Constant Hiccups
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Reviewed By:

Aiko Yoshioka

Aiko Yoshioka, MD (Gastroenterology)

Dr. Yoshioka graduated from the Niigata University School of Medicine. He worked as a gastroenterologist at Saiseikai Niigata Hospital and Niigata University Medical & Dental Hospital before serving as the Deputy Chief of Gastroenterology at Tsubame Rosai Hospital and Nagaoka Red Cross Hospital. Dr. Yoshioka joined Saitama Saiseikai Kawaguchi General Hospital as Chief of Gastroenterology in April 2018.

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Content updated on Jan 4, 2023

About the symptom

It refers to frequent repeated spasms of the diaphragm paired with a ‘hic’ sound from the vocal cords closing.

When to see a doctor

Seek professional care if you experience any of the following symptoms

  • Blurring of vision

  • Muscle weakness in the limbs

  • Numbness / sensory disorder

  • Unilateral blindness

  • Numbness of lower limbs

  • Dysphagia

  • Altered mental status (delirium)

  • Involuntary movements

  • Impossible to walk normally

  • Visual field defect

  • Disorder of consciousness

  • Abnormal sensation (tingling, prickling)

  • Slurred speech

  • Seizure attack

  • Head injury

Possible causes

  • Neuromyelitis Optica (NMO)

    Neuromyelitis optica (NMO) is a rare condition in which the immune system damages the spinal cord and the optic nerves.

  • Multiple sclerosis (MS)

    Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a potentially disabling disease of the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system) that may lead to permanent damage or deterioration of the nerves.

Related serious diseases

  • Cerebral infarction

    Cerebral infarction refers to damage to brain tissue resulting from a stroke. It occurs due to decreased blood supply and oxygen delivery to the brain, causing brain cell death and brain damage. It is typically caused by a blood clot or fatty/cholesterol plaques blocking a blood vessel to the brain, but can also occur if a blood vessel ruptures and bleeds into the brain.

  • Cerebral hemorrhage
  • Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH)

Questions your doctor may ask about this symptom

Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom

  • Do you have hiccups that are frequent or do not stop?

  • Do you have a cough?

  • Do you have any chest pain?

  • Do you have headaches or does your head feel heavy?

  • Are you breathless or having hard time breathing?

Other Related Symptoms

Symptoms from the same body system / part

References

  • Rouse S, Wodziak M. Intractable Hiccups. Curr Neurol Neurosci Rep. 2018 Jun 22;18(8):51. doi: 10.1007/s11910-018-0856-0. PMID: 29934880.

    https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11910-018-0856-0

  • Steger M, Schneemann M, Fox M. Systemic review: the pathogenesis and pharmacological treatment of hiccups. Aliment Pharmacol Ther. 2015 Nov;42(9):1037-50. doi: 10.1111/apt.13374. Epub 2015 Aug 25. PMID: 26307025.

    https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/apt.13374

  • Leung AKC, Leung AAM, Wong AHC, Hon KL. Hiccups: A Non-Systematic Review. Curr Pediatr Rev. 2020;16(4):277-284. doi: 10.2174/1573396316666200508112951. PMID: 32384036.

    https://www.eurekaselect.com/article/106467

  • Bredenoord AJ. Management of belching, hiccups, and aerophagia. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2013 Jan;11(1):6-12. doi: 10.1016/j.cgh.2012.09.006. Epub 2012 Sep 13. PMID: 22982101.

    https://www.cghjournal.org/article/S1542-3565(12)01047-6/fulltext

  • Kohse EK, Hollmann MW, Bardenheuer HJ, Kessler J. Chronic Hiccups: An Underestimated Problem. Anesth Analg. 2017 Oct;125(4):1169-1183. doi: 10.1213/ANE.0000000000002289. PMID: 28759492.

    https://journals.lww.com/anesthesia-analgesia/Fulltext/2017/10000/Chronic_Hiccups__An_Underestimated_Problem.17.aspx

Reviewed By:

Aiko Yoshioka

Aiko Yoshioka, MD (Gastroenterology)

Dr. Yoshioka graduated from the Niigata University School of Medicine. He worked as a gastroenterologist at Saiseikai Niigata Hospital and Niigata University Medical & Dental Hospital before serving as the Deputy Chief of Gastroenterology at Tsubame Rosai Hospital and Nagaoka Red Cross Hospital. Dr. Yoshioka joined Saitama Saiseikai Kawaguchi General Hospital as Chief of Gastroenterology in April 2018.

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