How to quickly get rid of hiccups at home

Causes of hiccups

Why does hiccups occur at all and disrupt everyday life with their appearance? There are several reasons:

Binge eating. When you are overfilled with food, the stomach stretches and a spasm begins.
Hypothermia. Convulsions occur due to impaired blood circulation.
Alcohol. Dilatation of blood vessels, and then narrowing, and a sharp one leads to spasm of the diaphragm.
Mental overexcitation. Emotions are overflowing, there is not enough air, muscle contractions are becoming more frequent.
Excitement. A kind of defensive reaction.

Often this phenomenon is observed as a result of fear, stress, crying, or worry. Hiccups appear suddenly after eating too quickly, uncomfortable body posture, or drinking various drinks.

Diaphragm spasms occur due to gastritis, heartburn, bile reflux, and other things.

If hiccups are long and frequent, consult a doctor, as this may indicate that tumors have arisen in the chest or esophagus.

What are hiccups and what causes them? Main reasons

Hiccups occur when the diaphragm begins to contract involuntarily. Your diaphragm is a large muscle that helps you inhale and exhale. When it spasms, you suddenly inhale and your vocal cords slam shut, causing a distinctive sound.

In most cases, this is completely normal and ends quickly. Lifestyle factors that can cause hiccups include:

The habit of eating too quickly and swallowing air along with food.
Overeating (particularly fatty or spicy foods).
Excessive consumption of alcohol or carbonated drinks, which can distend the stomach and irritate the diaphragm, causing hiccups.
Any disease or disorder that irritates the nerves that control the diaphragm (such as liver disease, pneumonia, or other lung diseases).
Abdominal surgery can also irritate the nerves that control the diaphragm, causing hiccups.
Hiccups are sometimes caused by strokes or brain tumors affecting the brain stem, as well as certain chronic diseases (such as kidney failure).
Poisonous fumes.
Sudden changes in temperature.
Fear or excitement, as well as stress.

Some medications may also have hiccups as a side effect, for example:

acid reflux medications;
most benzodiazepines, including diazepam (Valium), alprazolam (Xanax), and lorazepam (Ativan);
Levodopa, nicotine and ondansetron (Zofran).

Common methods for dealing with hiccups

Modern medicine cannot indicate the exact cause of hiccups. Based on this, there is no specific one remedy that could save a person from such an illness. However, there is no need to be upset, since there are many simple and common methods that are recommended in this situation.

To find out how to cope with hiccups at home, just familiarize yourself with 14 effective methods.

It is worth using the reflex method. To do this, press with your finger on the base of the tongue, simulating the state of vomiting. Spasms of the diaphragm stop due to spasm of the esophagus.
Water will be an excellent remedy against hiccups.

Drink water from a large mug in small sips. This helps remove small particles of food from the throat that act on the nerve in this place.
They drink water by bending forward.
Take a cup of water and start drinking while simultaneously rotating the glass around its own axis. Clockwise or counterclockwise.
Leaning forward, take a mug of water in one hand, and take the other behind your back. Stretching their necks, they begin to drink water in sips.

