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Hiccup: The most disturbing symptom
Nearly everyone has an experience of hiccup caused by the involuntary contraction of diaphragm (muscle that separates chest from abdomen). In general, hiccups resolve without medical intervention.
Almost all cases of hiccups last only a few minutes. But in certain cases, it can last for days or weeks that indicates a medical problem. Some can be serious such as pneumonia or harmful substances in the blood, for example from kidney failure. There are also some medicine which cause hiccupping as their side effects.
Certain things like eating too quickly or too much, eating hot chilies, an irritation in stomach or throat, feeling nervous or excited can irritate the diaphragm resulting in hiccup.
Here are some recommendations to get a quick remedy from this annoying symptom:
* One of the commonest tricks is to breathe into a paper bag. It produces carbon dioxide that calms the diaphragm responsible for stopping hiccup. But try this when someone else is around.
* Holding your breath and swallow up to 10 seconds might be useful.
* Plug your Ears — Sticking fingers in your ears could short-circuit the nerve from our brain that controls hiccups.
* Having someone suddenly shouts and scare you may help. That means, get distracted — giving the sufferer a fright or shock.
* Massaging the back of the throat (which will stop the irritation in the epiglottis).
* Sticking a finger in the mouth (not in a way that will induce vomiting).
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