Constant Hiccups
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Reviewed By:
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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Hiccups aren't stopping
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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 where the immune system damages the spinal cord and the nerves of the eyes (optic nerves).
- Multiple sclerosis (MS)
Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a potentially disabling disease of the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system), which may lead to permanent damage or deterioration of the nerves.
Related serious diseases
- Cerebral infarction
Cerebral infarction is the term given to damage to brain tissue as a result of stroke. Cerebral infarction occurs due to reduced blood supply and oxygen delivery to the brain. This results in the death of brain cells and brain damage. It is usually caused by a blood clot or fatty/ cholesterol plaques blocking a blood vessel to the brain, but can also happen 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
Symptoms treated by the same specialty
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, 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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Ubie is supervised by 50+ medical experts worldwide
Seiji Kanazawa, MD, PHD
Obstetrics and gynecology (OBGYN)
National Center for Child Health and Development, Japan