What Causes Hiccups?

Abdominal Surgery

Although advancements in technology and techniques for abdominal surgery have these operations much easier for the patient in terms of recovery, there can still be lingering effects after such procedures. Any of the major abdominal organs, the liver, kidneys, or stomach, may require surgical intervention due to disease or injury. Because of the proximity of the diaphragm, the main mechanism involved in hiccupping, to the point of operation, hiccups are common side effects of this type of surgery. Anesthesia, necessary for some surgeries, can trigger hiccups as well after the patient wakes up. Hiccups as a result of abdominal surgery are normally short-lived. However, sometimes persistent hiccups, termed 'intractable' in medical jargon, can develop after an operation. If hiccups after a procedure do not stop, a doctor can help diagnose the problem and take any corrective action.

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Sudden Changes In Temperature

Sudden changes in temperature, for example, walking out of a heated building into a bitterly cold day, can trigger hiccups. The source of temperature shifts can either be outside or inside the body. Extremely warm or cold food items introduced to the digestive system can cause contractions in the diaphragm, inducing hiccupping. Some individuals are more sensitive to sudden changes in temperature than others. The medical community is still unsure of the exact biological mechanisms involved in hiccups caused by temperature changes. For individuals especially sensitive to temperature shifts, it is best to plan accordingly to avoid hiccups.

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