A hiccup or hiccough (pronounced /ˈhɪkʌp/ HICK-up) is a contraction of the diaphragm that repeats several times per minute. In humans, the abrupt rush of air into the lung
s causes the epiglottis to close, creating a "hic" sound.
In medicine it is known as synchronous diaphragmatic flutter (SDF), or singultus, from the Latin singult, "the act of catching one's
breath while sobbing". The hiccup is an involuntary action involving a reflex arc. A bout of hiccups, in general, resolves itself without intervention, although many home remedies claim to shorten the duration, and medical treatment is occasionally necessary in cases of chronic hiccups.
s causes the epiglottis to close, creating a "hic" sound.In medicine it is known as synchronous diaphragmatic flutter (SDF), or singultus, from the Latin singult, "the act of catching one's
breath while sobbing". The hiccup is an involuntary action involving a reflex arc. A bout of hiccups, in general, resolves itself without intervention, although many home remedies claim to shorten the duration, and medical treatment is occasionally necessary in cases of chronic hiccups.Causes
Hiccups are caused by many central and peripheral nervous system disorders, all from injury or irritation to the phrenic and vagus nerves, as well as toxic or metabolic disorders affecting the aforementione
d systems. Hiccups often occur after drinking carbonated beverages or alcohol or ingesting spicy foods. Prolonged laughter is also known to cause hiccups. Eating too fast can also cause the hiccups. Persistent or intractable hiccups may be caused by any condition which irritates or damages the 
relevant nerves. Chemotherapy—which can include a huge number of different drugs—has been implicated in hiccups (some data states 30 percent of patients), while other studies have not proven such a relationship. Many times chemotherapy is applied to tumors sitting at places that are by themselves prone to cause hiccups, if irritated.
d systems. Hiccups often occur after drinking carbonated beverages or alcohol or ingesting spicy foods. Prolonged laughter is also known to cause hiccups. Eating too fast can also cause the hiccups. Persistent or intractable hiccups may be caused by any condition which irritates or damages the 
relevant nerves. Chemotherapy—which can include a huge number of different drugs—has been implicated in hiccups (some data states 30 percent of patients), while other studies have not proven such a relationship. Many times chemotherapy is applied to tumors sitting at places that are by themselves prone to cause hiccups, if irritated.Treatment
Ordinary hiccups are cured easily without medical intervention. However, there are a number of anecdotal treatments for casual cases of hiccups. Some of the more common home
remedies include giving the afflicted a fright or shock, eating peanut butter, taking a teaspoon of vinegar, drinking water (sometimes in an unorthodox manner), holding one's breath and altering one's breathing patterns. A solution involving sugar placed on or under the tongue was cited in the December 23, 1971 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.
Hiccups are treated medically only in severe and persistent (termed "intractable") cases, such as in the case of a 15-year-old girl who, in 2007, hiccuped continuously for five weeks.
remedies include giving the afflicted a fright or shock, eating peanut butter, taking a teaspoon of vinegar, drinking water (sometimes in an unorthodox manner), holding one's breath and altering one's breathing patterns. A solution involving sugar placed on or under the tongue was cited in the December 23, 1971 issue of the New England Journal of Medicine.Hiccups are treated medically only in severe and persistent (termed "intractable") cases, such as in the case of a 15-year-old girl who, in 2007, hiccuped continuously for five weeks.
Haloperidol (Haldol, an anti-psychotic and sedative), metoclopramide (Reglan, a gastrointestinal stimulant), and chlorpromazine (Thorazine, an anti-psychotic with strong sedative effects) are used in cases of intractable hiccups. In severe or resistant cases, ba
clofen, an anti-spasmodic, is sometimes required to suppress hiccups. Effective treatment with sedatives often requires a dose that renders the person either unconscious or highly lethargic. Hence, medicating singultus is done short-term, as the affected individual cannot continue with normal life activities while taking the medication.
Persistent and intractable hiccups due to electrolyte imbalance (hypokalemia, hyponatremia) may benefit from drinking a carbonated beverage containing salt to normalize the potassium-sodium balance in the nervous system. The carbonation promotes quicker absorption. Carbonated beverages by themselves may have a tendency to provoke hiccups in some peo
ple.
The administration of intranasal vinegar was found to ease the chronic and severe hiccups of a three-year old Japanese girl. Vinegar may stimulate the dorsal wall of the nasopharynx, where the pharyngeal branch of the glossopharyngeal nerve (the afferent of the hiccup reflex arc) is located.
