Hiccups, also known as singultus, can be annoying for any person experiencing them. Although hiccups usually go away on their own, there are certain home remedies to stop hiccups that you can try.
Hiccups, an involuntary action of muscles in the throat canal, can be caused by any of the following:
- Excessive alcohol or food intake
- Gastric insufflation
- Moving from a cold to a hot area or vice versa
- Tobacco use
- Alcohol intoxication
- Stroke
- Head trauma
- Head and neck tumours
- Lung masses
Home Remedies for Hiccups
Most home remedies to stop hiccups are based on anecdotal evidence and are generally shared with people verbally. Listed below are the top 15 home remedies for hiccups:(1)
- Breathe into a paper bag
- Hold breath
- Swallow sugar
- Sip on ice-cold water
- Gaspe suddenly or being frightened
- Drink water while holding the breath
- Drink a glass of water through a paper towel
- Hold your breath and swallow three times
- Quickly drink a glass of water
- Gargle with water
- Pat on the back of the person having hiccups along the spine starting from the neck
- Bite into a slice of lemon
- Apply pressure with one hand to the palm of your other hand
- Hug your knees
- Pull on your tongue
Other common hiccups treatments at home include practising measured breathing with slow and steady breaths by inhaling and exhaling, with a count of five. Another way to try to stop hiccups is to pinch your nose and breath out while keeping your mouth closed (similar to how you equalise pressure in your ears during flights, swimming, or diving).
Preventing hiccups
Hiccups that are triggered by certain lifestyle factors can be prevented in most cases by altering your habits. Following are some ways that may help in preventing hiccups:
- Eating less quantity in one meal/serving and increasing the frequency if you don’t feel satiated
- Chewing properly and eating slowly
- Not eating excessively spicy foods
- Avoiding carbonated beverages
- Avoiding cold foods (e.g., ice cream) immediately after eating something warm (e.g., tea)
Some common triggers that cause hiccups are presented here:
- Drinking carbonated beverages
- Eating a lot of food very quickly
- Extreme emotions, such as stress, anxiety, or fear.
The bottom line
Many of the home remedies mentioned here are based on the idea of interrupting the normal respiration or stimulating the nasopharynx (the upper part of the throat situated behind the nose). There isn’t enough scientific research to back these hiccup treatments performed at home, and they may or may not work.
One is encouraged to try different methods to stop hiccups. However, if nothing seems to work for stopping these hiccups, it is best to consult a doctor. Home remedies for continuous hiccups may not work in some cases. Additionally, if a person experiences chronic hiccups that keep reoccurring time and again, they must get it checked with their doctor to find the underlying cause, such as gastroesophageal reflux (GERD), multiple sclerosis, or stroke.
