Hiccups

Hiccups are both annoying as well as can be dangerous to your health. Another name for hiccups is hiccoughs. Below are facts about hiccups, what causes hiccups, hiccup cures, and things you need to know about hiccups.

What are hiccups?

Hiccups are repeated spasms of the diaphragm which is the large, flat muscle that divides your chest from your stomach. Hiccups are common. Mild hiccups should not be painful and can last for up to an hour. More severe case of chronic hiccups can last for hours or days. Hiccups can also return repeatedly. In general, hiccups should not last for more than 3 hours in children or 8 hours in adults. If hiccups last longer than those periods of time, you should consult a doctor for hiccup cures.

What causes hiccups?

The followings often are the causes of hiccups:

• overeating
• eating too fast
• drinking carbonated beverages
• illness that irritates the phrenic nerve in the diaphragm

Signs, symptoms, and cure of hiccups

Hiccup spasms close the muscles in the back of the throat when you exhale. This makes the sound which sounds like 'hic-cup'.  There are many hiccup cures and remedies. Usually medicines are not necessary for hiccups but if you have sever case of hiccups, and the home hiccup remedies don't get rid of the hiccups, you may want to consult a doctor for more drastic hiccup treatment. Click here for hiccup remedies.