Is there a Link between Hiccups and Heartburn?

A number of health care professionals and researchers have searched for a link between hiccups and heartburn. While there may be some evidence to support the fact that hiccups cause heartburn or vice versa, it is difficult to find documented research that shows a clear link between the two. It does seem that the most likely time for hiccups to lead to heartburn is in the case of persistent and intractable hiccups, where the condition can last for hours, days or even years in some people. In these instances, there does seem to be a link between hiccups and heartburn, particularly with those that are suffering from a chronic heartburn condition known as gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD.

What are Hiccups?

Hiccups can be defined as an involuntary spasm of the diaphragm. These spasms generally occur on one side of the diaphragm at a time, and in most cases, the left side is the one that is affected. Hiccups can affect everyone at any time, even the babies that are still in the uterus. In fact, babies that are still in the womb can spend up to 2.5% of their time hiccupping. Most people will hiccup anywhere from four to sixty times a minute, and anything within this range is considered normal. Hiccups can precede heartburn, and they can also follow the condition, leading scientists and doctors on a difficult journey to determine the exact link between hiccups and heartburn.

What is Heartburn?

Heartburn is the feeling of warmth or burning that you can get in your chest area after eating a meal. This warmth can move up into your throat, leaving a sour taste in your mouth, which is why heartburn is sometimes referred to as a sour stomach. The cause of heartburn is a valve at the base of your esophagus that sometimes doesn't close properly. The result is that stomach acids can back up into your esophagus and throat, causing the symptoms previously mentioned. If hiccups and heartburn coincide, the spasms of hiccups can force more of that burning and sour taste to back up into your throat.

If you suspect that your hiccups and heartburn are indeed related, there are some steps that you can take to alleviate each problem. For the hiccups, you can try holding your breath or drinking a glass of water to make them go away. If neither of these methods do the trick, most folks are a wealth of information on how to get rid of hiccups. It is possible that one of the tried and true methods that someone else swears by may be the miracle cure for you as well. This condition is rarely serious, and almost never requires a trip to the doctor for a cure.

Heartburn can be alleviated by eating smaller meals, avoiding bed for a period of time after eating, and elevating your head and chest while you sleep. This is also a condition that does not always require professional intervention. However, if you are having chronic difficulties with either hiccups or heartburn, it is a good idea to make an appointment with your doctor.

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