What triggers persistent hiccups. How long can hiccups last before becoming a concern. Which symptoms accompanying hiccups require immediate medical attention. What are effective methods to stop hiccups. When should you consult a doctor about hiccups.

Understanding the Mechanism Behind Hiccups

Hiccups are a common physiological phenomenon that most people experience occasionally. But what exactly causes these involuntary contractions of the diaphragm? The mechanism behind hiccups involves a sudden intake of air that hits the vocal cords, producing the characteristic “hic” sound. However, the root of the problem lies deeper in the body.

The spasm originates in the diaphragm or the nerves controlling it, specifically the phrenic and vagus nerves. These nerves are part of the autonomic nervous system, which regulates involuntary bodily functions like heart rate and breathing. When these nerves become irritated or stimulated, they can trigger the hiccup reflex.

Common Triggers for Hiccups

• Eating too quickly or excessively
• Emotional states like excitement, nervousness, or fear
• Consumption of carbonated beverages or alcohol
• Stress
• Sudden temperature changes
• Swallowing air while chewing gum or eating candy
• Irritation of the esophagus

Esophageal reflux is a frequent culprit behind hiccups. In some cases, post-surgical irritation of the phrenic or vagus nerves can lead to prolonged hiccups. It’s important to note that while these triggers are common, persistent hiccups may sometimes indicate underlying medical conditions.

When Hiccups Become a Cause for Concern

While most hiccup episodes are brief and harmless, there are instances where they can signal more serious health issues. How can you distinguish between benign hiccups and those requiring medical attention?

Persistent hiccups lasting more than a couple of days should prompt a visit to your primary care provider. This is especially crucial if the hiccups are disrupting your sleep or daily activities. Your healthcare professional can investigate potential underlying causes and prescribe appropriate treatments if conventional remedies prove ineffective.

More alarming than duration, however, is the onset of additional symptoms alongside hiccups. Certain accompanying signs may necessitate immediate medical care.

Red Flags: When to Seek Emergency Care

• Sudden onset of numbness
• Coordination issues
• Difficulty speaking or swallowing
• Facial droop
• Speech changes
• Vision changes (partial vision loss)
• Weakness on one side of the body

These symptoms could indicate a stroke, which requires immediate medical intervention. If you experience any cardiovascular symptoms along with hiccups, it’s crucial to seek emergency care without delay.

Effective Methods to Stop Hiccups

Before resorting to medical intervention, there are several home remedies and techniques you can try to alleviate hiccups. These methods often aim to disrupt the breathing pattern or stimulate the vagus nerve to “reset” the hiccup reflex.

Breathing Techniques

1. Hold your breath temporarily
2. Perform the Valsalva maneuver: Attempt to exhale while closing your mouth and pinching your nose shut
3. Breathe into a paper bag

Stimulating the Vagus Nerve

• Ingest ice or apply mild pressure to your closed eyes
• Consume a spoonful of sugar to stimulate the back of your throat
• Eat peanut butter from a spoon to relax the back of your throat
• Try sucking on a lemon wedge

It’s worth noting that the traditional method of scaring someone to cure hiccups is not recommended. While the startle response might interrupt the hiccup cycle, it poses risks such as falls or adverse effects on underlying heart conditions.

Medical Causes of Persistent Hiccups

While most hiccup episodes are benign and short-lived, persistent hiccups can sometimes be a symptom of underlying medical conditions. What are some potential medical causes of prolonged hiccups?

• Cancers of the chest or neck
• Brain disorders, including tumors and strokes
• Cardiovascular disease
• Medication side effects

In some cases, hiccups may persist without an apparent cause, a condition known as idiopathic hiccups. When hiccups last for an extended period or are accompanied by other concerning symptoms, it’s crucial to consult a healthcare professional for a thorough evaluation.

The Role of the Nervous System in Hiccups

Understanding the nervous system’s involvement in hiccups can shed light on why certain remedies are effective. The vagus and phrenic nerves, key players in the hiccup mechanism, are part of the autonomic nervous system. This system controls involuntary bodily functions, including heart rate and breathing.

