Hiccups are an involuntary contraction of the diaphragm that causes your vocal cords to close quickly, creating the all-too-familiar “hic” sound.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629628c4a51-ff22-4d20-a3d2-702d5f79f483 You’ve likely experienced them. And if you have, you’ve likely wondered how to make them stop. To understand what works to get rid of hiccups, it’s helpful to know what triggers hiccups and the parts of the throat and digestive system that play a role in hiccups, as well as which tricks don’t work.
Why Do Hiccups Happen? Hiccup Causes Hiccups are common, and they affect everyone at some point: kids, adults, and even fetuses in the womb.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629fa0ba21e-6457-481e-b985-a22a3d613f03 The medical term for hiccups is singultus , a Latin term that means “to catch one’s breath while sobbing.”e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629fa0ba21e-6457-481e-b985-a22a3d613f03 Hiccups occur when your diaphragm, a muscle between your stomach and lungs, spasms or contracts without your control. Your glottis, the space between your vocal cords, then closes.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629fa0ba21e-6457-481e-b985-a22a3d613f03 This may occur because of irritation or an underlying medical issue.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629c8837b21-1eaf-4bee-a1dc-e1d653c57766e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629fa0ba21e-6457-481e-b985-a22a3d613f03 A large meal Carbonated drinks, such as soda Spicy foods Alcohol Accidentally swallowing air Stress and anxiety Overexcitement Overbreathing Some medications, such as benzodiazepines , chemotherapy drugs, or inhaled anesthetics Sometimes, hiccups can be the result of another health problem. Other causes of acute hiccups, or hiccups that last less than 48 hours, can be a gastrointestinal problem such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or a hiatal hernia .e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629fa0ba21e-6457-481e-b985-a22a3d613f03 Usually, short-lasting hiccups are harmless and go away on their own. In some cases, however, they can become a medical concern or be a symptom of something more serious. Hiccups that last for more than 48 hours or that interfere with activities such as eating, sleeping, or breathing often require medical attention.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629c8837b21-1eaf-4bee-a1dc-e1d653c57766 (Find more on when to see a doctor about hiccups below.) As many as 4,000 Americans are hospitalized yearly for hiccup-related issues.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629155e6883-73ce-4b0d-9287-dca82ae00e74
How to Stop Hiccups: Natural and Home Remedies How to Stop Hiccups No matter how long hiccups last, they can be uncomfortable. How do you get rid of them? For acute hiccups, anecdotal evidence suggests that methods that address the hiccup reflex directly may provide relief. They may work by raising the level of carbon dioxide in our blood and stimulating the vagus nerve , which helps us breathe, cough, and digest.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629a83727df-8c80-45bd-b42a-d248fe97534c Methods include:e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976297a555243-f112-4097-ba37-a5ea7ebe97bd Hold your breath for a short time. “This works by increasing carbon dioxide levels in the lungs, which relaxes the diaphragm and stops the spasms causing hiccups,” says David D. Clarke, MD, a board-certified gastroenterologist and the president of the Association for Treatment of Neuroplastic Symptoms (ATNS) . e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629a83727df-8c80-45bd-b42a-d248fe97534c Breathe deeply or breathe into a paper bag. Similar physiological principles apply here. Altering carbon dioxide levels potentially interrupts the hiccup reflex, says Dr. Clarke, who is also a clinical assistant professor of gastroenterology emeritus at Oregon Health and Science University.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629a83727df-8c80-45bd-b42a-d248fe97534ce60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976297b96be81-b877-4bed-88f6-cf779acb09f7 Sip ice-cold water or gargle. “This method proves beneficial by stimulating the back of the throat, with ice-cold water potentially working better than room-temperature water,” Clarke says.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976291799fe3a-f12c-4fdb-a8b8-6cb7e7647fc8 The method also may stimulate the vagus nerve.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629a83727df-8c80-45bd-b42a-d248fe97534c Swallow granulated sugar. Although little research exists supporting methods to cure short-term hiccups, one 1971 study found that swallowing a teaspoon of sugar stopped hiccups for 19 of 20 patients.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629de023302-4475-40f2-945d-0cfcf76bcba6 The method continues to be cited in scientific papers on how to get rid of hiccups, despite a lack of conclusive evidence on its effectiveness.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629a83727df-8c80-45bd-b42a-d248fe97534c “This remedy works by irritating the pharynx and stimulating the vagus nerve, effectively resetting the diaphragm’s function,” Clarke says. These methods may not work for everyone. It’s also worthwhile to note that hiccups often go away on their own. So a quick trick that seems to provide relief from your hiccups may just be a coincidence.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629646a472d-d7a5-4b26-baa2-c39fa7ef2ee5 Remember that even though there’s not a lot of conclusive evidence on hiccup management, these home remedies may be worth trying, says Alexander Goldowsky, MD , a gastroenterologist at the digestive disease center at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston. “There are no large studies on these home remedies, and many are based on small case series or anecdotal reports.” They may be worth trying to ease hiccup discomfort because they are low risk.