It is recommended to dilute a little vinegar in water (1 teaspoon of apple cider vinegar per 250 ml of warm water). Drink the resulting solution with a tablespoon. If something sour or bitter is ingested, the body will be freed from spasm. Lemon or other citrus juice is also used instead of vinegar.
Place a little granulated sugar on your tongue and swallow. This helps relieve cramps instantly. You can drink a beer drink (2 tbsp) with dissolved granulated sugar (1 tbsp).
It is recommended to take deep breaths and hold your breath for a certain time. The air is exhaled into a paper bag, and when inhaled, a breath is taken from the same bag. Thanks to this process, the blood is filled with carbon dioxide and the hiccups go away instantly.
Doctors offer their own method - betting on money. This is considered a reliable way to stop the spasm. When a person starts to hiccup, take out the money, put it on the table in front of the hiccupper, and then make a bet with him. This is how you get rid of hiccups quickly at home or in the workplace.
Push-ups are chosen as a remedy for hiccups. It is recommended to pump up the press. But they do such physical exercises until the last moment, until the spasm completely disappears. Few people can use the proposed method.
It is worth trying the popular method of personal doctor Kennedy. During the next spasm, open your mouth wide. Pull your tongue, holding it for 10 seconds.
Place your hands behind your back and clasp them together. Quickly drink cold water from a cup in the other person's hand. The spasm should immediately release, since in this position the diaphragm relaxes. And thanks to quickly drinking water, it shrinks. Such simultaneous actions lead to a stationary state of the diaphragm.
Another way to get rid of hiccups is tickling. The meaning of this method is that during tickling, laughter and breathing are retained, which is quickly restored and the person is freed from spasm.
It is recommended to simply scare the hiccupper. The main thing is not to overdo it so that the hiccups do not turn into stuttering.
Eating ice is considered an effective method. It needs to be broken into small pieces and eaten.
Eating a slice of stale bread is no less effective. Eat immediately after a spasm.
A good method for eliminating hiccups is to place your face in a bowl of water and try to hold your breath for a few seconds.

Hiccups during pregnancy

The body of a pregnant woman is generally very different from the female body in a different physiological state.
What normally doesn’t cause much inconvenience can become a real problem during pregnancy. Some expectant mothers begin to hiccup more often and for longer than before pregnancy. Perhaps the increase in hiccups during pregnancy is due to indigestion, which many of you suffer from. And in some cases, and this is not uncommon, hiccups are triggered by nervousness and tension. It is no secret that some expectant mothers worry excessively about the future and the successful outcome of pregnancy and childbirth. Such fears can also cause hiccups.

When hiccups appear against the background of emotional stress, try to relax, think about good things, and sing a funny song out loud. Learn to distract yourself from hiccups. Talk to your doctor. Maybe some mild sedative or herbal tea will help you relax your nervous system and get rid of those annoying hiccups.

Important! Remember, taking medications and dietary supplements (dietary supplements) without consulting a doctor is now strictly contraindicated for you.

Methods for getting rid of hiccups should be as gentle as possible and at the same time effective. Of course, if your pregnancy is still two weeks old, then you can easily try out all sorts of ways to drink water (with or without tilting, from the opposite edge of the glass, and various others). But if your tummy has already become fairly rounded, then it will be difficult to bend over, and you don’t need to strain your abdominal muscles at all.

If you have hiccups, you can try to draw in as much air as possible into your lungs and not breathe for longer. Just don't overdo it. Oxygen starvation is not beneficial for a baby. And try to relax your abdominal muscles too.

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Drink half a glass of ice water in small sips. Cold water causes a shake-up in the body, the muscles contract sharply, and the hiccups go away. Sometimes herbal teas have a good effect. It can be mint, lemon balm, or chamomile. The tea must not be cold. Often, to stop hiccups, it is enough to chew a cracker or a crust of bread.

Try not to get too cold - cold is a known cause of hiccups in both adult and small patients and, of course, pregnant women. If you feel the first signs of hypothermia, immediately change into dry and warm clothes, drink hot tea and coffee.

Starting from the twenty-eighth week of pregnancy, you will feel rhythmic and short movements within yourself. This makes your little one aware of itself. Hiccups are normal for him. Doctors say that in the mother's belly the child often sucks his finger, when during sucking a little amniotic fluid gets into the tummy, the baby begins to hiccup.

Hiccups help the functioning of the baby's internal organs, such as his heart and intestines. Some doctors believe that hiccups are something like a massage. These bouts of hiccups in an unborn baby can last up to twenty minutes. Don't worry, this is absolutely normal and does not threaten the baby in any way. Some babies may even have hiccups several times a day. At the same time, doctors believe that the child does not experience any unpleasant sensations from hiccups, similar to what you and I experience.