Many hiccup remedies work by affecting these nerve reflexes, essentially “rebooting” the nervous system. For instance, the Valsalva maneuver stimulates the vagus nerve, potentially interrupting the hiccup cycle. Similarly, ingesting ice or applying pressure to closed eyes might trigger a vagal nerve response that stops the hiccups.

The Science Behind Common Remedies

Why do certain foods or actions seem to help with hiccups? The effectiveness of remedies like sugar, peanut butter, or lemon wedges may be attributed to their ability to stimulate the back of the throat, potentially triggering a vagal nerve response. Additionally, these substances may help relax the throat muscles, interrupting the hiccup reflex.

Understanding the neurological basis of hiccups can help in developing more targeted treatments for persistent cases. Researchers continue to explore the complex interplay between the nervous system and hiccup mechanisms to find more effective interventions.

Hiccups in Special Populations

While hiccups are a universal experience, certain populations may be more susceptible to prolonged or frequent episodes. How do hiccups affect different groups, and are there any special considerations?

Hiccups in Infants and Children

Hiccups are common in newborns and infants, often occurring during feeding. In most cases, these episodes are harmless and resolve on their own. However, persistent hiccups in infants may sometimes indicate underlying digestive issues or reflux.

Hiccups in Pregnant Women

Pregnant women may experience more frequent hiccups due to changes in their digestive system and the growing uterus putting pressure on the diaphragm. While usually harmless, persistent hiccups during pregnancy should be discussed with a healthcare provider.

Hiccups in the Elderly

Older adults may be more prone to prolonged hiccup episodes due to age-related changes in the digestive system or underlying health conditions. In this population, it’s particularly important to investigate persistent hiccups as they may be a sign of more serious issues.

Psychological Aspects of Hiccups

While hiccups are primarily a physiological phenomenon, psychological factors can play a role in their occurrence and persistence. How does the mind-body connection influence hiccups?

Stress and Anxiety

Stress and anxiety are known triggers for hiccups in some individuals. The physiological changes that occur during stress, such as altered breathing patterns and increased muscle tension, may contribute to the onset of hiccups.

Psychogenic Hiccups

In rare cases, hiccups may have a psychological origin, known as psychogenic hiccups. These can be associated with conditions such as conversion disorder or may be a manifestation of underlying emotional distress.

The Placebo Effect in Hiccup Remedies

The effectiveness of some hiccup remedies may be partially attributed to the placebo effect. The belief that a particular action will stop hiccups can sometimes be enough to interrupt the cycle, highlighting the power of the mind-body connection.

Understanding the psychological aspects of hiccups can be valuable in developing comprehensive treatment approaches, especially for cases of persistent hiccups that don’t respond to conventional remedies.

Innovative Approaches to Treating Persistent Hiccups

While traditional remedies are often effective for short-term hiccups, persistent cases may require more innovative approaches. What are some cutting-edge treatments being explored for intractable hiccups?

Pharmacological Interventions

Several medications have shown promise in treating persistent hiccups:

• Baclofen: A muscle relaxant that may help reduce diaphragm spasms
• Gabapentin: An anticonvulsant that can modulate nerve signals
• Chlorpromazine: An antipsychotic medication that has shown efficacy in some cases

Nerve Block Procedures

In severe cases, nerve block procedures targeting the phrenic nerve may be considered. These interventions aim to interrupt the nerve signals causing the hiccups.

Acupuncture and Alternative Therapies

Some studies have explored the potential of acupuncture in treating persistent hiccups. While more research is needed, initial results have been promising for some patients.

Biofeedback and Relaxation Techniques

Given the potential role of stress in hiccups, techniques like biofeedback and progressive muscle relaxation are being investigated as potential treatments for chronic cases.

As research continues, these innovative approaches may offer hope for individuals suffering from persistent hiccups that don’t respond to conventional treatments.

