Hiccups
Description:
Sudden reduction of a diaphragm is caused by a hiccups. The glottis is closed right after its reduction, at the same time the characteristic sound is formed. The hiccups is a reflex (automatic action of a body which the person cannot control). However, unlike other reflexes, such as cough and sneezing, a hiccups has no useful function. Short attacks of a hiccups are harmless. Resistant a hiccups (duration more than 48 hours) - the unusual occurrence, and such pathology demands medical examination.
Hiccups reasons:
The hiccups is very widespread phenomenon. It arises at men and women with an equal frequency, and occurs generally in the evening. Very often the hiccups occurs at pregnant women.
Most of people periodically test short attacks of a hiccups. In most cases it begins without the visible reasons, to last some time, and then will stop. It is sometimes caused by the following factors:
1. Sudden nervousness or emotional stress.
2. At an overeating, bystry acceptance of food, the use of carbonated drinks, air swallowing.
3. Sharp change of temperature (very hot or cold food, drinks, cold shower, etc.).
4. Alcohol.
5. Smoking.
More than 100 basic diseases can become the reason of a resistant hiccups which lasts more than 48 hours. Some of them are the general, such as acid reflux, and some of them happy rare. Except a hiccups also other symptoms characteristic of a basic disease are observed. In certain cases the resistant hiccups has no obvious reason. Factors which can lead to a resistant hiccups are:
- some drugs - the steroids, tranquilizers, anesthetics containing opiates (for example, morphine) and Methyldopum;
- changes in blood, for example, from alcohol, at the high content of sugar in blood, or a lack of calcium or potassium of blood;
- the accompanying pathology of bodies of a GIT;
- general anesthesia;
- pathology of bodies of a neck, chest or abdominal cavity. For example, quinsy, pneumonia, tumors in these parts of a body.
- some heart troubles;
- stroke, craniocereberal injury or infections of a brain;
- the hiccups sometimes arises at late stages of cancer.
Treatment of the Hiccups:
Treatment short attacks of a hiccups in most cases do not need treatment, the hiccups attack usually soon passes.
Popular methods for a hiccups stop:
- blockade of respiratory tracts for a short time. It can be executed, having put fingers on ears and having closed nostrils. In such situation take a water sip from a glass;
- slowly drink ice water;
- eat a piece of a lemon or something acid;
- hold the breath or you breathe in a paper package.
- attract knees to a breast and/or bend forward, having clasped a thorax.
It is possible to use the method called by Valsalva's test: try to execute the movements similar to the movements at an exhalation, at the closed phonatory bands.
If the hiccups is observed more than 48 hours, or often repeating short attacks of a hiccups take place, it is necessary to see a doctor. If the doctor establishes need to apply medicamentous therapy, then Chlorpromazinum or a haloperidol which can relax diaphragm muscles can be appointed. For a problem with a stomach, such as acid reflux or stretching of a stomach: anti-acids of drugs (омепразол, ranitidine, etc.) and others (for example, Metoclopramidum). Baclofenum is medicine which helps to relax muscles. Gabapentin can also help since it is capable to reduce giving of impulses to a diaphragm. Ketamine – substance – can be applied to an intravenous anesthesia at inefficiency of other methods. Intravenous injections of Metoclopramidum are capable to cure the hiccups arising after an anesthesia. Midamizol and other tranquilizers can help to control a hiccups and to reduce stress which it causes.
At a resistant hiccups some procedures can be applied:
1. Acupuncture.
2. Hypnosis.
3. The blockade of a phrenic nerve consisting in its crossing. Need of the procedure has to be carefully analyzed since the possibility of complications is big.
For a hiccups which proceed, despite treatment, the phrenic block of a nerve it is sometimes used. It includes interrupting innervations on a diaphragm (a phrenic nerve), for example, by administration of local anesthetic near a nerve. However, this treatment has to be are carefully analyzed: it bears in itself risks because the phrenic nerve plays an important role in breath.