Quick Tricks to Stop Hiccups: What May Not Work What Doesn’t Work Methods for curing acute hiccups that do not directly address the hiccups reflex or that have potential adverse side effects may not be a good idea. For example, scaring or distracting someone to stop hiccups may not be safe for some people (such as those with heart disease), as sudden emotions may raise the risk of a heart attack.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629ce0b0b60-6c34-4fce-aafc-8d3090c17dc4e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976294e5df0cf-6d8c-458d-a2d4-3f06fb2a0df8 “Perhaps a sudden fright might interrupt the hiccup reflex by triggering the vagus nerve or causing a distraction,” Clarke says. “But there’s no strong scientific evidence supporting this method.” Other tricks, such as chewing gum or drinking a carbonated beverage, are actually hiccup triggers.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629a2be91f2-d330-40c1-bdb3-340d0bbf5c07 Exercise caution when trying out anecdotal remedies for hiccups, and see a doctor if you’re concerned or have questions about recurrent hiccups.
When to Seek Medical Attention for Hiccups When to See a Doctor You should seek medical attention if your hiccups:e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976296cecdd92-b7df-4ee4-8ef8-fdf548d5695e Last more than 48 hours: Hiccups typically resolve within minutes, Clarke says. If they last more than two days, they are known as persistent hiccups and may have additional underlying causes. Treatment may focus on addressing those specific causes.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629bff34815-b929-4a51-b67c-c887a675b3c4 Return again and again: “Hiccups that recur frequently, particularly after meals or several times weekly, should prompt medical consultation, as they might signal digestive disorders or other health issues,” Clarke says. Are accompanied by other symptoms: If hiccups repeatedly show up with persistent symptoms such as headaches, abdominal pain, weight loss, or shortness of breath, tell your doctor, Dr. Goldowsky says. These can also be signs of an underlying issue. Significantly affect your general quality of life: If hiccups make it hard to eat, sleep, or breathe, it may be wise to see a doctor.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e5976290c52ec29-6057-42b9-bf4e-c8d720490516 Hiccups that are persistent or intractable, meaning they last longer than one month, may be a symptom of underlying medical conditions, Clarke says. More serious conditions may include:e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629bff34815-b929-4a51-b67c-c887a675b3c4 Gastrointestinal disorders Cardiovascular issues Central nervous system conditions Esophageal tumors You also should contact a doctor if your hiccups are coupled with neurological symptoms, including:e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629259f78ef-b76a-4a91-9988-3d32de851b1d Weakness Numbness Shortness of breath Headache During your doctor’s visit, your healthcare provider will typically perform a physical exam and a neurological one. Additional tests may be necessary to find a potential cause.e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629bff34815-b929-4a51-b67c-c887a675b3c4
Prevention Strategies: Diet, Lifestyle, and Mental Health How to Prevent Hiccups Several dietary and lifestyle modifications can help prevent hiccups. Most include avoiding common hiccup triggers, and strategies include:e60dc2a1-f33c-4a05-9b50-8e3e8e597629b497353a-0ec7-4cb6-879b-93f9b884069d Consume smaller meals more frequently, rather than large meals less often. Eat slower. Cut out carbonated drinks, alcohol, spicy foods, gum, and smoking. Avoid cold drinks or foods immediately after hot drinks or food. Maintain a stable temperature in your environment and avoid drastic temperature changes. Manage stress.
The Takeaway Hiccups are usually harmless and go away on their own. Effective tricks for getting rid of hiccups include holding your breath, breathing deeply, or swallowing granulated sugar. Other methods may not be effective, despite their popularity. These include scaring someone suddenly or pulling your tongue. If your hiccups last for 48 hours or more, or you have other accompanying symptoms, see a healthcare professional.
Resources We Trust Mayo Clinic: Hiccups Cleveland Clinic: Hiccups: Causes and Treatment The Ohio State University: When Are Hiccups Serious? UCLA Health: Prone to Hiccups? Here’s What You Need to Know University of Miami: How Do You Get Hiccups?
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