Understanding the complexities of hiccups, from their physiological mechanisms to their potential psychological influences, can help in developing more effective treatments and management strategies. While most hiccup episodes are benign and self-limiting, it’s crucial to recognize when they might signal a more serious underlying condition. By staying informed and attentive to our bodies, we can better navigate this common but sometimes perplexing phenomenon.

When are hiccups serious? | Ohio State Medical Center

Author:


J. Chad Hoyle, MD

Topics:

• Health and Wellness
• Neurological Institute

February 07, 2020

Hiccups. They can be annoying or embarrassing, but we typically don’t think of them as concerning. They’re usually short-lived, although in rare cases, they can persist. When they last more than a of couple days, or if other symptoms occur at their onset, they can be a sign of a more serious medical condition.

What causes hiccups?

Hiccups seem to come from the chest–a quick influx of air that hits your vocal cords and causes a little sound. The spasm that causes a hiccup is really coming from your diaphragm or the nerves that control it. Some common causes include:

• Eating too much or too fast
• Feeling excited, nervous or scared
• Drinking carbonated beverages or too much alcohol (sometimes in excess)
• Stress
• A sudden change in temperature
• Swallowing air while chewing gum or sucking on candy
• Irritation of the esophagus

Esophageal reflux is a common cause of hiccups. Prolonged hiccups, though, could be caused by direct post-surgical irritation of the phrenic or vagus nerves. Irritation can also be caused by cancers of the chest or neck. Rarely, hiccups can be associated with disorders of the brain–including tumors and strokes, among others—or cardiovascular disease. Some medications can trigger long-term hiccups, too.

Finally, hiccups can also persist without an apparent cause.

What really gets rid of hiccups?

Before we worry too much about serious conditions, let’s consider some of the many recommendations to get rid of your hiccups. One of the most common is temporarily holding your breath to disrupt your breathing pattern. It can be helpful, and it doesn’t carry much risk to try.

As mentioned, the vagus and phrenic nerves affect your diaphragm. They’re part of your autonomic nervous system, which controls your heart rate and breathing.

Maneuvers that affect the nerve reflex may knock out your hiccups. The Valsalva maneuver is performed by attempting to exhale while closing your mouth and pinching your nose shut at the same time. You’ll bear down a bit as well, trying to (unsuccessfully) expel air, as if blowing up a balloon.

This motion stimulates the vagus nerve, called a vagal nerve response, and it can interrupt the hiccups. I like to think of it as rebooting your nervous system; sort of a reset for the irritated nerves.

Ingesting ice or applying mild pressure to your closed eye might also reboot this nervous system response.

You also may get rid of hiccups with a spoonful of sugar to stimulate the back of your throat (which also might cause a vagal nerve response). Eating peanut butter from a spoon might relax the back of your throat and could help. Interestingly, some patients have had success getting rid of hiccups by eating a lemon wedge.

The one common recommendation to be cautioned against is the tradition of scaring someone to rid them of hiccups. While the gasp of fright may induce a vagal nerve response that interrupts the spasm, it also risks dangerous side effects: If you scare someone, they could lose their balance and fall, and being startled may also negatively impact an underlying heart condition.

When should you seek medical attention?

There are two scenarios that should send you for medical care. First, if hiccups persist more than a couple of days, you should seek care with your primary care provider. This is important especially if the hiccups are preventing you from sleeping. Your provider can rule out other medical causes and may prescribe medications if more traditional methods of stopping your hiccups aren’t working.

More important than the duration, though, is the onset of additional symptoms with the hiccups. You may need to seek emergency care if your hiccups are accompanied by symptoms such as the sudden onset of numbness or coordination issues. These could indicate a stroke, which is serious and needs immediate treatment. Other symptoms of stroke include the sudden onset of difficulty speaking or swallowing, facial droop, speech change, vision changes (losing part of your vision) or weakness on one side of your body.

