Serious Health Implications of Hiccups (by Dr JB Lim)

The Blogger's note:

Further to the simple explanation on short-term hiccups that last for a few minutes or at most a few hours as reproduced in the previous post, Dr JB Lim continues to elaborate on the case of chronic hiccups that continously last for days as follows:

Wednesday, 30 March, 2011 6:44 PM

Dear and all,

I really do not know the causes of your 5-6 days of continuous hiccup as I did not see you. So there is no reason for me to make guesses. What I described earlier was for short-term hiccups lasting just a few minutes or a few hours at the most. As I said, the most common cause for short duration hiccup is just due to a compromised perfusion (blood flow) and temperature changes around the pharyngeal region.

Vagus stimulation:

But it could also be due to anything that irritates or stimulates the vagus nerve such as an over distension of the stomach walls (remember, the 10th cranial or vagus nerve is the longest of the 12 cranial nerves which also supplies branches to the stomach.). Any stimulation anywhere along the vagus nerve will be referred all along the path of this nerve, including to the pharynx.

So the stimulus of an over-eating (distension of the stomach) can be referred up to the pharynx and even SOB (short of breath) and difficulty in breathing (dyspnoea) by transmitting stimulation of the phrenic branch of the vagus nerve.

Low blood and oxygen perfusion:

Gases from drinks, and flatulence in the stomach, as well as alcohol have a similar effect. But the most common cause as I have already explained is still due to a compromised perfusion and a lowering of temperature in the laryngeal-pharyngeal region which can easily be corrected by merely drinking warm water slowly to warm up the throat region. The ‘cure’ is instantaneous.

How a warm drink works:

Any heat applied to the region of the throat has two main actions:

· Heat dilates the blood vessels (vaso-dilating effect), and sends warm blood to permanently take over.

· Heat inhibits the stimulation of the glossopharyngeal, sympathetic, and external laryngeal and hypoglossal nerve (the pharyngeal plexus) – branches of the vagus nerve that causes the numerous constrictor muscles in the pharynx to contract in hiccups.

'Chronic’ hiccups:

But if you have continuous hiccups lasting 4-5 days, then other causes need to be investigated, such as infection and inflammation of your throat, any tumour, growth, goiter in the neck, or in the ear – all of which serves the same effect – stimulating the accessory 11th nerve, an offshoot of the 10th cranial nerve (vagus or pneumogastric nerve). Smoking may also cause the same effect, especially first time smokers.

Summary:

In short, any form of stimulation of the vagus nerve – whether due to compromised blood flow, lowering of temperature, tumour, goiter, infection and inflammation -whatever the cause(s), a sore throat or laryngitis, gastric juice regurgitation from the stomach up into the gullet (gastroesophageal reflux), or anything at all – can cause hiccup short or long term.

However, if the stimulation is continuous, prolonged, and over stimulated, as in your case, that part of the nerve and body (motor response) will undergo sensory fatigue and then go into exhaustion.

This means it can no longer respond to any neurological stimuli, and your hiccup disappears automatically (Local Adaptation Syndrome –LAS). Your hiccup will thus disappear automatically when it sinks into the exhaustion stage. This I believe was your case if you do not have the more serious underlining causes I have described.

Not possible to diagnose:

So it is not possible for me to identify as to why your hiccup last for days when I have not even seen you. I need to see and examine you, question you, and take a lot of history to look into any one of the root causes before making an inference. That’s the proper way.

A simple self examination:

But what you can do without even the need to see a doctor is to take your heart rate at that time. If your vagus nerve was stimulated, your heart rate will be slowed down – less than 60 beats per minute (bradycardia). Just feel your resting pulse rate and time it. Do this many, many times before waking up from bed in the morning. This is your basal or resting pulse rate. Compare the data during your period of hiccups, and after they mysteriously disappeared.

Statistical analysis:

Next, analyze the data statistically for the mean, standard deviation, and perform the valuable ‘t-test’ and see if there was actually a real statistical difference within a 95 % confidence level between the two sets of data. That will tell you scientifically if the difference was real - due to vagus stimulation or something else.

If you do not know statistical mathematics, just pass the data to me for analysis. I will do the job for you (free-of-charge). This is what we call medical research.

It is as simple as that - just like I now type ABC here or count 1,2,3.

I hope I have answered your question.

Regards

juboo lim

*********************

On the lighter side:

Man: Doc, what is the best method to stop a hiccup?

Doc: (He walked behind the man and gave him a big slap on his back)

Man: Doc, why did you do that?

Doc: You don't have any hiccup now, do you?

Man: Yes. I don't have any hiccup now. But my mother outside in the car does.

(Courtesy of forwarded mail from Joseph Ng Moo Eng)

How to Stop Hiccups

Recently some e-buddies are discussing about ways to stop HICCUPS such as:

1. Glup a big mouthful of water, press the nose and then spit out the water.

2. “Kampung” (village) way of stopping hiccups for babies: Tear a small corner of a piece of paper and apply some saliva (lick the paper) and place it on the baby's forehead.

3. Ancient Chinese technique to stop hiccups (古代導引術): Use the thumb of one hand pressing against the center of the other palm. Several long hard presses and the hiccups will stop within 3 minutes. (用一隻手的姆指使勁的去壓迫另一隻手的手掌中央,壓迫多次,打嗝3分鐘內就會停止) This is the Chinese acupuncture points. (此為中醫穴道--勞宮穴).

4. Another opinion is: Massaging or pressing this acupuncture point called 勞宮穴 can cure many things but hiccup is not one of them.

Dr JB Lim speaks out: .

Monday, 28 March, 2011 12:57 AM

Why do you guys make a hiccup such a complicated issue, offering all sorts of complicated cures and remedies for such a simple physiological reflex action as a hiccup? .

