Hic by hic: What causes hiccups & how to stop them
Drinking water while upside-down, sucking on a pickle and thinking of all the bald people you know – there’s lots of ‘cures’ for hiccups that sound a bit silly and don’t really work. Hiccups can be caused by a range of things, and normally, they’re more of a nuisance (and perhaps a cause for embarrassment) than a serious health condition.
Did you know that the longest someone has had hiccups was 68 years? Charles Osborne had between 20 to 40 hiccups in a minute from 1922 to 1990, when they finally stopped one day.
Fortunately, most cases of hiccups last for a few minutes before going away on their own – but there are some at-home treatments you can try to make them go away quicker.
What causes hiccups?
Hiccups are repeated spasms or sudden movements of the diaphragm that you can’t control which cause your vocal cords to suddenly close, producing a “hic” sound. There’s often no obvious reason for getting hiccups and they typically happen out of nowhere. Some people find certain things can trigger hiccups such as after eating too quickly, drinking alcohol, feeling stressed or getting too excited. Because they can start randomly, you can’t really take steps to prevent them.
There are different myths throughout folklore about hiccups. Apparently, you can get them if someone is talking about you. To treat them, you’re supposed to go through a list of people you know, and the hiccups should go away once you’ve reached the culprit. In medieval times, people also believed that hiccups were caused by elves (… but we don’t have any possible treatments for that).
However, the real reason is rooted less in mythology, and more in science!
How can you stop hiccups?
Everyone has a different remedy to help get rid of hiccups including diaphragm exercises or distracting your brain.
Here’s are some helpful ways for stopping hiccups, there’s no evidence that they work for everyone:
- Sip or gargle ice-cold water
- Place granulated sugar onto your tongue, then swallow it
- Bite into a slice of lemon
- Breathe into a paper bag (without covering your entire head)
- Hold your breath for a short time
- Place a couple of drops of vinegar into your mouth
- Bring your knees to your chest, hugging them for two minutes
Hopefully, your hiccups should go away after trying one of these but if not, they normally stop after a few minutes naturally.
If you have had hiccups that last longer than 48 hours you must speak to your GP as it could be due to a medical condition or a medicine you are taking. You should also speak to your GP if they come back very often and are affecting your life.
Looking for more health advice? Learn about heartburn and indigestion, or ways to relieved trapped wind and bloating. Or, discover more advice about living well.
