Remedies for hiccups – examples, effectiveness. How To Get Rid Of Hiccups?

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Almost all of us have had hiccups from time to time. Although hiccups usually go away on their own within minutes, it can be annoying and interfere with daily activities such as eating or talking. There are many ways to get rid of hiccups, from breathing with a paper bag to eating a spoonful of sugar. But which remedies for hiccups actually work?

What is hiccups?

Hiccups are involuntary contractions (quick tightening and relaxing) of the diaphragm. In our body, the diaphragm is a muscle under the lungs that helps us breathe and breathe out.

A characteristic feature of people with hiccups is that they make specific sounds during their contractions, which is what gives the hiccup its name. They result from the sudden closing of the opening between the vocal cords. This closing forces air to enter and makes a “hic” sound. Irritation of the nerves that extend from the neck to the chest can cause hiccups.

Hiccups can be caused by:

1. eating a meal too big or eating it too quickly (especially if the food is spicy);
2. drinking an alcoholic or carbonated drink (such as a soft drink);
3. excitement;
4. stressed out;
5. sudden change in temperature;
6. swallowing air while sucking on candy or chewing gum.

Usually it only lasts a few minutes, but in some cases the hiccups last for weeks or months. Depending on the cause of the hiccups, you can get rid of it yourself.

See also: Carcinogenic chewing gum

Long-lasting hiccups – what to do?

Hiccups are usually temporary, but on rare occasions it may persist – for a while. This is usually due to damage or deterioration of the nerves connected to the diaphragm. Everything from hair touching the eardrum to a sore throat can affect these nerves, and in more serious cases, a tumor, goiter, or cyst in the neck can damage them.

Hiccups that last a while can also be caused by disorders of the central nervous system such as encephalitis or meningitis, or by metabolic disorders such as diabetes or kidney failure. Preparations such as steroids or certain tranquilizers can also cause prolonged hiccups.

Even some procedures, especially those that require anesthesia, can cause hiccups. If your hiccups last longer than 2 days or are so severe that it disturbs your eating, breathing, sleeping or causes you anxiety, make an appointment with your doctor.

You should also talk to your doctor right away if you get any stomach pain, fever, shortness of breath, vomiting, or coughing up blood during the hiccups.

How To Get Rid Of Hiccups?

In most cases, hiccups are no more bothersome than a serious medical problem. However, it can irritate us to such an extent that we will be ready to do anything to get rid of it. Unfortunately, there is no definitive proof that many of the popular remedies for hiccups actually work. Some people believe that in the time it takes to prepare and try a method, the hiccups will go away on their own. However, even if they are just a distraction from the hiccups, try the following remedies for hiccups.

Remedies for hiccups – breathing techniques and postures

Sometimes a simple change in breathing or posture can loosen the diaphragm.

1. Let’s practice regular breathing. Let’s disrupt the respiratory system with slow, steady breathing. Let’s take a deep breath, counting to five, and exhale, counting to five as well.
2. Let’s hold our breath. Let’s take a deep breath and hold for about 10 to 20 seconds, then exhale slowly. Repeat the entire procedure if necessary.
3. We breathe using a paper bag. Let’s put a paper bag on our face in such a way that it covers our mouth and nose. Then slowly inhale and exhale the air as it deflates and inflates the bag. Raising the pressure of carbon dioxide has been shown to reduce the frequency of hiccups, so this method can end the hiccup problem. On rare occasions, this method can cause hyperventilation (fast, deep breathing that puts a strain on the body), which can actually make hiccups worse.
4. Let’s bring the knees to the chest. Sit in a comfortable place. Bring your knees to your chest and hold them in this position for two minutes. Snapping the knees compresses the chest and can help stop diaphragm spasms.
5. Let’s squeeze the chest. Lean forward or lie down to compress the chest, which will put pressure on the diaphragm.
6. Let us apply the Valsalva maneuver. To perform the Valsalva maneuver, try to exhale by pinching your nose and keeping your mouth closed.

Remedies for hiccups – pressure points

Pressure points are areas of the body that are particularly sensitive to pressure. Applying pressure to these points with your hands can help relax your diaphragm or stimulate the vagus or diaphragmatic nerves.

1. Let’s pull the tongue. Pulling the tongue stimulates the nerves and muscles in the throat. Grab the tip of your tongue and gently pull it forward once or twice.
2. We will use the pressure on the diaphragm. Our diaphragm separates the abdomen from the lungs. Let’s use your hand to apply pressure to the area just below the end of your breastbone.
3. Let’s pinch our nose while swallowing water.
4. We will use the pressure on the hand. Let’s use the thumb to put pressure on the palm of the other hand (the harder the better). Alternatively, we can pinch the ball of the left thumb between the thumb and index finger of the right. Discomfort is a distraction that affects the nervous system and can get rid of the hiccups.
5. Let’s massage the carotid artery. We have carotid arteries on both sides of the neck. This is what we touch when we check the pulse by touching the neck. Lie down, turn your head to the left and use circular movements to massage the artery on the right for 5 to 10 seconds.

Remedies for hiccups – food or drink

Eating certain things or changing the way you drink can also help stimulate the vagus or diaphragmatic nerves.

