Hiccups are usually not a big issue to deal with. However, if you are the type to get embarrassed easily, loud hiccups may just have everybody’s focus on you. And maybe there’s an important meeting taking place. The last thing you would want is for a series of hiccups to ruin the serious atmosphere. This article will discuss various ways to cure hiccups.
Causes of Hiccups:
There is no singular cause for hiccups to occur. However, some common reasons that are attributed to causing hiccups are,
- Eating too quickly, subsequently swallowing air along with the food.
- Sudden emotional excitement or fear.
- Eating too much fatty/spicy food and drinking too many carbonated drinks.
- Anxiety or stress
- Inhaling noxious fumes
- Heartburn or acid reflux
- Chewing gum
- Gastroesophageal Reflux (GERD)
Symptoms of Hiccups:
There are hardly many symptoms that show hiccups. The only sign of a hiccup is the characteristic ‘hic!’ sound that occurs when you hiccup. Although sometimes, there is a slight tightening sensation in your chest, throat or abdomen to indicate that you are going to hiccup.
What are Hiccups?
Hiccups can be termed as typically brief, involuntary contraction of the diaphragm. They happen because the nerves located along the neck to the chest become irritated. The common hiccuping spell should only last for about an hour, with hiccups occurring at rhythmic 30-second intervals. The average instances of hiccups last from just a few minutes to a few hours. But in a few rare cases, people have suffered from extended periods of hiccups that last for days, months or even years. In the case of prolonged hiccups, the risks are that they interfere with
- Speech
- Eating
- Sleeping
- Wound healing after surgery.
Hiccups that last for more than 48 hours are known as persistent hiccups. And if the hiccups last over a month they are called intractable hiccups. Both types can provoke serious health difficulties, the most fatal being death. But even then in rarer cases, hiccups are but a symptom that indicates a larger health problem such as,
- Renal failure
- Liver disease
- Some types of cancer, including lung cancer
- Issues with nervous system
- Abdominal problems, like ulcers
- Heart Attack
Ways to Cure Hiccups:
To gain the most effective results, some of the popular home remedies involve stimulating the nasopharynx. Doing so will distract your body from focusing on the hiccups. Most of the other remedies look to interrupting the respiratory cycle in order to stop the hiccups. While there is no concrete evidence as to why it works, mental distraction often gets rid of hiccups. Read on to know more about these various remedies for hiccups and how to use them.
1.) Hold Breath to Cure Hiccups
This is probably the most classic way to cure hiccups. The theory behind this is that interrupting the airflow can force the hiccups to subside. In addition, this should help your diaphragm relax. Try these steps to stop hiccups.
- Take a deep breath and hold it in for as long as possible. Focus on holding your breath.
- Alternatively, inhale as much as you can through your mouth. Now close your mouth and pinch your nose shut. Hold this position for as long as you can go without breathing. Release your breath and relax.
- Repeat this process as needed.
2.) Treat Hiccups with Paper Bag
Sometimes, people may find it difficult to hold their breath long enough to cure hiccups. In this case, you can substitute the method above with this one. Breathing into a paper bag can help to relax the spasming diaphragm muscles and thereby stop hiccups. It works on the theory of increasing the amount of carbon dioxide in the bloodstream. This leads the body to be more occupied with getting rid of the carbon dioxide than the hiccups.
- Take a paper bag and scrunch the neck of the bag in your hand. The opening should be just big enough to fit your nose and mouth.
- Now hold it against your nose and mouth, and breathe slowly.
- Inhale and exhale with deep breaths. This should cure hiccups very soon.
3.) Sugar to Get Rid of Hiccups
One trick to cure hiccups is to eat sugar. The surface of the tongue is divided into different regions of taste buds. For maximum impact, place sugar at the back of the tongue. This is where the taste buds to identify “sour” taste is located. This will confuse the mind and the sensory overload on the nerves can help to cure hiccups. In addition, there is a fair amount of pressure exerted on the tongue when you eat sugar. You tend to immediately respond to sugar, as the mouth clamps down on the crystals. Also, your mouth will produce more saliva.
