Constant Hiccups
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Try one of these related symptoms.
Constant hiccups
Hiccups keep coming back
Hiccups aren't stopping
Hiccups disturbing me
Frequent hiccups
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
Generally, Constant hiccups can be related to:
- 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) disease in which the immune system attacks parts of the brain and spinal cord. The direct cause of MS remains unknown, but certain risk factors have been identified such as low vitamin D levels, tobacco smoking, exposure to UV radiation, childhood obesity, and infection with the virus that causes mononucleosis. The disease tends to affect young people more commonly as well as people living in higher latitudes. MS typically occurs in "attacks" which can include but are not limited to painful eye movements, blurry vision in one eye, numbness or weakness in hands or feet on one side, or double vision.
Related Serious Diseases
Sometimes, Constant hiccups may be related to these serious diseases:
- Myocardial Infarction (MI) / Unstable Angina
These are often grouped together under the term "Acute Coronary Syndrome" (ACS) and are potentially life-threatening. This occurs when a blood vessel supplying the heart is blocked, usually by a blood clot. Risk factors include high cholesterol, high blood pressure, a sedentary lifestyle, diabetes, and a family history of cardiovascular diseases (e.g., stroke, heart disease).
- Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
- Cerebral Hemorrhage
- Cerebral Infarction
- Chronic Kidney Disease
Doctor's Diagnostic Questions
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom:
- Do you experience frequent or continuous hiccups?
Reviewed By:
Samantha Nazareth, MD (Gastroenterology)
Board-certified gastroenterologist. Experience managing gastrointestinal conditions (GERD, IBS, ulcerative colitis, Crohn’s, celiac disease, NASH) within healthcare organizations (three ambulatory surgical centers, single-specialty practice, multi-specialty practice and solo practice).
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.
Content updated on Feb 6, 2025
Following the Medical Content Editorial Policy
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- Can't stop the hiccups from happening
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FAQs
Q.
Is There a Way to Stop Hiccups on Your Own?
A.
Methods such as holding one's breath or drinking cold water are considered effective. For persistent or refractory conditions, oral medication may be used for treatment as well as a search for other underlying causes of the hiccups.
References:
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.
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Link to full study:
https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2024.08.29.24312810v1References
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/s11910-018-0856-0Steger 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.13374Leung 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/106467Bredenoord 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/fulltextKohse 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