Pay attention to your body. If the onset of hiccups includes any cardiovascular symptoms, go to an emergency department and get evaluated right away.

But if you’re not experiencing anything else, give it a couple of days. Transient hiccups are usually part of the normal spectrum of life.

J. Chad Hoyle is a neurologist specializing in neuromuscular disorders and electromyography at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center.

Visit Ohio State Health & Discovery for more stories on health, wellness, innovation, research and science news from the experts at Ohio State.

Check out health.osu.edu

How to Make Them Stop and More

Hiccups are caused by the diaphragm involuntarily contracting. Some common causes for this contraction include drinking carbonated beverages, eating a large meal, swallowing too much air, or stress.

Hiccups are repetitive, uncontrollable contractions of the diaphragm, the muscle structure just below your lungs.

The diaphragm marks the boundary between your chest and abdomen, and it also regulates breathing. When your diaphragm contracts, your lungs take in oxygen. When your diaphragm relaxes, your lungs release carbon dioxide.

The diaphragm contracting out of rhythm is what causes hiccups. Each spasm of the diaphragm makes the larynx (voice box) and vocal cords close suddenly. This results in a sudden rush of air into the lungs. Your body reacts with a gasp or chirp, creating the sound characteristic of hiccups.

There’s no way to anticipate hiccups. With each spasm, there’s usually a slight tightening of the chest or throat prior to you making the distinctive hiccup sound.

Most cases of hiccups start and end abruptly, for no noticeable reason. Episodes generally last only a few minutes.

Did you know?

The medical term for hiccups is singultus.

Numerous causes of hiccups have been identified. However, there’s no definitive list of triggers. Hiccups often come and go for no apparent reason.

Common causes of short-term hiccups may include:

• overeating
• eating spicy food
• consuming alcohol
• drinking carbonated beverages, like sodas
• consuming very hot or very cold foods
• a sudden change in air temperature
• aerophagia, which is swallowing too much air
• swallowing air while chewing gum
• excitement or emotional stress

There are several factors that can increase your likelihood of developing hiccups. You may be more susceptible if you:

• are male
• experience intense mental or emotional responses, ranging from anxiety to excitement
• have had surgery, especially abdominal surgery
• have received general anesthesia

Hiccups and your baby

Hiccups can occur at any age. They can even occur while a fetus is still in the womb.

Hiccups are also normal in newborns, are rarely bothersome for them, and don’t typically require home remedies or treatment.

Was this helpful?

Most hiccups aren’t an emergency or anything to worry about. However, a prolonged episode can be uncomfortable and disruptive to your daily life.

Contact a doctor if you have hiccups that last longer than 2 days. The doctor can determine the severity of your hiccups in relation to your overall health and other conditions.

There are numerous options for treating hiccups. Typically, a short-term case of hiccups will take care of itself. However, the discomfort may make waiting out hiccups unbearable if they last longer than a few minutes.

Home remedies

Not all of these have been proven to stop hiccups, but you can try the following potential treatments for hiccups at home:

• Breathe into a paper bag.
• Eat a teaspoon of granulated sugar.
• Hold your breath.
• Drink a glass of cold water.
• Pull on your tongue.
• Lift your uvula, which is the fleshy piece of tissue that’s suspended above the back of your throat, with a spoon.
• Attempt to purposefully gasp or belch.
• Bring your knees to your chest and maintain this position.
• Try the Valsalva maneuver by shutting your mouth and nose and exhaling forcibly.
• Relax and breathe in a slow, controlled manner.

Medications

Treating any underlying causes of your hiccups will usually make them go away.

If your hiccups last for a while and have no obvious cause, a doctor may recommend several anti-hiccup medications. The more commonly used medications include:

• antipsychotic medications chlorpromazine and haloperidol
• benzodiazepines, a class of tranquilizers
• seizure medications, such as gabapentin (Neurontin)
• diphenhydramine (Benadryl), an antihistamine
• metoclopramide (Reglan), an anti-nausea drug
• baclofen, a muscle relaxant
• nifedipine (Procardia, Procardia XL), a blood pressure medication

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hasn’t approved any prescription medications for the treatment of hiccups. If a doctor recommends any of the prescription medications above, it’ll be an example of off-label drug use.

