4 Days of Unending hiccups Apparently Taxable Heart Attack

New York City, Hiccup is a common condition that often occurs in every person. But a man must enter the emergency room because of the hiccups that happened during the four days it was the only symptom of heart attack.

In the case of very rare and very unusual, persistent hiccups may be the only symptom of heart attack. Although such cases are rare, but according to a case study published in American Journal of Emergency Medicine in January, it is known to have occurred in a 68-year-old man.

The man who was not identified shall be entered the emergency room because of a hiccup every 4 to 6 seconds for four days.

Slightly high blood pressure and doctors did a chest X-ray test to look for possible tumor, but not found any problems.

The doctor then gave him muscle relaxants and other drugs known to reduce singultus, which is the medical term for hiccups. According to doctors, the drug will stop hiccups. But two days later, he returned to the emergency room with the condition are still hiccups.

Because the old man that has some risk factors for heart disease, like diabetes, smoking and high blood pressure, doctors tested with an electrocardiogram (ECG), which will show some heart rhythm abnormalities.

Blood tests showed the man had a high level of protein released when the heart muscle has been damaged, which confirmed the diagnosis for a small heart attack.

He did not experience chest pain, no shortness of breath, uncomfortable, and no nausea, dizziness or sweating, only the constant hiccups. But once he was given the heart medication, hiccups disappear.

"I honestly do not know why he had no warning signs of heart attack is common. But many people, especially people with diabetes, can have an unusual presentation for heart problems," explains Dr. Joshua Davenport, an emergency physician at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital, New York City, as reported by MSNBC, Wednesday (15/02/2012).

According to Dr Davenport, hiccups are usually not caused by something serious like a heart attack without experiencing symptoms of someone else. The case was admitted as an exception and it is very rare.

"As for why heart problems may have triggered a hiccup, because when the heart is not getting enough oxygen due to lack of blood flow through diseased arteries, it can irritate the nerve diaphragm, lower respiratory muscles of the heart," he explained.

Hiccups that occur show that the diaphragm (dome-shaped muscle located just below the lungs and connects to the rib cage) moves up and down without knowing it, or so-called spasmodic contraction of the diaphragm.

One of the nerves that regulate the movement of the diaphragm is the phrenic nerve. The more common reasons why the nerve to walk into the diaphragm and cause hiccups are irritated belly, drinking lots of alcohol or soda, chewing gum or smoking.

Cases of non-stop hiccups can also be triggered by acid reflux. Constant hiccups can also be caused by a tumor in the head, neck or lung, or brain or ear infections.