Hiccups are sudden and involuntary contractions of the diaphragm which happen at the same time as the larynx (voice box) contracts and the glottis closes, effectively blocking the flow of air which is what causes the characteristic sound.
Even though the sound that hiccups cause can be quite funny for the people around you they can be quite annoying and irritating for the person affected by this condition. In most cases hiccups resolve on their own within a few minutes and pose no major problem. However, it’s been known for hiccups to persist for a longer period of time and become a real nuisance, influencing the quality of sleep and everyday life in general. In some more severe cases hiccups may even require medical assistance, but this is quite rare.
What causes hiccups?
The most usual reasons for hiccups are:
- Overeating or eating too fast
- Strong emotions like fear, anxiety, joy or euphoria
- Drinking too much carbonated drinks
- Eating dry or spicy food
- Change in the stomach’s temperature – drinking a very cold beverage right after a very hot one
- Excessive alcohol consummation
- Laughing too hard
What should you do to stop hiccups?
In the majority of cases hiccups stop on their own in a matter of minutes but in rare cases they can persist for a longer time meaning that there might be a more serious medical cause. In such a case, if the hiccups last for more than 48 hours you need to seek some medical assistance and see what’s the problem.
There are quite a few natural remedies which can help you get rid of this nuisance in a matter of seconds, you should try them out and see what works for you best. Even though they may sound funny at first give them a chance, you’ll see they’re quite effective.
- Inhale and hold in your breath for as long as you can. Take a deep breath and slowly count to 10 before exhaling. Repeat 3-4 times.
- Drink a glass of cold water. Quickly take 10 little sips of cold water or gargle with some cold water.
- Eat a teaspoon of sugar or honey.
- Breathe in a paper bag. If you don’t have a paper bag at hand cover your nose and mouth with your hand and breathe like this for a while.
- Stick your tongue out. Stick your tongue out for as much as you can and your hiccup will disappear in a matter of seconds.
- Cover your ears gently. Carefully cover your ears with your hands or fingers for 20-30 seconds. A lot of people swear that this is the ultimate cure for the annoying hiccups.
- Take a bite of lemon or drink a sip of vinegar. The acidic flavor helps in eliminating hiccups.
- Lift up your knees toward your chest and press them against your chest hard.