A younger man’s persistent hiccups had been an indication of a far scarier well being drawback, based on a latest case report from docs in India. The man turned out to have an aggressive mind tumor, one which had began to trigger stress on his mind. Once he started receiving most cancers remedy, although, his hiccups went away.

By the time the person noticed a health care provider, he had been experiencing unceasing hiccups for about 4 months however in any other case appeared fantastic. Eventually, although, he developed a extreme headache and projectile vomiting. Most of his medical exams revealed nothing out of the bizarre, till his mind was scanned. There, docs noticed a diffuse pontine glioma, a tumor present in an space of the mind stem often known as the pons. The tumor was additionally discovered alongside a light type of hydrocephalus, a situation during which extra fluid builds up within the mind, typically squishing it within the course of.

The unusual case was detailed final week in BMJ Case Reports.

Hiccups are brought on by involuntary contractions of the diaphragm, a skinny muscle on the base of the chest that primarily helps us breathe. There are many potential triggers for hiccups, together with consuming too quick, consuming carbonated drinks, taking sure medicines, or perhaps a bout of stress. But because the authors of the case report observe, the overwhelming majority of hiccup episodes are benign and short-lasting. When hiccups maintain taking place, although, they could be a signal of one thing extra severe, together with neurological problems.

Indeed, there have been reviews previously of hiccups being linked to mind tumors. In these circumstances, it’s typically believed that the tumor by some means irritates the phrenic nerve, a nerve that begins from our neck and assist regulates the diaphragm.

What made this case uncommon is that the person’s hiccups had been the one signal of one thing flawed for months, the docs famous. But as soon as the tumor was found, the affected person underwent neurosurgery and radiation remedy. And a few month after the radiation began, his hiccups had “subsided considerably.”

To be clear, persistent hiccups are fortunately uncommon, and even rarer are hiccups brought on by mind tumors. They could also be a bit extra frequent for advanced cancer patients, although these embrace cancers exterior of the mind and might be linked to the remedies individuals get moderately than the most cancers itself. Some of the various different recognized causes of chronic hiccups embrace hernias, gastroesophageal reflex illness, and surgical procedure problems.

Hiccups are an annoying truth of life, but if somebody begins complaining of persistent and intractable hiccups, the docs wrote, “it’s crucial that these patients undergo a detailed evaluation as a timely diagnosis of underlying medical pathologies can help prevent further complications.”