What causes frequent hiccups?

Generally speaking, hiccupping refers to belching. Frequent belching may be caused by eating too quickly, emotional stress, electrolyte imbalance, chronic gastritis, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and other reasons. If the above conditions occur, it is recommended to seek timely medical treatment. Specific analysis is as follows:

1. Eating Too Quickly

Eating too quickly can cause stomach distension, which compresses the diaphragm and triggers spasms of the diaphragm, leading to frequent belching. Slowing down the pace of eating, avoiding consuming large amounts of food at once, and adopting a method of small bites with thorough chewing can help reduce the burden on the stomach and prevent hiccups.

2. Emotional Stress

Emotional stress or anxiety can lead to autonomic nervous system dysfunction, particularly increased sympathetic nerve activity, which may trigger abnormal contractions of the diaphragm and result in the aforementioned symptoms. Learning relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, meditation, or yoga can help alleviate emotional tension. When necessary, consultation with a mental health professional for expert guidance is advised.

3. Electrolyte Imbalance

Electrolyte imbalance is mainly caused by excessive sweating, extreme dieting, and similar factors. Such imbalances can disrupt normal nerve-muscle conduction, resulting in abnormal diaphragmatic contractions and frequent belching, possibly accompanied by symptoms like muscle weakness and irregular heartbeat. It is recommended to take medications such as potassium chloride sustained-release tablets, sodium bicarbonate tablets, or potassium citrate granules under medical supervision.

4. Chronic Gastritis

Chronic gastritis may result from long-term alcohol consumption or eating food that is excessively hot or cold, all of which can damage the gastric mucosa. Chronic gastritis may weaken gastric digestive function and slow gastrointestinal motility, causing food and gas to accumulate in the stomach without being promptly expelled, thus leading to belching. This condition is often accompanied by symptoms such as loss of appetite, acid regurgitation, and nausea. Treatment may include medications such as amoxicillin granules, cefaclor dispersible tablets, or rabeprazole sodium enteric-coated tablets, used under a doctor's guidance.

5. Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)

GERD is a gastrointestinal motility disorder caused by hiatal hernia, obesity, and other factors. In patients with GERD, stomach acid flows back into the esophagus, irritating the lower esophageal sphincter and the diaphragm, causing diaphragmatic spasms and resulting in frequent belching. Symptoms may include chest pain and heartburn. Medications such as omeprazole enteric-coated capsules, ranitidine tablets, or cisapride tablets may be used under the guidance of a healthcare provider.

It is recommended to adopt a dietary pattern of eating smaller meals more frequently, keeping each meal to about 70–80% fullness, which helps reduce the burden on the gastrointestinal tract.