Hiccups is said to be one of those conditions that every man or woman will face at least once in a lifetime. But, is there any cure for long episodes of hiccups? Hiccup is one of the most common transient conditions affecting almost all the people in the world. The condition is self-limiting and almost never life-threatening. But sometimes, the condition can become intractable and may lead to unfavorable events. Hence, when hiccups become chronic and persist to occur for a longer duration, clinicians need to give more attention.
What are Hiccups? By definition, hiccups are involuntary, intermittent, spasmodic contractions of the diaphragm and intercostal muscle. This muscle contraction results in a sudden inspiration ending with abrupt closure of glottis making a characteristic ‘hic’ sound. They are also called as synchronous diaphragmatic flutter (SDF) or singultus. In a general…
