Why does hiccups occur and how to remove it?

The hiccup is an involuntary movement of the diaphragm (muscle used to breathe), which contracts suddenly in the middle of normal breathing. These spasms are followed by a closure of the vocal cords, which give rise to a particular sound.

The most common is that the hiccup lasts a few minutes , but it may happen that it lengthens to days or weeks. This is not usually very frequent and is usually a sign of another health problem.

According to the duration, the Spanish Society of General and Family Physicians ( SEMG ) classifies the hiccup into:

• Acute: it is also known as transient hypo. It is the one that lasts less than 48 hours.
• Persistent: it lasts between 48 hours and one month.
• Intractable: lengthens for more than two months.

SEMG explains that, "unlike other reflexes (cough, vomiting, etc.), this symptom does not serve as a protective function and does not appear to perform any physiological function ."

Causes
According to the American Cancer Society , hiccups may be due to irritation of the nerve that controls the diaphragm. Some of the causes of these irritations are:

• Eat too fast.
• Eat excessively.
• Be nervous.
• Have an irritated stomach or throat .
• Having diseases that irritate these nerves, such as pneumonia or pleurisy.

It can also be caused by certain esophageal problems, the pressure exerted on the stomach, the intake of spicy or spicy foods , the existence of surgery on the abdomen or a stroke or tumor that affects the brain.

Sometimes it is possible that there is no clear cause for hiccups.

Remove the hiccups
The SEMG points out that, in the case of acute hiccups, treatment does not usually present problems. They cite several home remedies that have been commonly used, although "their usefulness is uncertain" :

• Sneeze or cough.
• Hit the back
• Raise the uvula with a cold spoon.
• Breathe into a paper bag.
• Flex your knees over your chest.
• Be in apnea as long as possible.
• Perform a Valsalva maneuver (exhale air with the glottis closed or with the mouth and nose closed).