Get rid of hiccups fast

Imagine this: You're just going about your day, minding your own business, when you make an all too familiar sound out of the blue. Oh no, you have the hiccups!

From jump scares to handstands, people have found many inventive ways to get rid of their occasional bout of hiccups, but most of us are just looking for something simple and effective we can do to suppress the involuntary jerks.

“Hiccups are involuntary spasmodic contractions of the diaphragm and muscles of the rib cage which result in an immediate deep breath and sudden closing of the vocal cords causing the characteristic sound of a hiccup,” says gastroenterologist Dr Mark Tanchel. They are believed to result from activation of a nerve pathway called a reflex arc, he adds.

Find out what causes hiccups, as well as some tricks to get rid of them fast.

What causes hiccups?

Hiccups have been troubling people forever, says gastroenterologist Dr Niket Sonpal. “Essentially, when the stomach gets too full too quickly, it puts pressure on the diaphragm and that’s what leads to hiccups…the muscle between your belly and your chest contracts and it forces air and you make that ‘hic’ sound because of it.”

Fortunately, hiccups are usually short-lived and do not represent a serious problem, says Dr Tanchel, and there are many reasons why you might be experiencing hiccups at any given time.

According to Dr Sonpal and Dr Tanchel, here are some of the most common reasons why your hiccups could be happening:

Eating too much
Eating too fast
Drinking alcohol
Drinking carbonated beverages
Swallowing too much air when chewing gum

In accordance with the list above, Dr Sonpal says that the “most common cause of your hiccups is acid reflux or gastric distention.” However, in rare cases, your hiccups could be cause for more concern.

Persistent hiccups lasting more than two days could result from a nervous system cause, or diseases of the chest or gastrointestinal tract, says Dr Tanchel. “Medications and other drugs, illnesses like kidney disease, and even psychological causes of extreme emotion can also result in prolonged hiccups.”

Hiccups which last more than a month are considered “intractable” and can interfere with eating and drinking, speaking and sleep, adds Dr Tanchel. “This can cause severe emotional stress.”

Causes involving the central nervous system, such as multiple sclerosis, are less common, explains Dr Sonpal. “Aneurysms that may be putting pressure on certain areas of the body could also lead to hiccups in rare cases.”

How can you get rid of hiccups?

Everybody has their own way to get rid of hiccups, says Dr Sonpal. And while there are a variety of remedies for hiccups, none have been scientifically proven, says Dr Tanchel.

Here are some popular remedies that Dr Sonpal and Dr Tanchel say might do the trick:

Holding your breath (for 5-10 seconds)
Bearing down (for 5-10 seconds)
Gargling with cold water
Swallowing air
Pulling on the tongue
Pulling the knees up to the chest for up to a minute in a seated position
Pressing firmly on closed eyeballs
Biting into a lemon
Spoonful of sugar

These manoeuvers are all ways you can try to release the pressure, says Dr Sonpal. However, he notes that these methods are only recommended for people who have hiccups for less than 48 hours.

When should you see a doctor about hiccups?

If you’ve tried all the routine things and you don’t know why you are still having hiccups, go get evaluated, says Dr Sonpal. “Everyone gets hiccups once in a while, but if you’re getting them regularly after meals and it’s in conjunction with gastric reflux disease or lasting more than 48 hours, then you should be evaluated.”

Dr Tanchel agrees that you should see a doctor if you have hiccups lasting more than 48 hours. “There are a variety of diagnostic tests which may be performed to try to identify an underlying cause to which treatment may be directed,” he says. “Specific prescription medications are also used to treat the hiccups themselves. Some patients have also benefited from acupuncture or hypnosis.”

Everyone's a little bit different, says Dr Sonpal, but you should pay attention to when your hiccups are happening and if they’re affecting your activities of daily living, and go from there.