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Hiccups can be frustrating, and you're probably eager to find a way to stop them. Although doctors might say that "curing" hiccups is just pointless, many individuals swear by their own methods that always seem to work. If one remedy doesn’t help, try another to see if it works for you.
Steps
Try the Controlled Breathing Technique
Inhale and hold your breath for 3-4 consecutive times. Slowly breathe in deeply, then hold your breath for 10 seconds. Afterward, slowly exhale to release the air. Repeat 3-4 times, each time holding your breath for 10 seconds.
If the hiccups persist, you can repeat every 20 minutes.
Breathe into a paper bag. Hold a paper bag in front of your mouth, with both sides of the bag against your cheeks. Slowly inhale and exhale into the bag so that it inflates and deflates. Try to relax your body while breathing into the bag to stop the hiccups.
- Do not cover your head with the paper bag.
Compress your chest by leaning forward while exhaling. Stand or sit up straight. Inhale deeply, then slowly lean forward while exhaling. Hold this position for 2 minutes. This posture will compress your diaphragm and surrounding muscles, which may help stop the hiccups.
- If the hiccups don’t improve after the first attempt, repeat 2-3 times.
Practice regular breathing by inhaling and exhaling while counting to 5. Slowly inhale, counting to 5 as the air fills your lungs. Then, hold your breath for 5 counts before exhaling for 5 counts. Repeat up to 5 times to reduce hiccups.
- If the hiccups persist after 5 rounds, take a 20-minute break and then try again.
Stick out your tongue and gently pull it when exhaling. Slowly inhale deeply. When exhaling, stick out your tongue and use your hand to gently pull it forward, but don’t pull too hard to avoid discomfort. This action will stimulate a pressure point that can help stop the hiccups.
- You can repeat this technique up to 3 times if it doesn’t work the first time, then rest for a bit before trying again.
- Stop pulling your tongue if you feel pain. The proper technique should cause no pain at all.
Pinch your nose while trying to exhale. Take a slow, deep breath. Then, hold your breath, pinch your nose, and close your mouth. After that, gently try to exhale to make your diaphragm and surrounding muscles think you're breathing. Finally, exhale slowly.
- If the hiccups persist, you can repeat this technique 3-5 times. Afterward, take a short break, even if the hiccups haven't stopped.
Relieve Hiccups with Food and Drink
Drink cold water through a straw. Fill a glass with ice-cold water, then sip slowly until the hiccups are gone. While drinking, try to hold your breath for as long as possible. You can also try closing your ears.
- This method is most effective if you use ice-cold water rather than just chilled water.
Tip: If you don't have a straw, you can drink directly from the glass, just remember to take small sips.
Drink from the opposite side of the glass or drink while tipping your head backward. Fill a glass halfway, then lean forward and reach over the opposite side of the glass to drink, which stimulates reverse drinking. Alternatively, lie on your back, tilt your head over the edge of a bed or sofa, and carefully drink the water.
- Pause after a few sips to see if the hiccups are gone.
- Be cautious not to inhale the water through your nose.
Eat a spoonful of sugar. Scoop a full spoon of white or brown sugar. Hold the spoon in your mouth for about 5-10 seconds. Finally, swallow the sugar and take a big sip of water.
- If this method doesn't work immediately, you should try something else. Eating spoon after spoon of sugar is not a good idea.
Bite or suck on a piece of lemon. Put a slice of lemon in your mouth and either bite into it or suck the juice. If the sour taste is too much, you can add a little sugar to the lemon to balance it out.
- The sourness of lemon juice triggers a reaction similar to being startled by someone.
Alternative: To make it less sour, you can add 4-5 drops of Angostura bitters to the lemon slice. This will reduce the sourness, and some people believe it works even better.
Drink pickle juice to make swallowing vinegar easier. Vinegar may help stop hiccups, but you might find its taste a bit hard to swallow. Pickle juice also contains vinegar, so you can drink it as an alternative. Sip a few mouthfuls of pickle juice or drop a few drops onto your tongue. Repeat if necessary until the hiccups stop.
- You can use any type of pickle juice, as they all contain vinegar.
Alternative: If you dislike the taste of pickle juice, you can drop a few drops of vinegar directly onto your tongue. The unpleasant taste of vinegar will still be there, but you won't have to swallow anything.
Eat a spoonful of peanut butter. Take a small spoonful of peanut butter and place it on your tongue. Hold it there for 5-10 seconds to let the peanut butter soften, then swallow without chewing.
- Other nut butters, such as almond butter or Nutella, can also be used as alternatives to peanut butter.
Alternative: Another option is to eat a spoonful of honey. Simply place honey on your tongue, leave it there for 5-10 seconds, and then swallow.
Relieve Hiccups Through Body Movements
Lie on your back, pull both knees to your chest, then curl your body up. Lie on your back on a bed or couch with your knees bent. Slowly bring your knees toward your chest, then curl your body up like a crunch. Wrap your arms around your knees and hold the position for 2 minutes. This movement will put pressure on your chest and may help release the air.
- If the hiccups persist, you can repeat this 2-3 times.