1. Let’s drink ice water. Slowly sipping cold water can help stimulate the vagus nerve.
2. Let’s drink a glass of warm water slowly, without pausing to breathe.
3. Let’s drink water through a rag or paper towel. Cover a glass of cold water with a cloth or paper towel and drink through it.
4. Let’s suck the ice cube. Let’s suck on an ice cube for a few minutes and then swallow it once it has shrunk to a reasonable size.
5. Let’s gargle with ice water. Rinse your throat with ice water for 30 seconds. Repeat the action if necessary.
6. Let’s eat a tablespoon of honey or peanut butter. However, let the peanut butter or honey dissolve a little in your mouth before swallowing it. It’s good to know that honey is also great for treating ulcers, and is known to fight infections and soothe coughs.
7. Let’s eat some sugar. Put a pinch of powdered sugar on the tongue and let it sit for 5 to 10 seconds, then swallow. This method works by stimulating the throat and manipulating the uvula (which hangs at the back of the throat). Doing so helps to relax the vocal cords and also causes a brief distraction that our body can focus on.
8. Let’s eat some chocolate. Let’s eat some powdered chocolate drink mix (e.g. cocoa powder) directly from the spoon. It may not be easy for us to swallow the delicious powder, but it should help us cure the hiccups.
9. Let’s chew the dill. Slowly chew a teaspoon of fennel seeds. Swallowing the seeds stimulates the vagus nerve, which can stop hiccups.
10. Let’s suck a lemon. Some people add a little salt to a lemon slice. Rinse your mouth with water to protect your teeth from citric acid.
11. Let’s put a drop of vinegar on the tongue.

Remedies for hiccups – other methods

Here are some other hiccups that we can use.

1. Let us touch or rub the neck. Rubbing the skin on the back of your neck can stimulate the phrenic nerve.
2. Let’s irritate the back of the throat with a cotton swab. Gently put a cotton swab in your mouth and use it to touch the back of your throat until you choke or cough. Our gag reflex can stimulate the vagus nerve.
3. Let us distract ourselves with something engaging. Hiccups often go away on their own when we stop focusing on them. Let’s play a video game, complete a crossword puzzle, or do some calculations in our head, or count from 100 backwards (it requires concentration).
4. Let’s be scared. When we are scared, we hold our air, which increases the concentration of carbon dioxide in the body, which stops the choking reflex.
5. Let’s pat each other on the back. A patting on the back causes a vibration that can help the diaphragm return to its normal rhythm.
6. Let’s plug our ears. When you get hiccups, put your fingers in your ears for 20 to 30 seconds. Alternatively, we can press the soft areas behind the earlobes, just below the base of the skull. This sends a ‘relax’ signal through the vagus nerve that connects to the diaphragm.

We may not know these methods, but both are supported by scientific case studies.

1. Let’s have an orgasm. There is an old case study, published in August 2000 in the journal Can Fam Physician, of a man whose hiccups lasted four days. The hiccups immediately disappeared after he had an orgasm.
2. Let’s do an anal massage. Another case study, published in February 1990 in the Journal of Internal Medicine, reports that a man with prolonged hiccups felt immediate relief after an anal massage. Using a rubber glove and lots of lubricant, insert your finger into the anus and massage it.

If you have chronic hiccups that lasts longer than 48 hours, let’s talk to your doctor. This could be a sign of an illness that requires treatment.

Remedies for hiccups in infants and newborns

As in adults, hiccups in newborns, infants, and children are common and generally not a problem. If hiccups occur while feeding, it is recommended that you stop feeding until the hiccups are gone. Usually, the hiccups “disappear” in an infant or child relatively quickly.

You can try to reposition your baby or make your baby belch or reassure him to deal with the hiccups. Sometimes resuming feeding will stop the hiccups. If your baby hiccups frequently while feeding, it is advisable to feed him when he is relaxed and not yet overly hungry.

See also: Breastfeeding – Everything You Need to Know [EXPLAINED]

Remedies for hiccups – when to see a doctor?

Most hiccups go away within minutes or hours. If you regularly have hiccups or hiccups for more than two days, talk to your doctor. Hiccups can be a sign of a condition such as:

1. gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD);
2. hit;
3. multiple sclerosis.

In addition, some hiccups are more stubborn than others. When this happens, your doctor may prescribe medications to help them subside. Common medications for chronic hiccups include:

1. baklofen (baclofen);
2. chlorpromazyna (torazyna);
3. metoclopramide.

See also: Watch out for dietary supplements. These ingredients can be harmful

Prevention of hiccups

Common hiccups caused by lifestyle factors can usually be prevented by making some changes to your habits. If we find that a certain behavior is causing the hiccups, we can try:

1. slow down. The vagus nerve (which controls hiccups) can be triggered by eating too quickly and carelessly chewing food, causing air to become trapped between pieces of food.
2. do not overeat. Many people get hiccups after eating large amounts of food. Some experts believe that hiccups are our body’s way of telling us to stop eating.
3. avoid hot or spicy foods. These foods often irritate the stomach lining and sometimes cause stomach acid to leak into the esophagus, which can cause hiccups.
4. do not drink excessive amounts of alcohol. Alcohol, like spicy foods, irritates the lining of the esophagus and stomach. In addition, large sips of alcohol cause the esophagus to expand rapidly, as well as swallowing air. All of these factors can contribute to the hiccups.

Can you get rid of hiccups?

In healthy people, hiccups usually resolve on their own without serious consequences. However, if the hiccups persist, it can cause social embarrassment and stress, and if prolonged, it can lead to disturbances in speech, eating and sleep. Interestingly, history knows one case of hiccups lasting many years. According to the Guinness Book of Records, the hiccup record continues to be held by Charles Osborne (1892-1991), of Anthon, Iowa. This man hiccupped continuously for 68 years, from 1922 to 1990.

While Osborne was preparing to slaughter a 300 kg hog in 1922, the animal fell on him – and so began his decades of constant hiccuping. He had one “hic” every 10 seconds for the next 68 years. Experts speculate it could have been due to either a rupture of a blood vessel in his brain that controlled the abdominal muscle, or a rupture of that abdominal muscle.

Osborne underwent several surgeries to treat the hiccups which unfortunately failed. He died on May 1, 1991 due to ulcer complications. His hiccups stopped the year before, in 1990.