hiccups for more than 48 hours... watch out for liver problems

An American farmer started hiccupping in 1922 and stopped until 1987; he hiccupped for 65 years, about 4.3 million times. I believe everyone has the experience of hiccups! But the doctor reminded that if the hiccup lasts for more than 48 hours, be careful, because there may be a problem with the liver!

A 40-year-old woman surnamed Wu, because hiccups persisted for two to three months, especially when she was lying down, she could hardly sleep at night, and her right upper abdomen also felt slightly bloated and uncomfortable, so she went to the hospital for treatment. The abdominal physical examination suspected that there was a problem with the liver, and further ultrasound examination revealed that the liver was covered with large and small blisters (cysts), and the diagnosis was "polycystic liver".

Kang Hongming, chief physician of the medical department, said that almost everyone has experience of hiccups. Short-term hiccups are often caused by eating too fast, eating too much, drinking carbonated or alcoholic beverages, etc., resulting in rapid gastric distention and rapid changes in stomach temperature It is a normal physiological phenomenon. But if you continue to hiccup, you have to be careful that there may be liver problems!

Kang Hongming said that the types of hiccups can be divided into transient, persistent and special types of hiccups, with transient hiccups being the most common. However, if the hiccup continues for more than 48 hours, be careful. It may not be caused by rapid gastric distension or rapid changes in stomach temperature. You should suspect whether it is a warning signal of a liver problem. Do not take anti-hiccup medicine by yourself to avoid Delayed illness. Especially those with chronic hepatitis, jaundice or poor liver function should pay special attention.

What are the causes of persistent hiccups? Kang Hongming said that in addition to brain problems, it is often caused by chest or abdominal lesions that stimulate the diaphragm. In addition, taking drugs, alcohol or metabolic abnormalities may also cause it.

As for the relationship between liver disease and hiccups? Kang Hongming said that liver diseases that may cause hiccups include liver cysts, benign or malignant tumors, liver abscesses, acute hepatitis, etc. The main reason is that the lesions stimulate the horizontal hiccup membrane. Others, such as acute cholecystitis, subdiaphragmatic abscess, etc., also often cause hiccups.

Kang Hongming emphasized that the liver is a silent organ. Most liver diseases rarely have symptoms, and Taiwan has a high proportion of chronic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver cancer. Therefore, patients with chronic hepatitis or poor liver function should be treated every day. 3~6 months follow-up inspection. In addition, when hiccups persist for more than 48 hours, you must be careful whether there are other serious diseases in your body, and do not take anti-hiccup drugs by yourself. You should seek medical attention as soon as possible to find out the cause.