Why can't I stop hiccuping continuously?

Continuous hiccups that won't stop may be caused by improper eating habits, emotional stress, functional dyspepsia, gastritis, or gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and can be managed according to the specific situation. If physical discomfort occurs, it is recommended to seek medical attention at a hospital promptly and follow the doctor's instructions for treatment.

1. Improper Diet: Eating too quickly or consuming excessive amounts of food at once can cause the stomach to expand rapidly, stimulating the phrenic nerve and triggering persistent hiccups. In such cases, you can try taking a deep breath, then holding it for as long as possible before exhaling slowly, repeating this process several times. Alternatively, drinking a large amount of water in small sips can help regulate pressure within the esophagus and relieve diaphragm spasms to stop the hiccups.

2. Emotional Stress: When a person is in a state of tension or anxiety, nervous system dysfunction may affect the phrenic nerve, leading to continuous hiccups. You can relax by listening to calming music, practicing deep breathing, or meditating. For example, close your eyes and focus on your breathing to gradually stabilize your emotions. Once the emotional state relaxes, the hiccup symptoms typically subside as well.

3. Functional Dyspepsia: Insufficient gastrointestinal motility may cause food to remain in the stomach for extended periods, producing excessive gas that stimulates the diaphragm and causes spasms, resulting in hiccups. Patients may also experience post-meal fullness, early satiety, upper abdominal distension, or pain. It is recommended to take medications such as domperidone tablets, mosapride citrate tablets, or compound digestive enzyme capsules under a doctor's guidance to alleviate symptoms.

4. Gastritis: Helicobacter pylori infection or long-term unhealthy eating habits may cause inflammation of the gastric mucosa. Stomach discomfort can stimulate the phrenic nerve, causing hiccups, often accompanied by symptoms such as stomach pain, bloating, and acid reflux. Patients may take medications like omeprazole enteric-coated capsules, amoxicillin capsules, or potassium bismuth citrate capsules under medical guidance to relieve discomfort.

5. Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD): Dysfunction of the lower esophageal sphincter allows stomach acid to flow back into the esophagus, irritating the esophageal mucosa and causing hiccups, often accompanied by heartburn and retrosternal pain. It is recommended to take medications like domperidone tablets, rabeprazole sodium enteric-coated tablets, or hydrotalcite chewable tablets under medical supervision to promote recovery.

In daily life, it is advisable to eat slowly, chew food thoroughly, avoid overeating, and drinking warm water in moderation can also help relieve hiccups.

References:

[1] Li Yan, Zhai Junqing, Liu Meng, et al. The diagnostic value of gastrointestinal ultrasound in gastroesophageal reflux disease [J]. Hebei Medical Journal, 2024, 46(23): 3593-3596.

[2] Wang Jingwen. Clinical value of Shugan Jieyu Capsule combined with domperidone tablets in the treatment of functional dyspepsia [J]. Inner Mongolia Journal of Traditional Chinese Medicine, 2025, 44(02): 45-47.