, which leads to uremia and severe intoxication. It can manifest itself in the form of long-lasting, frequently recurring hiccups.