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Definition
By Mayo Clinic staff
Hiccups are a common condition that affects nearly everyone. Hiccups involve the involuntary contraction of the diaphragm — the muscle that separates your chest from your abdomen and plays an important role in breathing. Each contraction is followed by a sudden closure of your vocal cords, which produces the characteristic "hic" sound.
Many people have home remedies for hiccups that they swear by, ranging from breathing into a paper bag to swallowing a teaspoon of granulated sugar.
Hiccups may result from a large meal, alcoholic beverages or sudden excitement. Rarely, hiccups may be a sign of an underlying medical condition. A bout of hiccups usually lasts only a few minutes. But in some people, about one in 100,000, hiccups may persist for months. This can result in malnutrition and exhaustion.
- Pollack MJ. Hiccups. In: Rakel RE, et al. Conn's Current Therapy 2008. 60th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/126185871-3/816916385/1621/10.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-4435-2..50006-6_54. Accessed March 16, 2009.
- Fishman MB. Overview of hiccups. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 17, 2009.
- Picco MF (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. April 18, 2007.
- Noble J. Hiccup. In: Noble J, et al. Textbook of Primary Care Medicine. 3rd ed. St. Louis, Mo.: Mosby; 2001. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/126410452-3/817465929/959/142.html#4-u1.0-B0-323-00828-3..50028-5_565. Accessed March 17, 2009.
- Syndromes of inappropriate respiratory muscle contraction. In: Mason RJ, et al. Murray and Nadel's Textbook of Respiratory Medicine. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2005. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/126411821-5/817480731/1288/752.html#4-u1.0-B0-7216-0327-0..50085-9--cesec97_4678. Accessed March 17, 2009.
- Neurological diagnostic tests and procedures. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/misc/diagnostic_tests.htm. Accessed March 17, 2009.
- Dahlin C. Management of symptoms other than pain. Anesthesiology Clinics of North America. 2006;24:39.
- Schachter SC, et al. Vagus nerve stimulation therapy. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed March 17, 2009.
