How to get rid of hiccups easily and quickly
Hiccups are involuntary contractions of the diaphragm, the muscle that separates the chest and abdomen and plays a critical role in breathing.
The movements of the diaphragm are controlled by the brain. Sometimes it gives incorrect signals, causing it to contract faster than it should. With each spasm, the muscle presses on the lungs and pushes air out of them. It passes through the larynx under pressure and closes the glottis and epiglottis. This process is accompanied by a characteristic sound. Spasms are repeated, hiccups occur.
Physiologists do not always understand what exactly causes contractions of the diaphragm. There are many possible reasons : from accidental swallowing of air to dangerous diseases of the nervous system.
Robert Provine
Neuroscientist, author of the book “Curious Behavior: Yawning, Laughter, Hiccups,” in a commentary to Vox
We still don’t really know where hiccups come from. Therefore, her therapy has not improved since Plato.
Although hiccups themselves are not life-threatening, they can cause a lot of trouble . Thus, the sound produced can be quite loud and embarrassing; due to contractions of the diaphragm, it is difficult to eat and drink, and sometimes there are problems with sleep.
How to get rid of hiccups
Usually, hiccups go away on their own: it takes from a few minutes to a couple of hours. But there are times when more time is required.
Most ways to quickly stop respiratory spasms have one of two goals :
- Increase the concentration of carbon dioxidein the lungs and blood. Feeling the threat of suffocation, the body quickly comes to its senses and normalizes the functioning of the diaphragm.
- Stimulatethe vagus nerve. It connects the brain and digestive system and is also involved in the breathing process. Stimulation causes the brain to switch to new sensations and stop transmitting incorrect signals to the diaphragm.
Choose any option you like. And move on to another if the previous one didn’t work.
Hold your breath
Take a deep breath and hold it for 10–20 seconds. Then exhale slowly. Repeat if necessary.
You can also use the following technique :
- exhale sharply and then take a deep breath;
- hold your breath for 10 seconds, and then, without exhaling, inhale again;
- wait a couple of seconds and try to take the next breath.
This maneuver not only increases the concentration of carbon dioxide, but also immobilizes the diaphragm.
Breathe into a paper bag
Take a small paper (not plastic!) bag and cover your nose and mouth with it. Exhale and inhale slowly so that the bag inflates and deflates. Continue for 15 seconds.
Breathe slowly
Inhale deeply , counting to five, and exhale in the same way. Do 5-7 reps.
Hug your knees
Find a place where you can sit comfortably and raise your knees to chest level. Wrap your arms around your legs and try to press them closer to your body while leaning forward . Sit in this position for 20–30 seconds.
Drink a glass of cold water
Do it quickly. To stimulate the vagus nerve even more effectively, you can drink through a straw, plug your fingers into your ears, press on your closed eyes, or squeeze the wings of your nose – this will stimulate the contraction of the diaphragm and stop hiccups.
Suck on an ice cube
Dissolve it for a few minutes. And swallow when it reduces to small sizes.
Eat something with a strong taste
For example , a piece of lemon or tomato, generously seasoned with vinegar.
Try to induce a gag reflex
This can be done by pressing with your fingers or a spoon on the base (root) of the tongue. The inevitable spasm of the esophagus will stop the contractions of the diaphragm.
Stick your tongue out as far as you can
To be sure, use your fingers to pull it out and down. This will also put pressure on the root of the tongue and provoke a spasm of the esophagus.
Swallow a dry piece of bread
It will “scratch” the upper palate and may relieve hiccups. The main thing is to choose a small cracker that you won’t be able to choke on .
Put sugar on your tongue
Approximately a teaspoon, trying to place the crystals as close to the root of the tongue as possible. Allow the sand to dissolve or do not swallow for at least 5-10 seconds.
Relax your neck
Sometimes hiccups can be caused by a strained neck, and to get rid of the problem you need to relax .
Breathe in something with a strong smell
Ammonia or ammonia will do .
Massage the carotid artery
It runs on both sides of the neck. This is the paired artery that you press with your fingers when you try to feel the pulse under the lower jaw.
Lie on your back, turn your head to the left and massage the artery on the right side in a circular motion for 5-10 seconds.
Gently rub your eyeballs
Close your eyes and massage them gently. This will help stimulate the vagus nerve and stop hiccups.
Give a rectal massage
Simply place your finger in the anus. This non-standard method was discovered by doctors at the Bnei Zion Medical Center (Haifa, Israel). This is how they stopped persistent hiccups in a 60-year-old patient.
In 2006, doctors were even awarded the Ig Nobel Prize for their discovery.
Have sex
Francis Fesmire, the doctor who published the first study on the benefits of rectal massage , later said that he would have recommended sex instead of a finger in the anus.
Francis Fesmire
Emergency medicine specialist, in a comment to New Scientist
Orgasm results in incredible stimulation of the vagus nerve. From now on, I will recommend sex as a cure for intractable hiccups.
Take a break
In some cases, to get rid of hiccups, it is enough to stop concentrating on it. Take a Chinese or English lesson in an online trainer, complete a crossword puzzle, or try to calculate 112 ÷ 4 × 2.5 in your head.
What to do if you can’t stop hiccupping
If hiccups persist for more than 48 hours or often return and bother you, this is a reason to go to the therapist . For children, this period is shorter – you should contact a pediatrician if the hiccups last more than two hours.
The doctor will try to find out the possible cause of the problem. Often such long-term hiccups occur due to taking certain medications. And sometimes various conditions lead to it, for example, diseases of the stomach, esophagus, pneumonia, pancreatitis, damage or irritation of the vagus or phrenic nerves, disorders of the central nervous system, metabolic problems . Sometimes hiccups occur due to excessive alcohol consumption.
A specialist may suggest prescription medications as treatment. These medications block calcium channels inside cells, causing the brain to produce substances that stimulate the activity of the diaphragm.
If the pills don’t help, your doctor may suggest an injection of an anesthetic – this will block the phrenic nerve and stop the hiccups. In some cases, a device may be surgically implanted to stimulate the vagus nerve.
How to prevent hiccups from returning
Most often, to prevent hiccups from appearing, it is enough to avoid swallowing air and spasms of the diaphragm. For this:
- reduce the amount of alcoholic, carbonated or very hot drinks in your diet;
- try not to chew gum or smoke ;
- try to give up spicy foods or eat less of them;
- do not eat or drink something very cold immediately after something hot;
- chew slowly and do not overeat;
- do exercises to prevent your neck from becoming overstrained;
- If you are worried or nervous, try to calm down .
This material was first published in September 2016. In December 2023, we updated the text.