Hiccups Can Be a Sign of Serious Disease
Hiccups can be a sign of a serious disease, and can eventually lead to death in some instances. Dr. Nooristani weighs in on what hiccups are, how to get rid of them, and red flags that you may be experiencing a serious condition.
Hiccups are continuous spasms of your diaphragm combined with the “hic” sound from the vocal cords closing. According to Dr. Nooristanti, the common causes of hiccups include:
- Eating too much or too quickly
- Swallowing air while sucking on candy
- Eating spicy food
- Chewing gum
- Drinking carbonated beverages
- Too much stress
- Alcohol consumption
It’s important to pay close attention to hiccups if they stretch beyond 48 hours. According to Clevelandclinic.org, hiccups that don’t go away within a few days are called “persistent.” While experiencing hiccups for a long duration of time, such as a couple of months, is rare, they can be exhausting and stressful.
Unraveling the Mysteries of Hiccups
“In some cases, the episodes can last for months. The cause is usually a nerve or nerves that are irritated either outside the brain (peripheral) or inside the brain (central). Diseases that can cause hiccups could be the ones that you currently have or could be a new disease that you have not been diagnosed with”, says Dr. Nooristani.
According to Webmd.com, these underlying conditions include diabetes, kidney failure, meningitis, and encephalitis. Additionally, many drugs that you are taking for various health conditions can cause hiccups.
Hiccups can be an extremely dangerous health condition that needs a complete workup by your healthcare provider. Severe and prolonged hiccups may lead to exhaustion, fatigue, malnutrition, weight loss, dehydration, and even death in extreme situations.