How do you feel when you’re repeatedly interrupted when you try to share your thoughts in a group discussion? This is a very annoying situation. However, this is similar to the sensation you get when a sudden, uncontrollable “hic” sound comes out of your mouth, most likely while you’re eating, sleeping, or simply going about your day. This will lead you to look for how to get rid of hiccups and other hiccup-related inquiries to end the annoying sensation for good.
On the other hand, Hiccups are entirely harmless and affect people of all ages. But, if you get hiccups for an extended period, it could be a sign of an underlying condition that requires immediate medical attention.
What Are Hiccups?
To know how to get rid of hiccups, you need to know what they are. Hiccups are uncontrollable and repetitive diaphragmatic contractions. The diaphragm is a muscle that connects your chest and abdomen and is essential for breathing.
Hiccups are caused by the diaphragm contracting abnormally. Each contraction is followed by a sharp closure of your vocal cords, producing the distinctive “hic” sound.
Furthermore, the hiccup process is speedy, and you’ll usually be back to normal within minutes to a couple of hours if you don’t take any medication.
How Do You Get Hiccups?
Hiccups occur for various reasons, which differ from person to person. This could be due to a physical or emotional problem, an unhealthy lifestyle, or an underlying medical condition. Some of the causes of hiccups are as follows;
- Anxiety or strong emotions.
- Overeating or eating too quickly.
- A sudden temperature change.
- Consuming hot or spicy foods that irritate the phrenic nerve.
- Consuming excessive amounts of carbonated beverages or alcohol, also some of the things to avoid during your period.
- Chewing gum while sucking on air.
- Having stomach gas that presses against the diaphragm. Stomach vacuuming helps prevents this.
- Having a nervous or excited feeling.
20 Ways to Get Rid of Hiccups
All thanks to our creator’s installation of creativity in man, which has resulted in the invention of numerous methods to get rid of hiccups.
This ranges from simple ones that you can try at home at a lower cost to more complex ones that require the assistance of a health practitioner.
Pressure Points
These are the pressure-sensitive parts of your body. Knowing your pressure points will guide you to get rid of hiccups by simply applying pressure with your palms. It helps you relax your diaphragm or stimulation your vagus or phrenic nerves.
- How to get rid of hiccups involves applying gentle pressure on each side of your nose while swallowing water.
- Pulling out your tongue stimulates your throat’s nerves and muscles. Pull the tip of your tongue forward once or twice with your fingers when you experience hiccups.
- Apply pressure to your diaphragm. The diaphragm is the muscle that connects your abdomen to your lungs. Hence, apply pressure to the area immediately below the end of your sternum with your hand.
- Squeeze your palm by applying pressure to the palm of your other hand with your thumb.
- Massaging your carotid arteries on both sides of your neck is a good idea to get rid of hiccups. Therefore, lie down for 5 to 10 seconds, and turn your head to the left. Massage the right side in a circular motion.
How to Stop Hiccups Instantly at Home
The procedures listed below help stimulate the nasopharynx and the vagus nerve, which goes from the brain to the stomach, and efficiently help you to get rid of hiccups, especially short-term ones
- Gargle for 30 seconds with ice water and repeat the process.
- Suck on the ice cube for a few minutes before swallowing it when it has shrunk to a manageable size.
- Take a spoonful of honey or peanut butter into your mouth. Allow it to dissolve for a few moments in your mouth before swallowing.
- What causes hiccups temporarily can be combated by a tiny amount of vinegar, just enough to taste.
- Drinking cold water can help to stimulate the vagus nerve.
- Take a sip from the other side of the glass. Hence, tip the glass up beneath your chin to drink from the far side.
- Sip a glass of warm water slowly without pausing to catch your breath.
- Drink water through a paper towel or a cloth.
- Place a pinch of granulated sugar on your tongue and wait for 5 to 10 seconds before swallowing.
- Take a bite out of a lemon. However, rinse your mouth with water to protect your teeth from the citric acid.
How to Get Rid of Hiccups Without Water
- Take a few deep breaths and hold them for seconds before exhaling. For every 20 minutes, repeat at least three or four times.
- Inhale and exhale through a paper bag. Never use a plastic bag for this, and never cover the head with the bag.
- Sit down in a comfortable place. Bring your knees up to your ribcage and hold for two minutes.
- Compress your chest by leaning or bending forward, putting pressure on your diaphragm.
- Use slow, measured breathing to disrupt your respiratory system. Breathe in and out for five counts.
- Exhale slowly while pinching your nose and closing your mouth.
- You can stimulate your phrenic nerve by rubbing the skin on the back of your neck.
