Hiccups reason and how to cure them

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New Delhi : Hiccups is something, every one of us has experienced sometime in our life. It sounds funny and sometime, serious when we can't stop those hiccups which interrupt in our conversation. Here, in this article, we will discuss about what causes hiccups and how to cure them.

According to ancient Greek physician Galen hiccups are violent emotions erupting from the body, while others believe that it's a sign of liver inflammation. 

But now, experts points to the spasms in the diaphragm, the large muscle between the chest and abdomen that aids airflow during breathing. This involuntary contraction can be brought on by a number of things that might irritate the nerves that control the movement of the muscle. A full stomach, heavy boozing, rapid shifts in temperature either inside or outside of the stomach, and certain emotions like shock or excitement are common cause of hiccups.

So, whatever triggers hiccups, the diaphragm spasms and causes us to take a quick breath. The sudden rush of air causes the epiglottis (the flap that protects the space between the vocal cords) to shut and interrupt the breath, which makes the familiar "hic" sound.

How to cure hiccups?

Well, the best treatment for hiccups is to follow the two principles: One type works its magic by overwhelming the vagus nerve with another sensation. The vagus nerve is a cranial nerve that innervates the stomach and conveys sensory information about the body's organs to the brain. When distracted by overwhelming information of another sort, it basically tells the brain that something more important has come up and the hiccuping should probably be stopped (vagus nerve stimulation is also used to control seizures in epileptics and treat drug-resistant cases of clinical depression).

The other method for curing hiccups is to interfere with the breathing, increasing the amount of carbon dioxide in the blood, and causing the body to focus on getting rid of the of the CO2 and not making hiccups. However, the process may vary from person to person.

Home remedy to cure hiccups

If sometime, you suffer from hiccups then swallow a spoonful of sugar. A teaspoon of sugar is usually enough to stimulate the vagus nerve and make the body forget all about the hiccups. Even ardent supporters of the sugar cure disagree if the sugar should be taken dry or washed down with water, though.

Many people prefer home remedies to battle their hiccups, which may include holding your breath, gargling ice water, or breathing into a paper bag.

In case your hiccups are severe and persistent, go consult a doctor to quiet things down.