hiccups

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Hey, just curious, what is the deal with hiccups and end of life. I was reading something yesterday and that is supposedly one of the signs of approaching death. I know I have seen this twice. Anybody else? And why?

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Beats me. I worked in palliative care and before that in medicine where many patients passed away and I can't recall seeing hiccups before death.

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Ah, that's different. That I have seen. I understood the OP as asking about hiccups just prior to death.

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Specializes in LTC, home health, critical care, pulmonary nursing.

I've seen lots of people die, never seen any with hiccups. I'll be sure to watch for that next time.

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Specializes in Float.

This topic caught my eye as I had a pt last weekend with hiccups. Doctor prescribed xanax. Now I read that benzos aggravate hiccups! :(

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