- Take one teaspoon of sugar and place it on your tongue. Do not swallow immediately, but rather keep it on your tongue.
- You may even use a sugar cube and suck on it. Try to place this as far back on the tongue as possible, without choking.
- As an additional measure, you can drink 100ml of cold water straight after you finish the sugar.
Note: This method is not advisable for diabetics and infants. You can substitute sugar with corn syrup for toddlers.
4.) Cure Hiccups Fast with Lemon
Another way to cure hiccups is to use lemons. This is another method that works by overload the sensory nerves on the taste buds. The sour taste will almost literally ‘shock’ the nerves and send signals to your brain that confuses it momentarily. Your body will focus more on combating the sourness and the metaphorical jumpstart to your taste buds will cure hiccups.
- Take a medium size lemon and cut it in half. Extract the juice, and place one teaspoon of it on your tongue.
- Another way to obtain the results is to cut a slice of lemon and peel it. Now place the peeled lemon slice on the tongue and leave it there for a few moments.
- You can also try shocking your sensory nerves by sucking on a lemon quarter.
5.) Honey-Water Treatment for Hiccups
With its natural antibacterial properties, honey is a good remedy to relieve many types of irritation. Combined with warm water, honey can aid to cure hiccups. In addition, honey can work to potentially tickle the vagus nerve. This will stop the hiccups. Also, honey is well known to combat infections and as a cough soother.
- You will need 1 tablespoon of honey and 200ml of hot water.
- Place the spoonful of honey in a glass and pour in the hot water. Mix this till it dissolves completely.
- Before consuming, make sure the water is warm, but not hot enough to burn your mouth. Drink this concoction once a day to cure hiccups.
Note: This treatment is good to get rid of toddlers hiccups. When applying this remedy make sure the water is lukewarm before administration. It is important to note that honey in any form should not be administered to children under the age of 1.
6.) Peanut Butter to Cure Hiccups Fast
Using peanut butter to treat hiccups is a home remedy that dates back a long time. The theory is that the sticky, viscous consistency of the peanut butter will disrupt the pattern of breathing. And so it can help to end hiccups.
- Simply place 1 teaspoon of peanut butter in your mouth.
- Hold it in your mouth for a few seconds and then swallow without chewing.
- To make this easier and less risky, choose a smooth peanut butter over the chunky one.
7.) Cure Hiccups Naturally with Chamomile
Another natural method to get rid of hiccups is using chamomile. Chamomile contains muscle-relaxing properties, and this can help to soothe the spasmodic contractions of the diaphragm. The best way to harness the qualities of chamomile is to make a tea.
- You will need 1 teaspoon of dried chamomile herb and a cup of hot water.
- Place the teaspoon of chamomile herb into the water and allow it to steep for 5-10 minutes.
- Drink this tea slowly to end hiccups.
8.) Get Rid of Hiccups with Towel
Now, here is another method to stop hiccups. This method requires hard gulping motions to perform. This concentrated gulping action will counteract the spasmodic muscles that cause the hiccups. In addition, it is an easy way to try and cure hiccups.
- All you need is to place a single layer of paper towel over a glass. Secure it in place if you need to.
- Now drink through this towel. Contract your diaphragm, pulling hard to suck up the water.
9.) Use Fingers to Cure Hiccups
Another way to try and stop hiccups is to use your fingers. The recommended way is to put your fingers in your ears. This because the branches of the vagus nerve are connected to the auditory system. So it may be possible to stimulate the vagus nerve from outside.
Note: Be gentle whilst performing this remedy, and make sure not to stick your fingers too far into your ears.
10.) Hot Sauce to Treat Hiccups Overnight
If the above methods are not working out to get rid of your hiccups, then try hot sauce. This is an easy and inexpensive method to stop hiccups. The theory behind how this works is that the heat and burning sensation turn the body’s focus away from maintaining the hiccups.