Hiccups (Hiccup, Hiccough, Singultus) are sudden occurrences (not a disease) that happen involuntarily and automatically (there's no way to prevent them). The body cannot control this reflex, which is very common in both males and females, from fetuses to the elderly, especially in newborns, young children, adolescents, and young adults.

      Hiccups typically come and go. The mechanism is believed to be caused by irritation of the diaphragm's nerves and the muscles between the ribs, which assist in breathing, similar to the diaphragm itself. This results in an immediate contraction of the diaphragm and intercostal muscles, leading to an immediate inhalation, followed by the vocal cords closing right after inhalation, producing a sound. Hiccups can occur approximately 4-60 times per minute and usually resolve on their own within minutes to hours.

Causes of Hiccups

Generally, hiccups are a common occurrence with frequent causes or risk factors such as:

  • Inhaling various fumes
  • Eating too quickly, overeating, or feeling overly full
  • Consuming gas-producing foods
  • Eating spicy, sour, salty, or overly sweet foods
  • Sudden temperature changes in the stomach, such as consuming very hot food or very cold drinks on an empty stomach
  • Drinking carbonated beverages or beer
  • Heavy smoking or alcohol consumption
  • Having a lump in the throat area, such as a goiter
  • Side effects from certain medications, such as chemotherapy drugs for cancer
  • Hiccups may also be related to psychological and emotional issues such as excitement, stress, anxiety, depression, or fear, which can trigger hiccups.

How to Cure Hiccups

As mentioned, hiccups usually resolve on their own and do not require treatment. However, there are traditional remedies that may help alleviate hiccups more quickly, as these methods are believed to interrupt the reflex causing hiccups, such as:

  1. Take a deep breath and hold it for a moment, counting to 10, then exhale and drink water immediately. Alternatively, hold your breath and swallow saliva three times, then breathe normally. Another method is to tilt your head back, hold your breath, count to 10, then exhale immediately and drink a glass of water.
  2. Breathe in and out of a closed bag or paper bag by covering your mouth and nose with the bag and breathing inside it for a while until you feel uncomfortable. Breathe short breaths for about 1-2 minutes, and the hiccups should go away. You can also cover your mouth and nose with your hands while continuing to breathe normally, which helps suppress hiccups due to increased carbon dioxide intake.
  3. Drinking water correctly can help cure hiccups! There are several methods, such as drinking water quickly in 9 gulps, sipping water rapidly from a glass in quick succession, or sipping very cold water slowly and continuously until the hiccups stop or until you can no longer hold your breath.
  4. Bend forward at the waist and drink from the far side of the glass (make sure the glass is full and drink slowly from the edge). Many people have found this method very effective. Alternatively, hold water in your mouth with your chin to your chest and try to swallow it all at once!
  5. Consume something very sour, such as 100% lemon juice by squeezing about a teaspoon of lemon juice and sipping it to relieve hiccups, or swallow a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar, which can quickly stimulate taste receptors and stop hiccups.
  6. Swallow granulated sugar without drinking water. A study from the University of Michigan found that swallowing a tablespoon of plain sugar (without water) helped alleviate hiccups in 19 out of 20 people!
  7. In addition to swallowing sugar, swallowing a lump of rice, a piece of bread, chewing dry bread, or swallowing small ice cubes or crushed ice can also help.
  8. Try a heaping teaspoon of peanut butter while chewing and working the sticky peanut butter off your tongue and teeth. The interruption of swallowing and breathing may help stop hiccups.
  9. Plug your ears with your fingers for about 20-30 seconds or plug your ears and sip water through a straw. Alternatively, press the soft area behind your earlobe where it connects to the skull. This method sends relaxation signals through the vagus nerve, which extends from the brainstem and connects to the diaphragm area.
  10. Use your thumb and index finger to hold your tongue and pull it forward, or stick your tongue out long to help open up a closed airway.
  11. Pinch your nose with your thumb and index finger and drink about 7 gulps of water (or until you can no longer hold your breath) while still pinching your nose until you feel air pushing out of your ears. It is said that doing this no more than 3 times can effectively stop hiccups!
  12. Press the hiccup point, a tip from traditional Chinese medicine. Before pressing the point, sit up straight or lie on your back. Then use your thumb to press down on the brow ridge on both sides (the zanzhu point). Keep the remaining four fingers holding your head. Start with gentle pressure and gradually increase it, alternating between light and firm pressure until the hiccups stop, for about 3-6 minutes.
  13. Press the area just below the thumb of the opposite hand with your index and thumb fingers. The harder you press, the better. Alternatively, press the area above the upper lip, as the pressure can help divert your nervous system from the hiccups.
  14. Massage the roof of your mouth.
  15. Tickle the inside of your nostrils to induce a sneeze, which can immediately stop hiccups!
  16. Regulate your normal breathing in and out, focusing solely on your breath. You will notice that the duration of hiccups gradually lengthens. Initially, you may still have some hiccups, but as you continue, they will eventually disappear.
  17. Startle yourself, such as by giving a strong slap on the back without prior warning, or create intense emotions like anger, excitement, or fear. Alternatively, distract yourself by asking, "What is tofu made from?" It’s amazing how it really works!
  18. Inhale strong-smelling substances, such as ammonia.
  19. If it’s an infant or baby with hiccups, you should hold them over your shoulder and gently rub their back to help them burp.
  20. Other methods that may work include rinsing your mouth, chewing on fresh ginger, drinking water, holding a pen in your mouth while drinking water, eating spicy sauce, swallowing honey mixed with warm water (1 teaspoon of honey), swallowing cocoa powder or Ovaltine, slowly chewing and swallowing coriander seeds, or using a paper towel to cover the top of a glass of water and trying to drink through it (when you suck the water through the paper, it forces the diaphragm to work harder, helping to counteract the muscle spasms).

    21. If hiccups persist for several days, it is considered abnormal, and you should see a doctor, as it may be a symptom of other conditions such as brain disorders, gastrointestinal diseases, paralysis, inflammation in the diaphragm area, or stroke. However, most patients who visit a doctor for prolonged hiccups do so due to brain abnormalities or paralysis, which can be treated with medication to alleviate hiccups.

SOURCE: www.medthai.com