Important! It is worth noting that hiccups in your fetus are terrible when they do not go away for a long time. Too long and frequent attacks of hiccups in a baby can be triggered by oxygen starvation. This situation requires control by doctors.

How to get rid of hiccups in a child

Hiccups are considered a common occurrence in children. It can be caused by crying, severe stress, regurgitation and other factors observed in adults.

To quickly get rid of hiccups in your child, follow these recommendations:

The baby hiccups after a long walk in the cold air - warm it up. It's good to drink milk. Place the baby on his stomach and stroke his back.
The spasm began after eating - hold the baby in an upright position, pressing it tightly to the chest. Tickle the child, distract him with toys.
It is recommended to apply something cold to the baby’s throat, but for a few seconds, to avoid hypothermia.
You can get rid of hiccups as a result of excitement or fear if you invite your child to do an exercise. Clasp your hands behind you, lift them above you and stretch. At the same time, take a deep breath.
The child should cover his ears and give him water to drink. For best results, the baby should hold his breath while drinking.

How to get rid of hiccups?

So, how can hiccups be treated?
There is no single true and correct method of dealing with hiccups: for some, drinking a glass of water helps, for others, holding your breath helps. Some recommend scaring the hiccupper, which, in fact, is also a very controversial remedy. The hiccups should go away on their own 5-15 minutes after they start - just as involuntarily as they started.

It should be noted that in case of prolonged hiccups, treatment, first of all, involves influencing the underlying disease, which must be established by a doctor, therefore, if hiccups do not leave you for a long time, be sure to consult a doctor.

Now let's look at what methods and means of getting rid of hiccups are:

Drug treatment

Neurology involves treating prolonged intractable hiccups with medications: antidepressants, antipsychotics and anticonvulsants. They will calm the excessive bioelectrical activity of the brain and help get rid of hiccups. However, it should be remembered that anticonvulsant and antiepileptic drugs can cause lethargy and lethargy.

Medicines against hiccups: Cerucal, Motilium, Scopolamine, Pipolfen, Haloperidol, Finlepsin, Diphenin, Corvalol.

Diaphragm nerve block

In cases where drug treatment does not help get rid of hiccups, a blockade of the diaphragm nerves with novocaine, which was developed by Vishnevsky, is used. This type of hiccup treatment is surgical and improves the sympathetic functions of the nervous system.

How to stop hiccups in adults after drinking alcohol

Very often, hiccups bother people after drinking alcohol. This phenomenon occurs if you drink regularly. But sometimes it occurs in those who do not abuse such drinks.

How to get rid of hiccups after drinking alcohol:

The simplest option is holding your breath. You need to inhale more cool air and try to hold your breath. Repeat several times in a row.
Sticking your tongue out to its maximum length also helps stop hiccups.
The spasm is stopped with bitter, sour foods.
If you are heavily intoxicated, drink mineral water without gases with a slice of lemon. An alternative would be to use boiled water with sugar.
Milk of medium or low fat content will relieve hiccups and reduce the effects of alcohol.

People's Councils

First of all, it is important to understand what this nuisance is.

We are talking about the interaction of 3 phenomena simultaneously:

Diaphragm spasm.
Sharp breathing.
Closure of the vocal cords.

Often this is only a short-term phenomenon that does not indicate any health problems. But few people know that the reason why hiccups occur can be a sign of more serious complications.

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Therefore, if it is present in the long term (several days), it is advisable to consult a doctor. He will determine why the disorder occurs and whether it is a cause for concern. How to quickly get rid of the problem? There are several popular tips on how to do this most effectively.

