What’s WRONG WITH ME?

Common symptoms and what could be causing them. This week: Persistent hiccups

EVERYONE gets hiccups occasionally, and they usually disappear within a few minutes. They can, however, last more than 48 hours.

Hiccups are commonly caused by irritation to the vagus nerve, which is responsible for various automatic functions such as breathing, heart rate and digestion. This triggers the diaphragm to contract, causing a sudden intake of air that is stopped by the vocal cords closing, producing the characteristic hiccup sound.

More than 100 causes of persistent hiccups have been recorded. These include kidney disorders, infections and certain medicines which may irritate the diaphragm or vagus nerve.