MEDICAL & HEALTH

HICCUPS

Every one of  us has had the Hiccups, and I’m sure that you’re not the exception, so it goes without saying how annoying they can be. The question is why do we get them  ?.  Hiccups are simple enough to explain, getting rid of them is the problem. Eating too fast is one of the major factors that promote the spasm. Another factor, is simply eating too many fatty foods to the point that you’re totally stuffed, and then you end up irritating the diaphragm. Your Diaphragm is a major muscle involved in breathing that sits like a cap over your stomach.  It’s like over packing a suitcase you can’t close. The lid won’t go on. You’ve got a Hiccup center in your brain that triggers a spasm of the esophagus. That spasm is your Hiccups. Some Doctors believe that this spasm is a protective mechanism to keep a person from choking on food and drink. They are common and often go away on their own. Now your problem is trying to get rid of them. Your objective now is to somehow to calm down the nerves in the back of your throat. This nerve is called the vagus nerve. In the diaphragm, its misfiring causes you to Hiccup. Hiccup remedies vary from blowing into a paper bag, holding your breath, drinking a glass of warm milk, or having somebody scare you. My personal favorite is another technique, tried and true. Get a cup of water and bend over as if you were bowing, and drink the water from the outside lip of the glass. Drink the water upside down. This method sounds crazy, but it really works. One glass of water drank from this position, and you’re cured. Hiccups lasting for more than several hours can be a sign of a more serious condition, and we strongly recommend that you call your Doctor if they persist.

 

 

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