The diaphragm is the vital breathing muscle that is found under a person’s lungs. Hiccups start off from a person’s diaphragm. Hiccups are the result of an involuntary and sudden squeezing of the diaphragm. This leads to air being sucked in suddenly into the lungs which then snaps and shuts the glottis right above a person’s larynx or the voice box. The snapping that occurs is what results in the hiccup sound that comes out finally. Hiccups normally last from about a little while, up to a few minutes. However for some people it can continue for a few days and maybe even for some weeks. If a person continues to hiccup for a long period of time then it may be the result of some other underlying and serious disease or medical condition. They should be taken to see a doctor or a medical practitioner as soon as possible.
Some of the common symptoms of hiccups are a continuous hic like sound that emanates from a person’s throat. Another symptom includes the contraction of the person’s diaphragm. Hiccups are caused for various reasons. Chief among the causes are heartburn. Also overstretching a person’s neck or irritation of one’s eardrum can result in hiccups starting off. If a person experiences bloating then this may also be a trigger for hiccups. Tumors or any other infections can also cause hiccups. Smoking and excessive alcohol can cause hiccups to start off. Hepatitis or liver cancer can be other factors. Pregnancy can also be another cause of hiccups.
Some natural remedies one can follow include taking ginger and cutting it into small pieces. Then add a dash of salt to these pieces and chew on them. Another remedy for curing hiccups is to try drinking freshly squeezed pineapple juice twice a day. Eating plain sugar can also help this condition. Try taking a pot of yogurt and adding about 3 teaspoons of salt to it. This is also found to be an effective home treatment for hiccups. Separately take about half a teaspoon of mustard seeds and add this to about half a teaspoon of butter. Swallow this mixture at one sitting. Avoiding hot and even spicy food can reduce the possibilities of hiccups starting off. Similarly avoiding over eating can also help. Try drinking plenty of water when the hiccups start, this would also help in reducing them. Inhale a pinch of pepper. This will cause you to start sneezing and can also aid in stopping the hiccups.