Hiccups come up suddenly and usually last for a few minutes. There doesn't seem to be a reason for hiccups for many people. Sometimes hiccups can result from hot and spicy foods or liquids, noxious fumes, diseases that irritate the nerves monitoring the diaphragm, abdominal surgery, and stroke or tumors affecting the brain, according to Medline Plus, a website for the National Institutes of Health. There are many suggested remedies that might stop hiccups.
Drinks
Gargling with ice water or drinking a glass of cold water works for some people. Plugging the ears while drinking a glass of cold water helps others. Sipping a warm glass of water or warm water with honey may help. Sipping a teaspoon of apple cider vinegar in a glass of warm water can also work. Another remedy includes mixing two teaspoons of baking soda, two teaspoons of aromatic spirits of ammonia and four ounces of peppermint water, according to Health911.com. A person takes one tablespoonful and repeats if necessary. Pineapple juice is another suggested remedy. Simply drinking the juice of a half an orange may stop hiccups. Lemon concoctions include drinking the juice of a lemon in a half glass of water or sucking half a lemon with a teaspoon of salt on it.
Sweet Remedies
Consuming a teaspoon of sugar may prevent hiccups, Medline Plus says. Some remedies include placing a teaspoon of sugar on the tongue and then drinking a glass of cold water, Health911.com says. Or people can try placing a half-teaspoon of sugar on the back of the tongue for two minutes, repeating several times. A cube of sugar in lemon juice can be taken and dissolved slowly in a person's mouth. A teaspoon of honey or a teaspoon of peanut butter may also work.
Breathing
Some hiccup sufferers hold their breath as long as possible and repeat until the hiccups stop. Breathing into a paper bag tightly pressed around the mouth has become a popular remedy. Health911.com suggests spreading the arms out and breathing deeply.
Actions
Long-time favorite hiccup remedies include having someone suddenly frighten the person with hiccups. People can also try pulling on their tongue or putting strong pressure on the collar bone to stop hiccups. Hypnosis or acupuncture have been suggested for lasting hiccups as alternative treatments, the Mayo Clinic says.
Medical Treatment
Underlying medical conditions can lead to hiccups that won't go away. A doctor may prescribe muscle relaxants, anti-nausea medication or antipsychotic drugs, the Mayo Clinic explains. A doctor can also inject patients with an anesthetic to block nerves causing the hiccups. If necessary, surgical procedures include inserting a thin flexible tube through the nose into the stomach to halt the hiccups or implanting a battery operated device in the chest to produce mild electrical stimulation of the vagus nerve, which carries neurons to the stomach and other organs.
