how do you get rid of hiccups
Most hiccups go away on their own in a few minutes, but you can often stop them faster by “resetting” the nerves and muscles that control your diaphragm.
Quick safe tricks to try
These are simple, low‑risk home tricks commonly recommended by doctors and health sites.
- Controlled breathing
- Breathe in slowly for 5 seconds, then out for 5 seconds, for a minute or two.
* Or take a deep breath, hold it 10–20 seconds, then exhale slowly; repeat a few times.
- Sip or gulp water
- Slowly sip cold water, or drink a glass fairly quickly.
* Some people find drinking from the “wrong” side of the glass (bending forward) helpful.
- Increase carbon dioxide a bit
- Breathe gently in and out of a paper bag for a short time (stop if you feel dizzy, and never use plastic).
- VagUS‑nerve / diaphragm tricks
- Pull gently on your tongue once or twice.
* Hug your knees to your chest while sitting or lying and lean forward to compress your diaphragm.
* Bear down like you’re trying to have a bowel movement (a type of Valsalva maneuver).
- Mouth and throat “shock”
- Swallow a teaspoon of granulated sugar and let it sit on your tongue a few seconds first.
* Suck on an ice cube or a lemon slice for a short time, then swallow.
* A tiny drop of vinegar on the tongue is another traditional option.
Funny forum ideas (less scientific)
Online discussions are full of playful “cures,” like asking confusing questions, making someone think hard, or lightly startling them; these rely on distraction or surprise to interrupt the hiccup reflex and work for some people just by shifting attention and breathing patterns. People also share very specific routines, such as repeating deep breath–gulp–swallow cycles five times in a row and swearing they never fail.
“What did you eat for dinner last night?” is a classic forum joke—by the time you answer, you sometimes realize the hiccups are gone.
When hiccups can be serious
- If hiccups last more than 48 hours, keep you from eating, sleeping, or breathing comfortably, or happen very often, they may need medical evaluation for underlying causes.
- Persistent or “intractable” hiccups sometimes need prescription medicines, and doctors may investigate things like reflux, infections, or nervous‑system issues.
Quick checklist
Try, in order: slow breathing, one or two breath‑holds, a glass of cold water, then sugar or lemon, plus a knees‑to‑chest squeeze; stop if anything causes pain, dizziness, or feels wrong, and seek medical care if hiccups are long‑lasting or very disruptive.
TL;DR: To get rid of hiccups, use slow controlled breathing, brief breath‑holds, cold water, and simple nerve‑stimulation tricks like tongue pulls or sugar on the tongue; if they last over 2 days or interfere with sleep, eating, or breathing, see a doctor.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.
