Hiccupping is a symptom. It may sometimes be accompanied by a slight tightening sensation in your chest, abdomen or throat.

The most common triggers for hiccups that last less than 48 hours include:

• Drinking carbonated beverages
• Drinking too much alcohol
• Eating too much
• Excitement or emotional stress
• Sudden temperature changes
• Swallowing air with chewing gum or sucking on candy

Hiccups that last more than 48 hours may be caused by a variety of factors, which can be grouped into the following categories.

Nerve damage or irritation

A cause of long-term hiccups is damage to or irritation of the vagus nerves or phrenic nerves, which serve the diaphragm muscle. Factors that may cause damage or irritation to these nerves include:

• A hair or something else in your ear touching your eardrum
• A tumor, cyst or goiter in your neck
• Gastroesophageal reflux
• Sore throat or laryngitis

Central nervous system disorders

A tumor or infection in your central nervous system or damage to your central nervous system as a result of trauma can disrupt your body's normal control of the hiccup reflex. Examples include:

• Encephalitis
• Meningitis
• Multiple sclerosis
• Stroke
• Traumatic brain injury
• Tumors

Metabolic disorders and drugs

Long-term hiccups can be triggered by:

• Alcoholism
• Anesthesia
• Barbiturates
• Diabetes
• Electrolyte imbalance
• Kidney disease
• Steroids
• Tranquilizers

Men are much more likely to develop long-term hiccups than are women. Other factors that may increase your risk of hiccups include:

• Mental or emotional issues. Anxiety, stress and excitement have been associated with some cases of short-term and long-term hiccups.
• Surgery. Some people develop hiccups after undergoing general anesthesia or after procedures that involve abdominal organs.

Prolonged hiccups may interfere with:

• Eating
• Sleeping
• Speech
• Wound healing after surgery