How to Get Rid of Hiccups

Video Preview

Introduction

The cause and function of hiccups has baffled medical practitioners since the days of Hippocrates. Although no one has figured out the exact science behind these "abrupt diaphragmatic contractions," we have come up with a few home remedies that might be able to help.

By: eHow Health Editor

Length: 0:48

Comments: 239

View more articles by this author

Flag | RSS

Instructions

Text Size: +
Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Tips & Warnings:

  • Keep in mind that hiccups can be caused by eating too fast and subsequently swallowing a lot of air.
  • Drinking too much alcohol can also be the cause.
  • See a doctor if you have severe pain, if your hiccups last longer than a day (or 3 hours in the case of a small child), or if they started after you took a prescription medication.
  • This information is not intended as a substitute for professional medical advice or treatment.
Step1
Swallow 1 tsp. white table sugar, dry. A study found that this stopped hiccups immediately in 19 out of 20 people. Repeat up to 3 more times at 2-minute intervals if necessary.
Step2
Gulp down a glass of water if the sugar doesn't work.
Step3
Slowly eat a piece of dry bread.
Step4
Breathe in and out of a paper bag. Do not use a plastic bag under any circumstances, and don't do this longer than 1 minute.
Step5
Gargle with water (see 'How to Gargle').
Step6
Repeat the above steps until your hiccups stop.

Comments

| View All Comments
MrsRiordan

MrsRiordan said

Flag This Comment

on 11/12/2008 Funny story, but true. I was battling hiccups for thirty minutes and I came to this site trying to make them stop. I was reading the suggestions and I picked up my bottled water to take a drink before I tried the sugar. As I was taking the lid off of the bottled water, I noticed that there was a video playing. I started to watch it, went to take a drink of the water and had to stifle back a laugh with water in my mouth when I saw the lady eating the bread. My hiccups stopped immediately.

DJTek

DJTek said

Flag This Comment

on 10/23/2008 HOLY S#1T!

THE SUGAR WORKED LIKE A CHARM!!!!

I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!!!!


DJ TEK

Flag This Comment

on 8/18/2008 This website didn't work for me but a friend told me to close my eyes and hold my breath and then try to count to one hundred by 3's and it worked!

Flag This Comment

on 8/17/2008 None of the above remedies worked for me. Found this on another site and wow it worked immediately: repeated swallowing. Grab a glass or bottled water and only take little sips quickly, swallowing hard after each one. You want to do a bunch of swallowing right in a row, repeatedly. The water is just there to give you something to swallow. This worked in 30 seconds for me.

Flag This Comment

on 7/21/2008 This video is true but the one about some one scaring you actually i do it to people and they do it to me! B)

Post a Comment

POST A COMMENT

Request a New How-To Video Article

Looking for more How To information? Chances are there’s an eHow member who knows how to do what you’re looking to do. Submit an article request now!

eHow Article: How to Get Rid of Hiccups

eHow Health Editor

eHow Health Editor

Category: Health

Articles: See my other articles

Related Ads

Health

DrJewell
Meet DrJewell eHow’s Health Expert.