How to Heal a Hiccup

Drinking water can help eliminate hiccups.

Hiccups can happen to anyone, regardless of age and gender. The involuntary spasms, which are also referred to as hiccoughs, are triggered when the diaphragm is irritated and the area around the diaphragm is compressed. Quickly consuming food, drinking alcohol, smoking and stress can all bring on hiccups. The condition is not a direct threat to your health, and can be healed with various home remedies and medical treatments.

Things You'll Need

• 8-ounce glass
• Water
• 1 tsp. sugar
• Cotton swab

Instructions

Holding your Breath

1. Inhale as much air as you can into your lungs.

2. Close your mouth and squeeze your nose shut with your hand, to avoid releasing any air. Hold your breath for as long as you can.

3. Exhale and repeat this process until your hiccups go away. Holding your breath causes carbon dioxide to build up in your blood which helps your hiccups go away.

Drinking Water

1. Fill an 8-ounce glass with cold water.

2. Gulp down all the water in one time without coming up for air. Drink the water as quick as you can.

3. Breathe normally and see if your hiccups are gone. Repeat the process if needed. Drinking water stimulates the vagus nerve which helps eliminate hiccups.

Sugar

1. Place 1 tsp. of sugar on the back of your tongue.

2. Fill a glass with cold water and drink it to help you wash down the sugar.

3. Wait to see if your hiccups are gone. Swallowing the sugar as is, without the water, may also help your hiccups subside. Honey can be used in the same fashion.

Tickling

1. Swipe a cotton swab over the soft part of the roof of your mouth so it creates a ticklish feeling.

2. Remove the cotton swab and wait to see if your hiccups are gone. Repeat the tickling if your hiccups persist.

3. Have someone tickle you to get rid of your hiccups. Laughing shocks you breathing pattern and helps heal hiccups.

Tips & Warnings

• Consult your doctor if your hiccups are persistent and last longer than three hours. If your hiccups refuse to go away, consider getting a medicine prescription from your doctor for muscle relaxing drugs, anti-nausea drugs or antipsychotic drugs, which may help heal the condition. Consider surgery to heal persistent hiccups if all other treatments fail. A battery-operated device that delivers mild electrical shocks to the vagus nerve is implanted in your chest and can help heal your hiccups.

References

• MayoClinic: Hiccups - Treatment and Drugs; Jun. 2009
• WebMD: Hiccups - Topic Overview
• Brigham and Women's Hospital: Hiccups Remedies
• Health 911: Hiccups
• Children Youth and Women's Health Service: Hiccups and How to Get Rid of Them