Chronic hiccups could be symptom of liver problem, doctor says

Hiccups may ripple through you unexpectedly from time to time, but if it turns nonstop, then it can be a cause of alarm, said internist Dr. Rolando Balburias.

In a recent Pinoy MD episode, Balburias said that having chronic hiccups could be a sign of a liver problem.

"Minsan kung may problema sa atay, naiipit yung diaphragm, an umbrella that separates 'yung parte ng katawan natin sa chest versus sa abdominal part ng ating katawan," he explained.

When the diaphragm is caught in between, the phrenic nerve that supplies the diaphragm could be irritated, which then causes the never-ending hiccups.

Balburias advised that patients who do have chronic hiccups to immediately visit their doctor so that a systematic treatment, including imaging tests, would be conducted and the cause of the hiccups can be alleviated.

— Kaela Malig/LA, GMA News