Off-label drug use

Off-label drug use means a drug that’s approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for one purpose is used for a different purpose that hasn’t yet been approved.

However, a doctor can still use the drug for that purpose. This is because the FDA regulates the testing and approval of drugs, but not how doctors use them to treat their patients. So your doctor can prescribe a medication however they think is best for your care.

Massage

A doctor may perform a carotid sinus massage to help stop long lasting hiccups. This involves rubbing the main carotid artery in the neck.

Invasive procedures

There are also more invasive options, which can be used to end extreme cases of hiccups. They include:

• nasogastric intubation, which is the insertion of a tube through your nose into your stomach
• gastric lavage (stomach pumping)
• an anesthetic injection to block the phrenic nerve, which is located in the diaphragm
• surgical implantation of a diaphragmatic pacemaker, a battery-powered device that stimulates your diaphragm and regulates breathing

Hiccups that last longer than 48 hours are considered persistent. Hiccups that last longer than 2 months are considered intractable, or difficult to manage.

These types of long-term hiccups are categorized by the type of irritant that caused the episode.

Nerve injury or irritation

The majority of persistent hiccups are caused by injury or irritation to either the vagus or phrenic nerve. The vagus and phrenic nerves control the movement of your diaphragm. These nerves may be affected by:

• irritation of your eardrum, which may be caused by a foreign object
• throat irritation or soreness
• goiter
• gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)
• an esophageal cyst or tumor

Central nervous system (CNS) damage

Other causes of hiccups may involve the central nervous system (CNS). The CNS consists of the brain and spinal cord. If the CNS is damaged, your body may lose the ability to control hiccups.

CNS damage that may lead to persistent hiccups includes:

• stroke
• multiple sclerosis (MS)
• tumors
• head trauma or brain injury
• meningitis and encephalitis, which are infections that can cause swelling in the brain
• hydrocephalus, or the accumulation of fluid on the brain
• neurosyphilis and other brain infections

Other causes

Hiccups that last for longer periods can also be caused by:

• misuse of alcohol
• tobacco use
• a reaction to anesthesia after surgery
• certain classes of medications, including barbiturates, steroids, and tranquilizers
• electrolyte imbalance
• diabetes
• kidney failure
• arteriovenous malformation, a condition in which arteries and veins are tangled in the brain
• Parkinson’s disease
• cancer and chemotherapy treatments

Medical procedures

Sometimes, a medical procedure can accidentally cause you to develop long-term hiccups. These procedures are used to treat or diagnose other conditions and include:

• use of catheters to access the heart muscle
• placement of an esophageal stent to prop open the esophagus
• bronchoscopy, in which a doctor uses a thin, lighted tube with a camera on the end to examine your lungs and airways
• tracheostomy, or the creation of a surgical opening in the neck to allow breathing around an airway obstruction

Diagnosis

If the cause of your hiccups is unclear, a doctor may recommend tests. These can help detect any underlying disease or condition.

The following tests may be useful in determining the cause of persistent or intractable hiccups:

• blood tests to identify signs of infection, diabetes, or kidney disease
• liver function tests
• imaging of the diaphragm with a chest X-ray, CT scan, or MRI
• echocardiogram to assess heart function
• endoscopy, in which a doctor uses a thin, lighted tube with a camera on the end to investigate your esophagus, windpipe, stomach, and intestine
• bronchoscopy

A long-term episode of hiccups can be uncomfortable and even harmful to your health. If left untreated, prolonged hiccups can disturb your sleeping and eating patterns, leading to:

• sleeplessness
• exhaustion
• malnutrition
• weight loss
• dehydration

There’s no proven method for preventing hiccups. However, if you experience hiccups frequently, you can try to reduce your exposure to known triggers.

