What causes hiccups and how to treat them
Hiccups happen when a person's diaphragm, the muscle that separates the chest from the belly, suddenly contracts. "When that happens, you ingest air and your voice box closes shut and that produces the 'hic' sound," says Dr. Harmeet Singh Saluja.
Most bouts of hiccups last for less than 48 hours. Rarely, they can last longer. If they last for more than a month, they are called intractable hiccups.
In most people, hiccups don't last long and subside by themselves without any lasting effects. However, in some people, they can produce loss of appetite, poor nutrition, and even irritability.
Causes of hiccups
The most common causes include:
- Having an overtly full meal
- Eating spicy and oily food
- Swallowing air while chewing gum
- Drinking soda or other fizzy drinks
- Sometimes hiccups could be caused by serious underlying conditions which can irritate the diaphragm or raise intracranial pressure
Ways to get rid of hiccups
- Try holding your breath for 5–10 seconds
- Breathe out against closed mouth and nose and try to tighten the abdominal muscles (Valsalva’s maneuver)
- Sip or gargle with cold water or swallow granulated sugar
- While sitting, pull the knees up to the chest and lean forward for 30 seconds to 1 minute and try to hold the position
Should you see a doctor for hiccups?
If hiccups persist for more than 48 hours or cause inconvenience, the person should visit a doctor. The doctor will take a detailed history, perform a medical examination, and may order certain tests to make a diagnosis.
Treating hiccups
If self-help steps listed above don’t work, there are a variety of prescription drugs that can help treat hiccups. "Acupuncture can also help some people. In very rare cases, surgery may be required for a cure of intractable hiccups which don't respond to any other treatment," says Dr. Saluja.
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