- Using a cotton swab, gently swab the back of your throat until you gag or cough. Your gag reflex may stimulate the vagal nerve.
- Gently rub your eyes.
How to Prevent Hiccups
Knowing what causes hiccups can help you get rid of them in the future. For instance, if your hiccups are caused by an unhealthy lifestyle or habits, such as eating too rapidly, binge eating, or drinking too much alcohol, you can adjust them to avoid hiccups in the future.
These techniques which are similar to ways to lose weight naturally, on the other hand, will help you avoid short-term problems;
- Consume fewer portions per serving.
- Don’t stretch your neck too far.
- Eat more slowly.
- Stay away from hot foods.
- Benzodiazepines, which are used to treat anxiety, should be avoided.
- Consume fewer alcoholic beverages.
- Stay away from carbonated beverages.
- To relieve tension, use relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, yoga, or meditation.
- Drink a drink that is neither too hot nor too cold.
- Avoid inhaling poisonous gasses.
What Does It Mean If the Hiccups Last For More Than Two Days?
‘ Persistent hiccups’ refer to hiccups that linger longer than two days. They can be draining and stressful. However, how to get rid of hiccups that stay longer than 48 hours will necessitate a trip to the doctor.
This could be a symptom of a more significant, underlying medical problem that won’t go away unless the underlying issue is addressed.
Persistent Hiccups
Hiccups typically last a few minutes for most people and are not a medical issue. On the other hand, chronic hiccups are those that continue for more than two days. However, If they last more than two days but don’t last more than a month, they’re persistent. As previously said, this could be the outcome of a broader, underlying medical issue.
This could include; Gastrointestinal diseases, Respiratory problems such as asthma, meningitis, Psychological reactions like grief or shock, diabetes, cancer, or liver failure.
Painful Hiccups
Hiccups are frequently uncomfortable and could cause a burning feeling. They can, however, cause pain due to the constant spasmodic contractions and glottis closure. Hiccups can also cause a small quantity of acid to rise from your stomach and enter your esophagus, causing pain.
When stomach acid rises into the esophagus, it can induce a burning feeling and belching.
How Long Do Hiccups Last?
What causes hiccups in various people influences the time range for hiccups. But, hiccups typically last a few minutes and are not a medical concern.
Hiccups can sometimes continue for an hour or two at most. However, if hiccups last longer than 48 hours or start interfering with eating, sleeping, or breathing, see your doctor.
10 Facts You Should Know About Hiccups
- Hiccups can occur up to 60 times every minute.
- The most extended hiccups episode lasted 68 years, from 1922 to February 1990.
- Singultus is the medical term for hiccups. The Latin word singultus refers to catching one’s breath while crying.
- A glottis is a flap of skin that blocks the airway to your lung. After you inhale all that air, it shuts after 35 milliseconds.
- Almost all mammals have hiccups.
- Infants have more hiccups than other people.
- Ultrasounds have revealed that even fetuses experience hiccups.
- No one knows why people get hiccups in the first place. In other words, it has no health benefits, but we do know how to get rid of hiccups using a variety of methods.
- Hiccups are a technique for a fetus to prepare for breathing once born by exercising its muscles.
- No one knows what causes hiccups. Too much gas in the stomach, quick eating, fizzy beverages, and stress are possible reasons. These substances can irritate the esophagus, causing hiccups.
Are Hiccups Bad?
Hiccups aren’t harmful in and of themselves if they’re only temporary, and there’s no need to fear. In contrast, a long-term episode of hiccups can be painful and potentially dangerous to your health.
Are Hiccups Dangerous?
Most hiccups aren’t life-threatening or cause for concern. Hiccups that are chronic and painful, on the other hand, can be very disruptive to your everyday life.
If your hiccups last longer than two days, see a doctor for advice on how to get rid of hiccups. They could be a sign of a more serious health problem.
Can You Die From Chronic Hiccups?
No one has died as a direct result of hiccups. But, hiccups that persist for a long time might hurt your overall health.
Long-term hiccups are symptoms of an underlying medical issue that necessitates medical attention rather than being a cause of death. If left untreated for too long, these chronic conditions can lead to death.
When to See a Doctor for Your Hiccups
Hiccups aren’t usually a cause for concern if they go away after a few days. However, If what causes hiccups in your case isn’t known and your hiccups linger for an extended period, you should see a doctor for medical treatment.
They can also be a symptom of an underlying condition that might cause serious health problems.
