Its a question that plagues us all from time to time, but here you will find the answers!
What Causes Hiccups?
A hiccup is essentially an involuntary spasm in your diaphragm.
Your diaphragm is just below your lungs, and its job is to help you breathe in and out.
The sound of a hiccup comes from your vocal cords snapping shut after the involuntary spasm.
So, what exactly causes hiccups?
Regular hiccups can last for anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours.
However, some may last considerably longer.
These are called chronic hiccups, and theyre persistent hiccups that can go on for days at a time.
Holding your breath is quite possibly the most known home remedy for hiccups.
All you have to do is inhale and gulp down a large amount of air.
Hold your breath for as long as you might, and then breathe the air out slowly.
You may need to repeat the process a few times.
Breathing into a paper bag isnt just for hyperventilation.
It can also work as a hiccup remedy.
Place the bag over your nose and mouth.
Then, slowly breathe in and out.
Use a paper bag and not a plastic bag for this method.
Measured breathing is the number of breaths you take per minute.
Hugging your knees while sitting down can help compress your chest and stop diaphragm spasms.
Sit in a comfortable place and bring your knees up to your chest.
You may need to hold them for around two minutes to stop the hiccups entirely.
Another way to compress your chest is to lean or bend forward.
This motion puts pressure on your diaphragm, which stops the spasms.
The Valsalva Maneuver is where you pinch your nose, keep your mouth closed, and venture to exhale.
This maneuver helps to slow your heart and allows you to focus on your breathing.
Slowly drinking ice water can help stimulate the vagus nerve and phrenic nerve.
If youve tried drinking cold water and that hasnt worked, then give something a little warmer a try.
Slowly drink a glass of warm (at least room temperature) water without taking a breath or stopping.
Now, youre going to look a little funny doing this one, but it works!
Take acupand tip it up under your chin.
Essentially, you want to drink from the opposite side to which you would normally.
Gargling ice water helps to overwhelm your vagus nerve and cure mild hiccups.
Gargle the water for roughly 30 seconds and repeat as much as necessary.
Honey and peanut butter help soothe the vagus nerve and ultimately break the hiccup cycle.
Sucking on a lemon is another, albeit more sour, way to disrupt the signals from the nerves.
A sweeter option to sucking on a lemon is to eat sugar.
Try these pressure point methods to see if they work for you.
The first pressure point is actually on your diaphragm itself.
Your diaphragm sits just under your lungs and separates them from your abdomen.
Grab the top of your tongue and gently pull forward.
You should only need to two this once or twice before your nerves are stimulated and your diaphragm relaxed.
Take your thumb of your right hand and press it into your palm on your left hand.
The discomfort of this method is what helps to distract the nervous system.
What method works best for you?
And are there any other ways that work particularly well in resolving the hiccup issue?
Let us know in the comment section down below!
