Hiccups: Causes, Symptoms And Natural Remedies

By Egbodo Peter

Introduction

Hiccups are nothing but repeated spasms of contractions of your diaphragm (muscle of respiration located below the lungs) accompanied by a hic sound from your vocal cords. Hiccups are a common phenomenon in people of all age groups. Anyone can get hiccups, and they are usually not a sign of something serious. Hiccups usually settle on their own after a few minutes. But if you experience hiccups for a prolonged period, it can be a symptom of underlying disorders.  

Hiccups are mostly harmless and stop without treatment. But if your hiccups are bothering you, you can use simple home remedies to get rid of them. Hiccups don’t affect the quality of your life.

What Causes Hiccups?

The reason why people get hiccups is not clear. However, several factors might trigger hiccups, including irritated nerves and low carbon dioxide levels in the blood. 

Hiccups can happen if you:

• Drink carbonated drinks and beverages
• Eat more than what is required
• Experience stress, fear, or excitement 
• Take a very hot or very cold drink
• Inhale toxic gases
• Are Anaesthetised for a procedure
• Undergo chemotherapy 
• Take medicines, for example, benzodiazepines for anxiety1
• Over use alcohol 
• Are pregnant

Symptoms

If you have hiccups, you might experience:  

Air gets sucked into the throat involuntarily 

Epiglottis (covering of windpipe) making a hic sound when closing

A sharp contraction of the diaphragm that is felt just below the breastbone 

Generally, hiccups stop after a few minutes.

When you have hiccups your diaphragm constict involuntarily – like, out of coordination.

It is usually not a serious thing. Nothing serious.

And that’s why you have never heard of anyone admitted in the emergency unit for having hiccups. Godswill Ajoma

Suggested Home Remedies for Hiccups:

Generally, hiccups will resolve on their own, but you can try these home remedies to get quick relief.  

1. Breathing Into a Bag.

Breathing into a paper bag might help you stop hiccups. You can use a paper bag or any other bag available and breathe into it to get the benefits.

2. Hold Your Breath   

It is recommended to hold your breath for some time to get rid of hiccups.1 You can start by taking a deep breath and holding it in for some time (as long as you comfortably can) to help you stop hiccupping. 

3. Drinking or Gargling Iced Water 

You can try gargling with ice-cold water to help you deal with hiccups.3 Drinking iced water is also equally effective in getting rid of hiccups. You can also swallow some crushed ice to get rid of hiccups. 

Here are some common household ingredients that you can use as a remedy to manage your hiccups.

4. Peanut Butter 

You can eat a spoonful of peanut butter to help with hiccups. It is a commonly found ingredient which can help with managing hiccups. So, if you have peanut butter in your house, you can try this remedy to get the benefits.

5. Granulated Sugar 

This is a simple and helpful home remedy for you to try. Granulated sugar is a common kitchen ingredient in every Indian household. You can try swallowing a spoonful of sugar to get rid of your hiccups.

hiccups

6. Lemon

You can easily find a lemon in your kitchen; else, you can buy one as they are readily available in the market. You can take a lemon, cut it in half and bite on it. You can also try sucking on a lemon wedge to help you stop the hiccups.

7. Ginger

Ginger is also a common ingredient that you can find in your house. You can use fresh ginger by chopping it and eating some pieces. Consuming ginger is known to stop the hiccups.2,3   

8. Honey

Honey is a common ingredient used in many Indian households. Honey is an effective remedy to deal with hiccups. To use honey, you can mix it in a glass of warm water. You can drink this water to stop the hiccups.

Read More: 6-facts-you-need-to-know-about-first-time-sex

Other Remedies

You can also try some simple steps like:

• Taking deep breaths
• Sitting down and leaning forward on your knees
• Asking someone to give you a fright 
• Rubbing your eyeballs gently.

Because the cause of hiccups may vary, not all these remedies will work out for everyone. However, these home remedies are simple and harmless, and you can try them unless you are allergic to any of the ingredients mentioned above. If you are allergic to any of the ingredients, don’t use them. You can try something else. 

When to Seek Medical Help?

If your hiccups last for a few minutes or a couple of hours, a meeting with a healthcare provider might not be required. However, you should visit your healthcare provider immediately if you experience the following symptoms, as they might be a sign of a serious health condition

• Hiccups occurring for more than two days
• Hiccups that are accompanied by: 
• Headache 
• Trouble in keeping up your balance  
• Numbness

Conclusion 

People of all ages can get hiccups at various points in their life. Hiccups are usually not a sign of anything serious and resolve on their own without any treatment. However, if your hiccups are bothering you, you can use simple home remedies to get rid of them. Some easily found ingredients like honey, ginger, lemon, and sugar can help you stop the hiccups. Breath-holding and breathing into a bag are also some tips that you can follow to help with hiccups. 

However, if your hiccups last more than a few days, and if your hiccups are accompanied by numbness, headache, and trouble balancing, you need to contact your healthcare provider immediately.

© De-health Box