Following this advice may also help reduce your susceptibility to hiccups:

• Try not to overeat.
• Avoid carbonated beverages.
• Protect yourself from sudden temperature changes.
• Don’t drink alcohol.
• Remain calm, and try to avoid intense emotional or physical reactions.

Hiccups have a wide range of possible triggers, from drinking soda and eating certain foods to medication use and underlying conditions. A number of possible treatments are also available.

In rare instances, hiccups can last longer than 48 hours. If your hiccups last longer than 48 hours, don’t respond to treatment, or you aren’t sure what’s causing them, see a doctor for a diagnosis.

Also, see a doctor or seek emergency help if you’re having numbness and coordination issues alongside your persistent hiccups. These may be symptoms of a stroke.

How to beat hiccups? – BBC News Russian service

• Claudia Hammond
• BBC Future

4 November 2014

Image copyright, Thinkstock

Image caption,

Sticking out your tongue as much as possible often helps too

Holding your breath or trying something more exotic and rough? Correspondent
BBC Future talks about how to stop hiccups on your own and why these methods work.

As soon as someone starts hiccuping, everyone vies with each other to frighten the unfortunate person, suggest him to hold his breath and give a lot of other advice. What ways to beat hiccups are supported by scientific evidence?

Hiccups are a result of diaphragmatic spasm, causing air to flow into the lungs, which in turn causes a sharp closure of the vocal cords with a characteristic “hic” sound. There are more than a hundred causes of hiccups – in most cases quite harmless. For example, it may be related to taking medications – hiccups can provoke some anesthetics and steroid drugs, drugs prescribed for Parkinson’s disease, as well as chemotherapy drugs used to treat cancer. But, as a rule, this is not the case. Laughter, alcohol abuse, hasty swallowing of food or carbonated drinks can also lead to hiccups – and sometimes it even occurs on its own, without any reason.

Not without extremes. It is believed that the world record for the duration of hiccups belongs to an American named Charles Osborne: he had an attack of hiccups in 1922 (according to reports, at that moment he was trying to weigh a pig), and stopped only 68 years later – in February 1990.

Fortunately, hiccups can usually be stopped by simpler methods – although the debate over which of them is most effective has not subsided yet.

The bulk of folk remedies affect one of two mechanisms. The first group includes methods aimed at increasing the level of carbon dioxide in the blood, which is designed to relieve spasm of the diaphragm, such as holding the breath or breathing through a paper bag.

Sometimes these methods are effective, but scientists still do not really understand what they work. Some believe that this allows you to switch attention to the problem of increasing the concentration of carbon dioxide, while others suggest that it is the lack of this gas that is one of the causes of hiccups, so its replenishment allows you to stop the attack.

An alternative way to combat hiccups is to stimulate the vagus nerve, which connects the head to the abdomen and is responsible for coordinating breathing and swallowing. This nerve is involved in the process of hiccups, which can be interrupted by a certain impact on the nerve, as a result of which it begins to send signals to the brain about the appearance of a new sensation.

This group includes advice to drink water, chew on a lemon or fill your mouth with crushed ice. To stimulate the vagus nerve, you can also stick out your tongue, put your fingers in your ears, or apply light pressure on your eyeballs. In essence, this is an attempt to distract the body from hiccups by turning attention to some unexpected event. Attempts to stop hiccups by frightening the sufferer are based on the same logic.

Image credit: Thinkstock

Image caption:

There are also radical remedies for hiccups that are not suitable for home use. Or just the opposite?

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There is another radical remedy that is perhaps not suitable for home use. It was introduced by Francis Fesmire, a professor at the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Tennessee (USA). The essence of the method is clear from the title of his scientific work, published in 1988, – “Cessation of intractable hiccups by rectal massage. ”

It all started when a man came to the emergency room complaining of hiccups that lasted for three days at two second intervals. The doctor forced the patient to open his mouth wide, pressed his eyeballs, but nothing helped. After trying every means, Fesmire recalled reading last year about how a doctor managed to stop a fast heartbeat in a 71-year-old woman by inserting a finger into her anus. This remedy also helped the hiccuping patient.

