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Hiccups can occasionally make you feel embarrassed and uneasy. They occur when the muscles at the base of your ribcage, known as the diaphragm, contract involuntarily. The diaphragm, which regulates breathing, forces air through the vocal cords, causing a sudden release of air and producing a distinctive sound. Most cases of hiccups resolve on their own within minutes and are nothing to worry about. However, sometimes hiccups can persist for more than 2 days and may require medical attention.
Steps
Home Remedies for Hiccups
Alter your breathing pattern. This method can help relax and stop the diaphragm from spasming.
- Hold your breath for a few seconds. You don’t need to hold it for too long—just enough to reset your breathing rhythm. Holding your breath for an extended period may cause discomfort or dizziness. Children with hiccups can also try this technique.
- Breathe into a paper bag. This encourages slow, deep breathing, which can help stop diaphragm contractions.
- It’s unclear whether startling someone or making them jump actually cures hiccups, but it might work if it causes a gasp and changes their breathing pattern.
- Sniffing salt can also help alter your breathing rhythm.
Drink cold water to soothe irritated muscles. This method is particularly helpful if your hiccups are caused by eating too quickly.
- This technique also works well for children. If a baby has hiccups, try breastfeeding or bottle-feeding them.
- When you feel your throat contracting due to hiccups, take small sips of water. The water will relax the muscles and force you to adjust your breathing to swallow. The hiccups might not stop after the first sip, so continue drinking until they subside.
- Some people suggest drinking water from the opposite side of the cup. While not scientifically proven, this trick might make you laugh, which could alter your breathing pattern.
- Gargle with cold water. Gargling also forces you to change your breathing rhythm. However, be careful not to choke while gargling due to hiccups. This method is suitable only for adults and children old enough to gargle safely.
Eat a spoonful of something sweet. Sweet foods activate your salivary glands and force you to change your breathing as you swallow.
- Try honey or sugar. Note that honey or sugar should not be given to infants. Babies can also get hiccups, and like adults, their hiccups are usually harmless and will go away on their own.
Try eating something sour. Sour foods also stimulate your salivary glands and make you swallow.
- Bite into a lemon or take a spoonful of vinegar.
- Rubbing your tongue around the roof of your mouth or curling your tongue might have a similar effect. Do not use this method for infants.
Compress your chest. This technique hasn’t been medically tested but might work by changing your posture and repositioning your diaphragm.
- Bend forward to compress your chest.
- Alternatively, pull your knees up into a fetal position.
- Hold this position for a few minutes to see if it works. If not, sit up straight and take deep breaths.
- Young children can try changing their posture, but avoid compressing the chest of infants with hiccups.
Prevent Hiccups by Making Lifestyle Changes
Eat slowly. Eating too quickly can cause you to swallow air and disrupt your breathing rhythm.
- Take small bites and chew your food thoroughly before swallowing.
- Drink a sip of water to help food go down smoothly and prevent it from getting stuck in your throat, which can trigger hiccups.
- Avoid overeating.
Limit consumption of alcoholic and carbonated beverages. Drinking too much alcohol or carbonated drinks can lead to hiccups.
- Alcohol intoxication can cause hiccups.
- Carbonated drinks make you swallow air and may irritate the muscles in your throat, leading to hiccups.
Avoid hot and spicy foods or drinks. Sudden temperature changes and spices can irritate your throat and trigger hiccups.
- If you enjoy spicy foods, drink plenty of water to help prevent or stop hiccups.
Reduce stress. Frequent short bouts of hiccups can be a response to stress or excitement. If you’re prone to hiccups, try some common stress-reduction techniques.
- Get at least 8 hours of sleep.
- Exercise daily.
- Practice meditation.
Know When to See a Doctor
Seek medical attention if hiccups last more than 2 days or interfere with eating and sleeping. Persistent hiccups may indicate an underlying condition. Your doctor will check for symptoms such as:
- Damage or irritation affecting the nerves connected to the diaphragm. Possible causes include eardrum irritation, tumors, cysts, goiter, throat irritation, or infections.
- Neurological disorders affecting the brain. These conditions may prevent the body from controlling the hiccup reflex. Examples include encephalitis, meningitis, multiple sclerosis, stroke, trauma, and tumors.
- Metabolic disorders like diabetes, kidney failure, or electrolyte imbalances.
- Respiratory issues such as asthma, pneumonia, or pleurisy.
- Digestive disorders like gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or irritable bowel syndrome.
- Alcohol addiction.
- Psychological stress such as shock, fear, or grief.
Inform your doctor if you’re taking any medications that could cause hiccups. These include:
- Anesthetics
- Corticosteroids to reduce inflammation
- Sedatives to prevent seizures (Benzodiazepines) or reduce anxiety (Barbiturates)
- Painkillers (Opioids like Morphine)
- Blood pressure medications (Methyldopa)
- Chemotherapy drugs used to treat cancer
Understand the tests that may be conducted at the clinic. Your doctor may perform various tests to determine if an underlying condition is causing your hiccups. They might:
- Check your balance, reflexes, and sensory functions.
- Conduct blood tests to detect infections, diabetes, and assess kidney function.
- Recommend X-rays, CT scans, or MRIs to identify any issues affecting the nerves connected to the diaphragm.
- Perform an endoscopy by inserting a tiny camera down your throat to examine the esophagus or airways.
Discuss treatment options with your doctor. Once an underlying condition is identified, your doctor will treat it accordingly. If no condition is found, they may suggest:
- Hiccup-relieving medications like Chlorpromazine, Haloperidol, Baclofen, Metoclopramide, or Gabapentin. However, the effectiveness of these drugs is not fully understood.
- Injecting an anesthetic to calm the diaphragm nerves.
- Surgical insertion of a small device to stimulate the vagus nerve.
- Alternative therapies like hypnosis or acupuncture, which may also help.