Parasympathetic innervation (nerve supply) to the larynx and pharynx is primarily through the glosso-pharyngeal nerve which is one of the branches of the pneumogastric (vagus) or 10th cranial nerve. It is a branch of this nerve that causes some of the muscles of the pharyngeal region to contract off and on under certain situations resulting in hiccups. The most common reason is due to a diminished blood flow to the area. This causes the localized region to become cold. .

The body then tries to rectify (compensates) this by causing the muscles in the pharynx to ‘shiver’ (contracts off and on) to produce heat, in much the same way as we shiver when we are cold. The heat generated causes an increase in the blood flow in an attempt to warm up the area. After some time, when the area is warmed sufficiently, the hiccup automatically stops. No other ‘cure’ or medication is required.

But we can help the body accelerate this naturally by merely sipping warm water. This will stop your hiccup at once and instantly. It is as simple as that.

You don’t require an MD or a PhD in Medicine or in Physiology to understand this to ‘cure’ a hiccup.

Regards,

juboo lim

Black Rice - Cancer-fighting Superfood

BLACK RICE -- I believe this is "Pulut Hitam" that is being referred to.

How absolutely wonderful - that a bowl of "Pulut Hitam" cooked with Gula Malacca (proper term for 'Gula Malacca' is actually 'palm sugar' extracted from the coconut palm.

This is not only much more flavoursome than white cane sugar but a much healthier choice too. It is far richer in minerals (potassium, magnesium and zinc) and B vitamins than white cane sugar and also much lower in glycemic index than cane sugar and honey. Topped with coconut cream, the black rice is a local favourite dessert not only YUMMILY DELICIOUS BUT ACTUALLY GOOD FOR US!

BLACK RICE IS THE NEW CANCER-FIGHTING SUPERFOOD, CLAIM SCIENTISTS

Carried on Friday, 27-August-2010 by Daily Mail , UK .

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-1306356/Black-rice-new-cancer-fighting-superfood-claim-scientists.htmlBlack rice is low in sugar but packed with healthy fibre and plant compounds that combat heart disease and cancer, according to scientists.Black rice - revered in ancient China but overlooked in the West - could be the greatest 'superfoods', scientists revealed today. The cereal is low in sugar but packed with healthy fibre and plant compounds that combat heart disease and cancer, say experts.

Scientists from Louisiana State University analysed samples of bran from black rice grown in the southern U.S. They found boosted levels of water-soluble anthocyanin antioxidants. Anthocyanins provide the dark colours of many fruits and vegetables, such as blueberries and red peppers. They are what makes black rice 'black'.

Research suggests that the dark plant antioxidants, which mop up harmful molecules, can help protect arteries and prevent the DNA damage that leads to cancer.

Food scientist Dr Zhimin Xu said: 'Just a spoonful of black rice bran contains more health promoting anthocyanin antioxidants than are found in a spoonful of blueberries, but with less sugar, and more fibre and vitamin E antioxidants.

'If berries are used to boost health, why not black rice and black rice bran? Especially, black rice bran would be a unique and economical material to increase consumption of health-promoting antioxidants.

Centuries ago black rice was known as 'Forbidden Rice' in ancient China because only nobles were allowed to eat it. Today black rice is mainly used in Asia for food decoration, noodles, sushi and desserts.

But food manufacturers could potentially use black rice bran or bran extracts to make breakfast cereals, beverages, cakes, biscuits and other foods healthier, said Dr Xu.

When rice is processed, millers remove the outer layers of the grains to produce brown rice or more refined white rice - the kind most widely consumed in the West. Brown rice is said to be more nutritious because it has higher levels of healthy vitamin E compounds and antioxidants.

But according to Dr Xu's team, varieties of rice that are black or purple in colour are healthier still. They added that black rice could also be used to provide healthier, natural colourants.

Studies linked some artificial colourants to cancer and behavioural problems in children. The scientists presented their findings today at the 240th National Meeting of the American Chemical Society in Boston.

Victoria Taylor, senior dietician at the British Heart Foundation, said: 'In reality, it's unlikely there's a single food out there that will have a great impact on lowering your risk of heart disease. Healthy eating is about a balanced diet overall.

'It's great if you can eat more of some groups of healthy foods, like having five portions of fruit and vegetable a day, but there is still no conclusive evidence that 'super foods' alone make a real difference to your heart health.' (Courtesy of forwarded mail from Chan Chun Mun)

10 Warning Signals of Cancer

EARLY DETECTION OF CANCER CAN SAVE LIVES

Know the 10 warning signals:

1. A sore that does not heal, changed color, ulcerates or bleeds.

2. Unusual bleeding or discharge from any opening in the body, example, blood in the urine, stool, frequent or heavy menstruation.

3. A lump or swelling that has progressively enlarged which may or may not be associated with pain.

4. Indigestion or difficulty in swallowing.

5. Change in bowel or bladder habits consistently for a duration of 2-3 months.

6. Obvious change in in size or texture in a wart or mole.

7. Non smokers' cough or hoarseness of voice that persist for more than 2 weeks. Smokers' cough that becomes intense.

8. Unexplained tiredness and /or weight loss of 10% or more within a period of 3-6 months.

9. Persistent pain or discomfort in the abdomen.

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10. Unexplained fever.

REDUCE CANCER RISK, ADOPT A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE

BASED ON THE AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY RECOMMENDATIONS

(Courtesy of forwarded mail from Chan Chun Mun)

Things You Don't Know About Sleep

(Courtesy of forwarded mail from Pastor David Chen)

Auto-Therapies of "La-Jin" (拉筋Stretching Ligaments) & "Pai-Da"(拍打Patting & Slapping)

(Courtesy of forwarded mail from Hon Too Fang)

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