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Why do we hiccup? And how can I stop?
Chanie Kirschner wants you to hold your breath, now hop on one foot, now run across the room ... what? She swears it works.
Fri, Jan 28 2011 at 10:51 AM
Q: Just finished scarfing down a plate of nachos and was promptly hit with a case of the hiccups. I’m wondering, why is it that when I eat fast, I often hiccup? What are hiccups anyway? And while we’re on the subject, got any tips on how to get rid of them?A: Well, first let’s talk about what hiccups actually are. Even though it may not seem like it when that attractive noise emits from your throat, hiccups actually start with your diaphragm, the muscle right below your chest, that contracts and expands as your breathe. A hiccup emerges when your diaphragm contracts jerkily instead of smoothly (like it’s supposed to), causing a sudden intake of breath that is stopped when your vocal cords snap shut, causing that characteristic “hic!” noise.
So what causes your diaphragm to get all jumpy in the first place? Hiccups often occur when you eat too fast and you swallow extra air (as in your case), drink carbonated drinks, or just eat too much. All of these things can irritate your diaphragm, causing it to go into a spasm.
Usually, most cases of the hiccups resolve themselves in a few minutes or at most, a few hours (fun, fun). Though rare, prolonged hiccups lasting for days could be a sign of a more serious medical condition, so talk to your doctor. (Remember that episode of “Grey’s Anatomy” where Lexie’s mom came in with hiccups that wouldn’t go away and then, later that episode, she died? It makes me shudder when I think about it. I think doctor shows must research absolute worst case scenarios of every medical condition in order to make good television. Don’t even get me started on “House.”)
For those occasional hiccups that are more annoying than alarming, I’ve got a few tricks for you to try.
The first batch of hiccup cures aim to bring more carbon dioxide into your blood, which in turn helps relax your diaphragm. These include holding your breath for as long as you can, breathing into a paper bag for a short period of time, or quickly drinking a glass of water.
The other remedies? Well, I’m not sure if there’s any clinical research that supports their use, but I know more than a few people who swear by them. They include things like drinking water while upside down (not sure how you’re supposed to do this one), eating a teaspoon of sugar, and having someone scare the pants off you.
If you’ve ever been to a dinner party where someone’s gotten the hiccups, I’m sure you’ve heard of a wacky remedy yourself. The fun begins when you can get the person to actually do something ridiculous (“Now, pick your right leg up, hold your hands over your head, and squawk like a chicken while jumping up and down — I swear, it works!”). Which reminds me of one of my favorite kids’ poems by Shel Silverstein, called “Hiccup Cure,” which I’ll leave you with:
Hic...Hic...Hic...Hic...Want to cure your hiccups quick?Stick out your tongue and bite your lip.Hold your breath and shake one hip.Pull back your left foot and kick up.Now, you see, we've cured your hiccup.Nothing much to it — don't you feel swell?Hic...Oh well...
For more on hiccups, the Mayo Clinic is a great resource.
Got a question? Submit a question to Mother Nature and one of our many experts will track down the answer. Plus: Visit our advice archives to see if your question has already been tackled.
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Photo: Jupiterimages
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My family has always used the Peanut Butter as well and it has never failed us. Whenever one of us gets teh hiccups we head straight for the peanut butter.
The spoonful of peanut butter trick has always worked for me. I've tried some others, but they don't always work. Peanut butter is the only one that has worked time and again.
when you get the hiccups, concentrate on the hiccup,close your eyes and think about the hiccup and nothing else..seriously , it works...smoking a bunch of weed also works pretty good
Honestly I thought I was the only one to do this LOL, it acctually does work!! (not the weed part) I have done this many times and never fails, also I have taught others how to do it and it also never fails, the mind is a powerful thing my friend
as hiccups are caused by the diaphragm being "out of wack", any so--called cure must put it back in sync. this method works by rapid re-adjustment of the diaphragm-forcing it to return to its normal state. vomiting is not a very romantic cure, but certainly involves the diaphragm-in a most raid and forceful manner. i have never asked a doctor about this, however, it has always worked for me. never told anybody about it, though. comments welcome.
I posted the same cure and read yours later. My wife and I swear at it. Glad to see it works for someone else.
Swallow your hiccups. That's it! Sometimes it will take a couple of tries to do it right and sometimes you have to do it several times but it works. Swallow the hiccup right before it comes.
I taught this to my 4 year old and it works.
I am sure this has to do with swallowing air, etc. But in the end swallowing those hiccups works!
This is one of the weirdest ways that I have ever seen hiccups cured. Simply ask the person with the hiccups what the color of eggplant is. If they answer correctly (purple and not green) then they are usually cured from the hiccups immediately. Try it for yourself next time
what are the serious conditions due to hiccups? i mean when do you go to the doctor and what medical problem can it cause? my son get's the hiccups several times a month and sometimes so severe we go to the ER but no one can tell me why or what to do or when it's outlining a more serious condition.
I get the hiccups more often than anyone else I have ever talked to about it. There is rarely a trigger, and I've even had them while sleeping. The ONLY thing that cures them immediately is taking a drink of pickle juice. If I have access to the juice, one good swing is all it takes. Otherwise, I'll keep hiccuping till it hurts!
You're the only other person Ive seen who uses pickle juice! Best thing to use to rid em.
Try massaging your phrenic nerve, which controls the diaphragm, it's at the base of your neck in the front. My wife and I have been experimenting with this and as long as you can tolerate being slightly choked for a minute it usually works.
For 25 years now I have used this on everyone I know: The person needs to drink liquid (a lot) from a straw while plugging their ears with their fingers. It seems to shut down the whole air problem and you're cured in no time!!
I gulp some air, tighten my chest then relax and...
...I never have more than a hiccup or two. I don't think its a cure, but I think I am just lucky.
I've always held my breath. Inhale deeply, hold it, exhale slowly, repeat. Works every time.
Maybe it's because I'm a singer, but I have really good diaphragm control. What works for me (and I need stuff to work very quickly, as my hiccups are very painful) is to breath as slowly and as deeply as I can, then let it out nice and slow. In, out. Very slow, very deep. Gotta use the diaphragm.
Just take a swig or two of straight lemon juice, works every time.
fill a glass with cold water and place a piece of silverware in the glass, 'handle' side up. i find spoons to work best because of their length. now, drink the entire glass of water, while holding the 'handle' of the utensil against your temple. hiccups gone! hasn't failed me yet!
Agreed. Works every time for both me & my husband. An Ice cream scoop works well on the temples too.
Swallow a teaspoon of Bitters, if you don't have any, your nearest bartender will usually oblige (don't forget to tip!). It tastes lousy, but it works.
It's a bit less intense if you put the bitters in soda water...still works immediately!
Suck on a Hershey kiss, works every single time for me... (and on the kids)
Try a spoonful of Peanut Butter. You take the spoonful and put it in your mouth on your tongue and close your mouth for about 30 seconds and then swallow it has worked everytime for me.
I definitely agree with peanut butter. I've been using this trick for a long time, and it's almost the only thing that will work for me
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