Medication to Get Rid of Hiccups
How to get rid of hiccups can be done through medication. However, make sure you use them based on medical advice from a licensed health practitioner. The following drugs have helped persons with chronic hiccups:
- Muscle relaxant Baclofen (Gablofen).
- Ephedrine use during anesthesia or surgery can treat hiccups.
- Thorazine (chlorpromazine) is an antipsychotic drug.
- Haloperidol is a type of antipsychotic drug that can also treat hiccups.
- Gabapentin is now also used to treat neuropathic pain and hiccups.
- Metoclopramide (Reglan) is a medicine that is used to relieve nausea.
Foods to Eat to Get Rid of Hiccups
The food you consume and how you eat it are many elements that contribute to hiccups. As a result, the fares listed below will show you how to get rid of hiccups quickly, just like you have a guide on what to eat during your period.
Vinegar
Vinegar one of the ingredients used in canning zucchini also includes sour elements that help cure hiccups by resetting the diaphragm’s automatic movement. Furthermore, the vinegar’s robust and tart flavor will keep you occupied while the muscles involved rest.
Green Olive
One of the most effective ways to get rid of hiccups is to eat a green olive when you have hiccups. Green olives are a pungent, bitter, and sour snack that aids in the removal of alcohol.
Honey
Honey is one of the ingredients of elderberry tea. One of the vagus nerve roles, which controls the parasympathetic nervous system, is to control actions in the digestive tract. Honey relaxes the vagus nerve, interrupting the hiccup reflex and causing it to stop.
Powdered Chocolate
How to get rid of hiccups is achievable by eating chocolate, one of the 5 natural antihistamines. When the vagus nerve is overwhelmed by the rich flavor of cocoa powder, it tells the brain to stop the involuntary movement so it can properly focus on the feel-good experience.
Castor Oil
If your hiccups don’t go away after a while, combine one teaspoon of honey with castor oil, stick your finger in the mixture, and lick it. Repeat this process twice or thrice and it will help you to get rid of hiccups.
Sugar
Sugar’s graininess irritates the esophagus, stimulating the vagus nerve and interfering with the involuntary reflex, making it a popular hiccup cure. This calms the nerves, and your hiccups will be gone.
Lime
Lemon’s high in acidic content disturbs the esophagus, which diverts the vagus nerve, causing the contractions to reset. Watch your hiccups vanish by sucking on a lemon wedge for a few seconds. Lime is also one of the ingredients for juice recipes for weight loss.
What Causes Hiccups in Babies
Hiccups usually do not harm a newborn. While adults may find hiccups distressing, babies are less bothered by them. Hiccups in babies typically happen for no apparent reason, but feeding might cause the diaphragm to spasm occasionally.
Therefore, overfeeding, eating too soon, and swallowing too much air cause hiccups in babies. The baby’s stomach may enlarge as a result of several circumstances. It pushes against the diaphragm as it grows, causing spasms that cause hiccups.
Leaving a baby to quit hiccupping is acceptable. But, It’s a good idea to see a doctor if they don’t stop.
How to Get Rid of Hiccups for Newborn
- Change feeding positions: Try feeding your little one in a more upright position
- Burp more frequently.
- Reach for the binky: Pacifiers can sometimes stop hiccups in their tracks.
- Give gripe water: Gripe water is an over-the-counter blend of herbs marketed as a treatment for colic and tummy troubles.
Conclusion
Hiccups usually go away on their own or after using the techniques above to get rid of hiccups at home, without water, along with other cures. It’s also not something to be worried about.
On the contrary, If hiccups are caused by an underlying condition, treating the underlying illness may help to eliminate them. As a result, if you have hiccups for more than 48 hours, you should see a doctor.
FAQs
What triggers a hiccup?
What causes hiccups varies. However, most hiccups are caused by involuntary spasms of your diaphragm, the muscle that separates your chest from your belly and is responsible for breathing.
How to get rid of hiccups in 10 seconds?
Hiccups can be relieved in various ways, but slowly sipping cold or warm water without pausing to breathe will help stimulate the vagus nerve and halt hiccuping in as little as 10 seconds.
Why can’t I stop hiccuping?
If you can’t stop hiccuping after 48 hours, you’ve got persistent hiccups and should visit a doctor right away.
How long do hiccups usually last?
Hiccups might last anywhere from a few minutes to one or two hours.
Why do hiccups hurt?
Hiccups hurt because the glottis, the flap of skin that restricts the airway to your lung, is constantly spasmodic and closes.
What are the effects of persistent hiccups?
Long-term hiccups can cause problems with eating and drinking, sleeping, speaking, and mood. Fatigue, weight loss, starvation, dehydration, stress, and depression are possible side effects.