Hiccups are spasm of diaphragm muscle. During such muscle spasm the vocal cord instantly shuts producing hiccup sound.
Eating or drinking too quickly are some of the most common causes of hiccups. Other causes include inhalation of fumes and taking certain medicine in addition to effects of certain conditions such as stroke, brain tumors and other diseases irritating the nerve that controls the diaphragm.
Hiccups are not dangerous and are rarely a medical emergency. However if they are lasting for more than 3 hours or they disturb your sleeping or eating, then see your doctor. Otherwise most hiccups can be controlled and cured by home remedies.
3 Strategies to Control Hiccups
1. Eat or Drink Specific Food Items
Eating or drinking in a particular way can help to reset the diaphragm.
- Drink water in 10-15 sips in a rhythmic manner. A regular rhythmic movement of esophagus will hopefully reset the diaphragm and stop it from snap contracting thereby relieving the symptoms of hiccups.
- If you pull harder to make a sip by keeping your lips away a short distance from the water level in the glass, then this extra effort will reset the diaphragm and hiccups will stop
- You can also put fingers in your both ears while sipping to get the fastest result.
In addition to drinking the water eating the following food items will also help
- Put a teaspoon of sugar in the back of your tongue and swallow.
- Cut a slice of lemon and lick it. Instant shock of a sour taste can stop hiccups. A sip of Apple Cider Vinegar will do the same job.
2. Breathing and Acupressure
If you are in a public place and water is not available immediately then you can still do certain things without anyone noticing you to control your hiccups.
- Press one of your palms with the thumb of the other hand. Press it hard to feel the discomfort. This distraction of discomfort will resolve hiccups.
- Take a deep breath and hold it for long. Longer you hold it better it is. The delayed exhalation will temporarily increase carbon dioxide concentration which will help releasing the diaphragm muscle from contracting.
- If you are not a public area then you can insert fingers in your ears and press them for some time. This helps the diaphragm to relax. Sticking out your tongue for a long period will also produce the same effect.
3. Relex
Sometimes doing nothing but relaxing can relieve you from hiccups.
- Lie down on your stomach on your bed with both hands hanging and head turned on one side. Take a deep breath and hold it for 10 seconds before exhaling. You will feel relieved of hiccups after a few repeats of this deep breathing.
- If your partner is around and is possible to have a deep passionate kiss, then kiss. This will relax the diaphragm from shifting attention.
So, you have seen that the hiccups can be one of the easiest problems to resolve, if you know how.