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- Hiccups, although very common, are rather mysterious for scientists.
- They can be caused by everything from stress to temperature changes, to smoking.
- Humans are not the only ones who have hiccups, animals too.
Hiccups can be incredibly frustrating, especially since they seem to be coming out of nowhere. Although this is common, scientists still do not know exactly why hiccups occur or how to cure them.
They know however that the sensation occurs when a person is trying to inhale, but that an involuntary spasm of the diaphragm causes the closure of his vocal cords.
Among the strange things that could bring them to their technical end, here are seven things you probably never knew about hiccups.
The technical term for hiccups is & quot; singultus & # 39;
The technical term for hiccups is singultus which comes from the Latin word "singult" which means to catch one's breath while sobbing.
Hiccups can be caused by everything from stress to temperature changes
Although hiccups may seem to come from nowhere, there is probably a reason for you to encounter this annoying state. According to the Harvard Health blog, hiccups can be caused by exacerbated emotions such as excitement or stress, smoking, or even abrupt changes in external or internal temperatures.
They can also be caused when you eat too much food or drink too much alcohol, which dilates the stomach and irritates the diaphragm. It is also possible to have hiccups when swallowing too much air.
Chronic hiccups can be a sign of illness
For most people, hiccups do not last more than two minutes and is nothing but boredom. There are, however, cases where hiccups can last for days, weeks, and even years. Nicknamed chronic hiccups, they can mean a more serious medical problem.
For example, chronic hiccups may indicate pancreatitis, pregnancy, bladder irritation, liver cancer or hepatitis. They could also be a sign of pneumonia, intestinal diseases or alcoholism. Because the list of potential diseases is so long, it is best to consult your health care provider if you have prolonged hiccups.
Medications can reduce hiccups
Although you have probably heard of home remedies for hiccups, such as squeezing your knees, breathing in a bag, or breaking your ears, there are some medications that are specifically given to people with hiccups.
Read more:10 hiccup remedies that actually work
According to a 2011 study by the College of Family Physicians of Canada, antipsychotic medications are often prescribed to treat hiccups. These include chlorpromazine (the only drug approved by the FDA for hiccups) and haloperidol, two drugs that prevent excess dopamine. Antifoam agents are also sometimes prescribed, including metoclopramide, which helps empty the stomach.
The longest hiccups crisis lasted from 1922 to February 1990
According to the BBC Anthon, Charles Osbourne, a native of Iowa, had a total hiccup of 68 years. The story goes that he first had hiccups when trying to weigh a pig. He would have hiccuped up to 40 times a minute at one point, before slowing down to 20 times a minute.
Human babies can hiccup in the uterus
According to Healthline, it's possible for a baby to hiccup in the uterus during the second or third trimester of pregnancy. Although doctors do not know exactly why this is happening – nor why people who hiccup in general – it is thought that fetal hiccups could play a role in the maturation of a baby's lungs.
Animals can also have hiccups
Like humans, animals can also hiccup – and probably for the same reasons as humans. Just as irritation of the diaphragm causes hiccups, animals with a similar respiratory system may feel the same sensation. These hiccups, however, may seem different depending on the animal. Kittens, for example, hiccup gently but the horses are particularly hiccups.
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