Drink a glass of water, hold your breath for a few seconds. Each of us knows at least one home remedy for getting rid of hiccups. Which of them are really effective? Experts decided to look at this issue. See what they found out.
Where does hiccup come from?
Hiccups are nothing more than a sudden contraction of the diaphragm near your stomach. They send a message to your brain to close the “trap” in your throat again and again. Hence the characteristic sound that we make.
As for specific remedies for hiccups, there are few. Doctors agree that they must affect both the diaphragm and the vagus nerve and the phrenic nerve. Fortunately, many home remedies cover these areas. Experts decided to take a closer look at the most popular of them and explain why they are the most effective in fighting hiccups.
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Further part below the video.
Home remedies for getting rid of hiccups
Holding your breath
Since we were little, our parents have told us that the best way to overcome this annoying hiccup is to hold your breath for a few seconds. What do scientists think about this method?
Dr. Ali Seifi, director of the Neuro-ICU and associate professor in the department of neurosurgery at the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio, believes it is most effective.
“All actions involving intense inhalation, exhalation or holding the breath mean the activity of the diaphragm muscle, including the phrenic nerve” – explains the specialist. ‘By activating them, you can’ trick ‘the diaphragmatic nerve and diaphragm from intentional contractions called hiccups and forget about it,’ added Dr Seifi.
Drinking a glass of water
This is another hiccup treatment that we know from childhood. Some people use different variations of it. For example, they drink water from the back of a glass, clog their ears, or take 10 small sips continuously. Does this course of action make sense?
«Every time you drink any kind of drink, you have a chance to heal your hiccups. Swallowing triggers the vagus nerve. Add challenging tasks such as standing on one leg, drinking upside down or rolling a glass and you will distract your brain from the hiccups »advises Dr. Seifi.
“Ear congestion can also help because it increases suction,” adds Dr. Mark Fox, professor of gastroenterology at the University of Zurich, Switzerland.
Eating a tablespoon of sugar / peanut butter or sucking on a lemon slice
There are people who save themselves from hiccups in this way. However, are these methods – from a scientific point of view – effective?
“Citrus and acids also activate the vagus nerve, which helps reduce hiccups,” says Dr. Seifi.
On the other hand, when it comes to eating a spoonful of sugar or peanut butter, here too we can have some success in fighting the hiccups. Both of these products are difficult to swallow. To do this, you first need to suck them for a long time. In this way, we activate the muscles of the esophagus and the well-known vagus nerve. It is thanks to him that we can successfully overcome the hiccups.
Scare someone
How many times have you scared someone just to help them get over the hiccups? This method sounds a bit abstract. However, if you think that there is no scientific basis, you are wrong.
Fear is another trigger of the vagus nerve. Because someone scares us, our brain focuses on something completely different. This combination of concentration and distraction can help to >> reset the brain << to stop hiccups. It is not known exactly how, but it can work, ”argues Dr. Seifi.
As it turns out, all of the above hiccups can work. Dr. Fox points out, however, that not everyone will have the same result. Also, keep in mind that if your hiccups last more than two days, it could be a symptom of a serious illness. Do not underestimate this and be sure to consult your doctor.
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