Try sitting with your knees hugged and lean forward. Find a chair with a straight back and sit with your back pressed against the chair. Slowly lean forward into a knee-hugging position, wrapping your arms around your body. Then, gently tighten your arms around yourself and hold the position for 2 minutes before releasing.
- Repeat this movement 2-3 times if the hiccups haven’t stopped yet.
Warning: Avoid using this method if you have back issues.
Ask someone to tickle you if you're easily ticklish. While tickling itself won't stop hiccups, the sensation of being tickled can distract you from them. This may cause you to forget the hiccups, and they will stop. Additionally, laughing changes your breathing, which can also help.
- Ask the person to tickle you for at least 30 seconds. If it doesn't work, try tickling for a longer period.
Another method: Some people believe that hiccups can be stopped if someone scares you. While there is no evidence to prove this is true, you can try being frightened if the tickling trick doesn't work.
Try to burp if you can. If you're able to burp voluntarily, this skill might be the solution to your hiccup problem. Burping can reduce hiccups, so try to burp a few times.
- While holding your breath or drinking carbonated drinks can cause burping, it's not recommended because it may trigger more hiccups. Try other methods if you can't burp.
Try coughing to stimulate your muscles. Coughing can interrupt the hiccup cycle and help stop them. Try coughing and forcefully expelling air from your lungs. Keep coughing for up to a minute.
- If it doesn't work the first time, try coughing 2-3 times.
- If possible, try coughing just as the hiccup starts.
Chronic Hiccup Remedies
Eat slowly to prevent recurrent hiccups. For some reason, not chewing food properly can lead to hiccups. The theory is that air gets trapped in the food that's swallowed and causes hiccups. Eating slowly means you'll chew more thoroughly, reducing this risk.
- Putting your chopsticks down after each bite is also a good way to slow down your eating.
- Counting how many times you chew, like 20 times per bite, can help you eat slower.
Eat smaller meals. Large meals can trigger hiccups, especially in children. It's important to manage your portion sizes to prevent hiccups. Additionally, space out your meals so you're not too full.
- For example, try having 3-5 small meals spaced 2-3 hours apart.
Stop drinking carbonated beverages or soda. The gas in these drinks can cause hiccups, particularly if consumed quickly. If you suffer from frequent hiccups, cutting out carbonated drinks could help.
- If you notice a drink with bubbles in it, avoid consuming it.
Avoid chewing gum to prevent swallowing air. When chewing gum, you often swallow air with each chew, which can unfortunately trigger hiccups. If you're prone to hiccups, it's best to avoid gum altogether.
- Instead of chewing gum, you could try mints or hard candies.
Avoid consuming alcoholic beverages and spicy foods. Both alcohol and spicy foods can be triggers for hiccups, and it's best to avoid them in order to prevent chronic hiccups.
- Consider keeping a food journal to track if you tend to get hiccups after drinking alcohol or eating spicy foods. If not, then you don't need to worry about this advice.
Amy Chapman, MA
Voice Coach and Expert
Voice Coach and Expert
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can cause chronic hiccups. GERD can irritate the diaphragm nerve, leading to hiccups. If you experience hiccups frequently after eating or overeating, try taking acid reflux medication to reduce acid and soothe the diaphragm nerve.
When to seek medical attention
Seek immediate medical attention if your hiccups interfere with eating or sleeping. Your body needs to eat, drink, and sleep to function and stay healthy. In rare cases, hiccups can disrupt these activities. If this happens, it's important to visit a doctor for treatment as soon as possible.
- Don't let hiccups make it difficult to carry out your daily activities.
See a doctor if your hiccups persist for more than 48 hours. While hiccups typically resolve on their own within a few hours, an underlying health issue might cause them to last longer. A doctor can help identify the cause of your hiccups and offer treatment.
- Let your doctor know how long you've had hiccups and any other symptoms you're experiencing.
Ask your doctor if there are any prescription medications that might work for you. If your hiccups don't go away, your doctor may prescribe medication to treat them. However, not everyone can take medication, so your doctor will discuss the potential risks and benefits with you. The following medications may be recommended:
- Chlorpromazine (Thorazine) is one of the most commonly used and effective medications for short-term therapy.
- Metoclopramide (Reglan) is most commonly used for nausea but can also treat hiccups.
- Baclofen is a muscle relaxant that may help relieve hiccups.
Tips
- Try forgetting about your hiccups and focusing on something else. Sometimes this can stop the hiccups without you even noticing!
- Hiccups can sometimes be psychological, so a certain technique may work just because you believe in it.
- Rub your palms together to cover your nose and mouth, and breathe normally.
- Try holding a small sip of water in your mouth, without swallowing, and gently tug on your earlobes.
- Try pinching your nose and swallowing three times.
- Try taking 6-7 small sips of water without breathing. If this doesn't work, repeat the process with larger sips and hold your breath while pinching your nose for 10 seconds before swallowing.
Warning
- Persistent hiccups may have an underlying cause, and you should seek medical attention. A doctor can ensure you receive the proper treatment.
