How to get rid of hiccups: the tricks that work

What are hiccups and what causes them? Could it be caused by a serious health problem? We tell you what the causes that trigger it and what tricks work (really) to remove it.

Hiccups are caused by a rapid, sudden, and involuntary contraction of the diaphragm, the muscle we use to breathe, in the middle of a breath. These contractions cause the vocal cords to close and, therefore, hiccups cause that particular sound. But how can we remove it?

Sometimes, hiccups go away just as they come, suddenly and without any remedy. Other times, it seems impossible to get rid of it no matter how many remedies we put into practice. Who has not been the victim of countless well-intentioned scares to take our hiccups away? Luckily, we know what remedies can help you get rid of hiccups the next time you suffer from them: we just have to stick to their medical explanation.

What causes hiccups?

The Spanish Society of General and Family Physicians ( SEMG ) explains that, depending on the duration of the hiccups, they can be classified into:

• Acute hiccups: last less than 48 hours and are therefore also called transient hiccups.
• Persistent hiccups: their duration can last from 48 hours to 30 days.
• Intractable hiccups: can last for more than two months.

These three types of hiccups can be triggered by very different causes, but according to the SEMG, none of them perform any physiological function, since unlike other reflexes and symptoms, such as cough or vomiting, their purpose is not to protect our body.

One of the most common causes that causes it is irritation of the nerve that regulates the movements of the diaphragm, which can be due to nerves, eating too much or too quickly, irritation of the stomach or throat, or an illness that attacks the nerves of the chest - such as pneumonia or pleurisy -, the ingestion of very spicy or spicy foods, a stroke or a disease that affects the esophagus.

For these reasons, the remedy to get rid of hiccups must involve stimulating the nerves and muscles in the chest area, so that they contract and relax at an appropriate rate. However, when it persists for more than one or two days, it is best to go to the doctor to evaluate our case and identify the causes that cause it.

How to get rid of hiccups?

In most cases, hiccups last a few seconds or minutes. In these cases, there are home remedies that can help us get rid of it. You've probably heard that some tricks, the most popular and traditional ones, such as being the victim of a scare and drinking water with a glass placed upside down, are the most effective, but the tips we tell you below are the ones that work.

1. Drink a glass of water, but cold, as it helps stimulate the nerves in the chest. You can also suck on an ice cube.
2. Breathe slowly and deeply so that the diaphragm calms down and the muscles relax. You can help yourself with a bag.
3. Hold your breath as long as you can. This trick causes CO2 levels in the blood to increase, which stimulates the nervous system.
4. Take a spoonful of honey, sugar, lemon, or vinegar, foods that stimulate the taste buds in such a way that they overload the nerves in the mouth. This sensation overloads the brain nerves and occupies them, which is why they tend to relax other muscles, in this case, the diaphragm.
5. Stimulate the chest with abdominal breaths. Lie on your back and bend your knees over your abdomen. In that position, slowly take in the air until you fill your abdomen and release it slowly. With this exercise, the chest muscles relax and the diaphragm returns to functioning at a normal rhythm.

How to prevent it?

There are those who, due to their habits, have a certain predisposition to suffer hiccups. For example, if you have a habit of eating or drinking too quickly, you may experience hiccups several times a month. You don't have to worry if it disappears after a few minutes. However, if on one of these occasions, it persists for more than a day, it is advisable that, as we have said, you go to the doctor to investigate the cause since it could be due, among other things, to an infection, gastrointestinal inflammation or to the consumption of certain medications.

In addition, you can use certain tricks to prevent the appearance of hiccups and, although they are not infallible, they can reduce the possibilities:

• Reduce consumption of alcoholic beverages
• Eat and drink more slowly
• Chew food well and eat it in small portions
• Reduce the consumption of very spicy or overly seasoned foods

What about babies and children?

More than in adults, hiccups are common in children. In most cases, it appears after crying or a tantrum and is likely to last several minutes, even up to half an hour. In the case of children from two or three years old, you can resort to the trick of drinking a glass of water. If it is a baby, breastfeeding is the most effective remedy and, if the hiccups occur after eating, try to remove the gas.