Try different flavors. Recommended flavors are sweet, sour, salty and spicy. This method is especially effective in deciding how to get rid of hiccups quickly after drinking alcohol. Maybe after a few tries you will determine which flavor will help you. As for sweets , the classic method is a spoonful of sugar - its granularity slightly irritates the esophagus, and the sweet taste overloads the nerve endings in the mouth. You can also combine sweet and sour - drip a piece of sugar with vinegar, put it under your tongue and leave to dissolve.
Lemon helps a lot - squeeze a few drops of lemon juice directly into your mouth (one of the best ways to get rid of hiccups after drinking alcohol).
Many people find that hot sauce or other foods help - the body will focus on relieving the burning sensation instead of the hiccups. For a salty taste, try eating a large spoonful of peanut butter.
Fingers in the ears The question of how to stop hiccups in a drunk person arises relatively often. In such cases, some doctors recommend inserting fingers into the ears. The branches of the vagus nerve reach the auditory system, and when the nerve endings in them are stimulated, the vagus nerve sends a signal to the brain about the presence of a disorder, and the trouble recedes.
Attention: do not insert your fingers too deep!
The vagus nerve can also be soothed by gently massaging it in a circular motion about 2cm above the stomach where it is sensitive.
WaterThe most common folk remedy is water. Swallowing or rinsing your mouth with water helps calm the nerves. However, be careful with sparkling water - it can, on the contrary, cause a problem. It is also recommended to drink water at an angle - for example, from a glass standing on a table. Breathe through your nose, slowly rise up, continuing to sip water in small sips. Try changing your position without drinking water: for example, if the problem overtook you in a standing position, sit, lie down, or at least bend over.
Drinking through a straw The next way to stop hiccups in adults is to drink water through a straw. Take a glass of clean still water, bend over (head down) and drink in this position using a straw. After a few sips, straighten up and repeat 2-3 more times.
Breathing exercises Most often, it is recommended to hold your breath - take a deep breath and try to hold it as long as possible. Repeat at least 3 times. If this method does not help, then on the contrary, try to breathe quickly. The next method is breathing into a paper bag (about 3-5 minutes). This action helps to increase the concentration of carbon dioxide in the blood. The body will focus on mute, and not on diaphragmatic contractions. As an alternative to the bag, you can use your palms.
AromatherapyAromatherapy is a method that traditional medicine recommends for a number of diseases and disorders. In the case of hiccups, we are not talking about a course of aromatherapy, in the true sense of the word, but about deep inhalation of certain aromas: for example, perfumes, flowers, spices, aromatic oils and etc. Smells calm the lungs and thoughts, and send a signal of calm to the diaphragm.
Stick out your tongue While alone with yourself, you can try this slightly funny but simple “medicine”. Stick your tongue out at yourself (repeat several times). Singers also do regular language exercises along with breathing exercises to stimulate the vocal cords and suppress contraction of the diaphragm.
Painful Stimulus Sometimes a painful stimulus can be effective. Ask someone to hit you on the back or pinch your ear. This method helps when the trouble is caused by a psychological process.
BurpingDid you also learn as a child to burp whenever it was “necessary”? When trying to stop hiccups, this childhood bad habit comes in handy more than ever.
Fright Are you or one of your loved ones haunted by hiccups all day? What to do in such cases? Fear will come to the rescue (of course, not leading to a state of shock!). The person's breathing stops for a moment, the diaphragm recovers and “returns to normal activity.”
Training The ideal solution is push-ups. The pectoral muscles that take part in this exercise, together with proper breathing (exhalation is carried out at the moment of maximum muscle tension, i.e., when rising from the floor), also provide diaphragmatic load. The advantage of the exercises is the fact that with their help you can strengthen the chest muscles.

Hiccups in a public place. What to do

Hiccups overtake a person in transport, at the workplace, clinic, school and other public places. What to do in such cases?

If you are in a sitting position, lean forward. This helps to create a certain pressure on the abdominal area and stop the spasm.
Drink water in small sips, suck on the lollipop.
Gently press on the eyeballs with your fingertips.
Take deep breaths and exhales, holding your breath for 10-15 seconds.
Shift your attention away from hiccups by looking at your environment.

Any of the methods proposed above is considered effective, since it has been tried more than once by many people. It is important not to panic during hiccups and not to stress yourself while waiting for the result.

Read about how to get rid of heartburn using folk remedies here.

Be healthy!