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Hiccups come to us all when we usually need them the least. Perhaps it’s the first date, or we’re about to sit down and tackle an important task that requires concentration and a steady hand.
Hopefully, none of us are as unlucky as Charles Osbourne, who started hiccuping in 1922 and didn’t stop until one morning in February 1990. Charles didn’t have a cure for hiccups, and he probably didn’t know what causes hiccups either.
In this article, we’re going to take a look at exactly what causes hiccups and what you can do to stop hiccups fast.
What Causes Hiccups?
To understand the hiccup, you need to understand the science. Hiccups are caused by the diaphragm and intercostal muscles contracting all of a sudden. When this happens the larynx (voice box) contracts simultaneously, causing the vocal folds in the throat to close and block the flow of air. This is what causes the ‘hiccup’ sound.
Hiccups can be caused by several things, but they are usually started when the diaphragmatic nerves are irritated by something. Some of the most common causes of this include:
- Eating too much
- Eating too fast
- Spicy foods
- drinking hot liquids or carbonated beverages
- eating too fast
- Experiencing stress
- Certain medications
Hiccups can happen to anyone of any age, however, they are more common in adult men, who are also more likely to have hiccups for a longer duration. Most bouts of the hiccups will go away within a couple of minutes, but if yours are persisting longer, you might want to try some of these ways to stop hiccups or get more information here.
Remedies for Hiccups
There are so many different ways you can try to stop hiccups. These range from changing your breathing to sucking on a lemon. One of the first things most people try is to try drinking from the opposite side of a glass. This is thought to help because it forces the abdominal muscles to contract, which stops the hiccups.
You can try eating a spoonful of honey or peanut butter. Leave it in your mouth to dissolve a while before you swallow it. Alternatively, you could suck on an ice cube or put a drop of vinegar on your tongue.
One of the most proven methods is to slowly sip cold water, as it overstimulates the vagus nerve and stops all other signals to the vocal cords.
Change Your Breathing
Using breathing techniques can calm your respiratory system and restore order. Try breathing in slowly to the count of four, holding for four, and then exhaling to the count of four. You can also try this technique with a paper bag.
Pressure Points
Next time you find yourself with hiccups, try grabbing the tip of your tongue and pulling on it gently once or twice. Alternatively, you can try squeezing the palm of your hand between your thumb and your first two fingers.
If they don’t work and you’re feeling desperate, then you can try to poke the back of your throat to stimulate your gag reflex. This will feel unpleasant, but it can stimulate the vagal nerve and stop hiccups.
Have You Found the Cure for Hiccups?
Knowing what causes hiccups can help you to avoid them, but you can be sure that at some point you’ll find yourself with a case of the hiccups. Using these remedies for hiccups can help to get them out of the way quickly, just make sure no one important is watching when you try to drink from the opposite side of the glass!
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