However, having received a parody Ig Nobel Prize for his discovery, Fesmire stated that the same effect could most likely be achieved through orgasm, and most patients would certainly prefer this method. Both of these approaches also aim to stimulate the vagus nerve.

Most folk remedies for getting rid of hiccups really do not have scientific evidence. However, the mechanisms on which they are based are consistent with our knowledge of its physiology; in addition, all these methods are considered harmless. None of them is universal, which is why they are so numerous, but all of them are not just idle fiction. Start hiccuping – feel free to try any of them.

Disclaimer. All information in this article is provided for general information only and should not be taken as a substitute for the advice of your physician or other healthcare professional. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites linked to in this article and does not endorse any commercial product or service mentioned or recommended on any of these sites. In case of health problems, contact your physician immediately.

Read
the original of this article in English is available on the website
BBC Future .

How to get rid of hiccups quickly and easily

Likbez

Health

June 1, 2020

Eat a lemon, have sex, or breathe into a bag.

Where does hiccups come from

Hiccups are involuntary contractions of the diaphragm, the muscle that separates the chest from the abdomen and is essential for breathing.

The movements of the diaphragm are controlled by the brain. Sometimes he gives incorrect signals, causing her to contract faster than necessary. With each spasm, the muscle presses on the lungs and pushes air out of them. It passes under pressure through the larynx 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 diaphragmatic contractions. There are many possible reasons: from accidental swallowing of air to dangerous diseases of the nervous system.

Robert Provine

neuroscientist, author of Curious Behavior: Yawning, Laughing, Hiccups, in a commentary to Vox

We still don’t really know where hiccups come from. Therefore, her therapy has not improved since the time of Plato.

However, whatever causes hiccups can be stopped with simple methods.

Now reading 🔥

• What to do if the temperature stays at 37 °C

How to get rid of hiccups

Most ways to quickly stop respiratory spasms have one of two goals:

• Increase the concentration of carbon dioxide in the lungs and blood. Feeling the threat of suffocation, the body quickly recovers and normalizes the work of the diaphragm.
• Stimulate the vagus nerve. It links the brain and the digestive system and is also involved in the process of respiration. 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.

Breathe into a paper bag

Take a small paper bag (not plastic!) and cover your nose and mouth with it. Slowly exhale and inhale so that the bag inflates and deflates. Continue for 15 seconds.

Breathe slowly.

Inhale deeply to the count of five, and exhale in the same way. Do 5-7 reps.

Embrace your knees

Find a place where you can sit comfortably and raise your knees to chest height. Grasp your legs with your hands and try to press them more tightly to the 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, plugging your ears with your fingers, pressing on your closed eyes, or squeezing the wings of your nose.

Suck on an ice cube

Suck it on for a few minutes. And swallow when it shrinks to a small size.

Eat something with a strong taste

For example, a slice of lemon or a tomato seasoned generously with vinegar.

Try to induce a gag reflex

This can be done by pressing 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 out your tongue as far as you can

To be sure, pull it out and down with your fingers. This will also put pressure on the root of the tongue and provoke a spasm of the esophagus.

Put sugar on the tongue

Approximately a teaspoon, trying to place the crystals as close as possible to the root of the tongue. Let the sand dissolve or do not swallow for at least 5-10 seconds.

Inhale something with a strong smell

Ammonia or ammonia will do.

Massage the carotid artery

It lies on both sides of the neck. This is the paired artery that you press with your fingers when you try to feel for a 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.

Do a rectal massage

Just put 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 the persistent hiccups in a 60-year-old patient.

In 2006, doctors even received the Ig Nobel Prize for their discovery.

Have sex

Francis Fesmire, the physician who published the first study on the benefits of rectal massage, later said that he would have advised sex instead of a finger in the anus.