Hiccups are more annoying than they are serious. Persistent hiccups should be evaluated by a medical professional, but, in most cases, a few, simple habit changes can prevent hiccups. The Mayo Clinic explains that hiccups can be caused by things like alcoholic beverages or eating a large meal. The hiccup sound occurs when the diaphragm contracts involuntarily. The diaphragm is a muscle that separates the chest from the abdomen and is integral to breathing. The Mayo Clinic explains that when the muscle contracts, the result is a sudden closure of the vocal cords, which causes the "hic" sound. Hiccup cure suggestions are abundant, but some may work better than others, depending on the individual.
Breathing
One common remedy is to breathe into a paper bag. Rhythmically inhaling and exhaling into the bag can help relax the diaphragm. Concentrating on rhythmic breathing, even without a paper bag, may be just as effective. Holding your breath for as long as possible may also be effective in stopping the diaphragm contractions. Try holding your breath for 10 seconds and then breathing out slowly before holding your breath again.
Drinking
The Mayo Clinic suggests gargling with ice water to help slow the contractions. Sometimes, just sipping cool water can stop the hiccups. Another common remedy is to drink from the opposite side of the glass. Essentially, the glass is tipped normally, as if you are about to drink, but, instead, you put your mouth to the rim on the opposite side. The concentration and bending of the neck to accomplish this technique can help elongate the esophagus and surrounding muscles. This stretching can help interfere with the rhythmic contractions, eventually causing them to stop.
Sugar
Swallowing a teaspoon of sugar is thought to calm hiccups, says the University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC). This method is thought to work by forcing you to swallow slowly and with purpose. The tongue has to move around to help dissolve the sugar for it to be swallowed. The distraction of dissolving the sugar can be effective in regulating the breathing to help the diaphragm relax.
Medical Intervention
Chronic hiccups that occur more than once per day most days out of the week may require medical intervention. Hiccups that last for hours at a time may also benefit from medical treatment, including medicine and, sometimes, surgery. Some medications that are effective in treating long-term hiccups include specific antipsychotics, antinausea or muscle relaxant drugs. Specifically, the Mayo Clinic suggests chlorpromazine, metoclopramide or baclofen.
Doctors may perform a surgical procedure to insert a tube through the nose into the stomach to help stop the hiccups, says the Mayo Clinic. This is known as a nasogastric tube. Or, they may insert a nerve block into the phrenic nerve, found near the diaphragm, to stop hiccups. Finally, doctors can implant a battery-operated device into the chest that emits an electrical current to stop hiccups. This is often used in epilepsy treatment.
