Hiccups

The involuntary intakes of air known as hiccups are provoked by repeated spasms of the diaphragm, the sheet of muscle separating the chest and abdomen. Most attacks of hiccups, which include making an uncontrollable noise with each intake, last only a few minutes. Although irritating, hiccups are not serious, but you can try a variety of home remedies to stop an attack.

Published Jan 18, 2022

  • Hiccups

    Hiccups often begin after having a large hot drink or a large meal, when an overfull stomach presses on the diaphragm. They also frequently follow a prolonged bout of uncontrollable laughter. But there may be no obvious cause. Attacks of hiccups usually stop of their own accord, rarely lasting more than 20 minutes. If they persist or make you uncomfortable or embarrassed, any of several simple traditional remedies may be effective. In rare cases, continuing hiccups signify an underlying disorder.

  • Prevention

    Get into the habit of eating and drinking slowly. Avoid ingesting too much at one time, always chew thoroughly and avoid stress at mealtimes.

  • Treatments

    The two remedies work by raising the body’s level of carbon dioxide, which seems to relax the diaphragm: Take a breath and hold it for a while, but exhale before you get light headed or dizzy. Hold a paper bag over your nose and mouth and breathe in and out several times. Never use plastic.

  • Acupressure

    Apply firm pressure with finger and thumb on the point on each side of the neck under the base of the skull for two to three minutes while taking short, shallow breaths. This calms the nerve that controls contraction of the diaphragm.

  • Herbal remedies:

    The antispasmodic and relaxant effects of peppermint on the digestive tract may help relieve hiccups resulting from an overfull stomach. Have the tea after main meals.

  • Rhythmic drinking:

    Slowly sipping a glass of cold water or sucking on an ice cube can sometimes stop a bout of hiccups. A variation is to bend your head forwards over a glass of water and slowly sip from the other side of the rim. These remedies may work, probably because most people breathe relatively little as they sip, thereby increasing their body’s carbon dioxide level. The rhythmic contractions of the esophagus induced by slow sipping and swallowing also override the spasms of the diaphragm.

  • When to get medical help:

    Your hiccups last longer than a day. You suffer from frequent attacks of hiccups. You also have difficulty breathing, chest pain or light headedness.

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