Without any doubt, hiccups are the most annoying random phenomenon that can disrupt conversations, meals, and not to mention the embarrassing hiccups that usually happen when walking past people or in a crowded room. While hiccups are harmless, they’re usually difficult to stop. In this article, we explore practical techniques to stop hiccups, and the science behind them.
How to stop hiccups
The following techniques can help stop hiccups, however there’s no evidence that it will work for everyone:
Valsalva maneuver
- Sit down or lie down, and take a deep breath.
- Pinch your nose shut, close your mouth, and push air put as if you would blow up a balloon, hold for few seconds as you feel comfortable.
- Open your nose and mouth to breathe out.
Breathe into a paper bag
- Do not put it over your head, and don’t use a plastic bag.
- Put the bag over your nose and mouth, and slowly take a deep breath in, and then slowly breathe out.
- Repeat for a few times as you feel comfortable.
Bite a lemon or shallow a teaspoon of vinegar
- The sour taste can help reset the diaphragm, the muscle situated below your lungs and heart, which helps breathe in and out.
Hold your breath
- Take a deep breath in, and hold it for 10 seconds, then breathe out slowly.
- Repeat few times, increasing the duration of holding your breath in.
What causes hiccups
Hiccups often happen randomly, without any specific reason. However, certain things can trigger hiccups:
- Eating spicy foods.
- Stress.
- Excitement.
- Carbonated drinks.
- Eating quickly and drinking.
- Drinking too much alcohol.
How long hiccups last
- Most hiccups stop within few minutes. However, chronic hiccups can last for several hours.
- The longest hiccups entered in the Guinness World Records lasted for 68 years, experienced by the American Charles Osborne from 1922 to 1990.
- You should contact your doctor if your hiccups last more than 48 hours, and if they come back often.