Dr. Bryan R. Payne, a neurosurgeon at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans, has had some success with an experimental procedure in which a vagus nerve stimulator is implanted in the upper chest of patients with an intractable case of hiccups. "It sends rhythmic bursts of electricity to the brain by way of the vagus nerve, which passes through the neck. The Food and Drug Administration approved the vagus nerve stimulator in 1997 as a way to control seizures in some patients with epilepsy".
clofen, an anti-spasmodic, is sometimes required to suppress hiccups. Effective treatment with sedatives often requires a dose that renders the person either unconscious or highly lethargic. Hence, medicating singultus is done short-term, as the affected individual cannot continue with normal life activities while taking the medication.Persistent and intractable hiccups due to electrolyte imbalance (hypokalemia, hyponatremia) may benefit from drinking a carbonated beverage containing salt to normalize the potassium-sodium balance in the nervous system. The carbonation promotes quicker absorption. Carbonated beverages by themselves may have a tendency to provoke hiccups in some peo
ple.The administration of intranasal vinegar was found to ease the chronic and severe hiccups of a three-year old Japanese girl. Vinegar may stimulate the dorsal wall of the nasopharynx, where the pharyngeal branch of the glossopharyngeal nerve (the afferent of the hiccup reflex arc) is located.
Dr. Bryan R. Payne, a neurosurgeon at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in New Orleans, has had some success with an experimental procedure in which a vagus nerve stimulator is implanted in the upper chest of patients with an intractable case of hiccups. "It sends rhythmic bursts of electricity to the brain by way of the vagus nerve, which passes through the neck. The Food and Drug Administration approved the vagus nerve stimulator in 1997 as a way to control seizures in some patients with epilepsy".
Getting the wind knocked out of you
Getting the wind knocked out of you is a phrase and a commonly used idiom that mainly refers to a kind of diaphragm spasm that occurs when sudden force is applied to the abdomen which puts pressure on the solar plexus. It results in a temporary paralysis of the diaphragm that makes it difficult to breathe for a short period of time. It can also occur from a strong blow to the back.
When the abdomen is struck, a large difference in pressure occurs across the diaphragm. The diaphragm then stretches, which also stretches the diaphragm's nerves. The resulting mechanical force puts the diaphragm into a muscle spasm, comparable to having a charley horse in the leg. It takes a few seconds for the diaphragm to relax again before breathing can resume normally. Martial artists are often taught to breathe out heavily when struck in the stomach, to minimize this effect.
Often, the laryngeal muscles contract during diaphragm spasm producing an inspiratory sound known as stridor which can be heard for several cycles as breathing resumes.
Singultus, commonly known as the hiccups, is also a form of diaphragm spasm, although much milder. A singultus episode impairs voluntary breathing control for brief moments (measured in milliseconds) rather than for several seconds.
It may also be referred to as Rat Gut, getting winded or just winded.
When the abdomen is struck, a large difference in pressure occurs across the diaphragm. The diaphragm then stretches, which also stretches the diaphragm's nerves. The resulting mechanical force puts the diaphragm into a muscle spasm, comparable to having a charley horse in the leg. It takes a few seconds for the diaphragm to relax again before breathing can resume normally. Martial artists are often taught to breathe out heavily when struck in the stomach, to minimize this effect.
Often, the laryngeal muscles contract during diaphragm spasm producing an inspiratory sound known as stridor which can be heard for several cycles as breathing resumes.
Singultus, commonly known as the hiccups, is also a form of diaphragm spasm, although much milder. A singultus episode impairs voluntary breathing control for brief moments (measured in milliseconds) rather than for several seconds.
It may also be referred to as Rat Gut, getting winded or just winded.
Society and culture
American man Charles Osborne had the hiccups for 68 years, from 1922 to 1990, and was entered in the Guinness World Records as the man with the longest attack of hiccups.
In 2007, a teenager from Washington State in the United States named Cheyenne Motland hiccuped around 50 times a minute for more than five weeks. After her hiccups returned, her neurologist suggested that she may have Tourette syndrome, and the hiccups may be a "tic" caused by Tour
ette's.
Christopher Sands from the UK had hiccups for a period of almost three years which was eventually discovered to be due to a tumor located on the part of the brain that controls vascular activities, once 2/3 of the tumor was removed the hiccups appeared to settle and Sands no longer suffers from his condition.
In 2007, a teenager from Washington State in the United States named Cheyenne Motland hiccuped around 50 times a minute for more than five weeks. After her hiccups returned, her neurologist suggested that she may have Tourette syndrome, and the hiccups may be a "tic" caused by Tour
ette's. Christopher Sands from the UK had hiccups for a period of almost three years which was eventually discovered to be due to a tumor located on the part of the brain that controls vascular activities, once 2/3 of the tumor was removed the hiccups appeared to settle and Sands no longer suffers from his condition.
