5 Effective Home Remedies To Get Rid Of Hiccups

Hiccups often occur suddenly and can quickly become annoying. This prompts people to try all sorts of unusual and creative ideas to get rid of them. It comes as no surprise that discussions and theories on how to treat hiccups are abundant online.

For this reason, it can make be difficult to separate the recommended methods from the old wives’ tales. Here we will focus primarily on how to get rid of hiccups.

All of the methods featured are taken from public health authorities such as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the British National Health Service (NHS).

Hiccups are medically known as synchronous diaphragmatic flutter (SDF) or singultus. In terms of physiology, a hiccup occurs when the diaphragm suddenly contracts involuntarily, and, at the same time, the voice box contracts and the vocal folds close, effectively blocking the flow of air.

* Cover your mouth

Try cupping your hands over your nose and mouth, but continue breathing normally. The extra dose of carbon dioxide should help you get rid of hiccups!

* Use your hands

Try pressing the palm of your hand with the thumb of your other hand the harder, the better. Alternatively, you can squeeze the ball of your left thumb between the thumb and forefinger of the right. The discomfort is a distraction that affects your nervous system and may get rid of hiccups.

* Hold your breath

The next time you've got hiccups, take a deep breath and hold it. When there's a build-up of carbon dioxide in your lungs, your diaphragm relaxes.

* Stick out your tongue

When no one's watching, stick out your tongue. This exercise is done by singers and actors because it stimulates the opening between the vocal cords (the glottis). You breathe more smoothly, quelling the spasms that cause hiccups.

* Plug your ears

The next time you get hiccups, stick your fingers in your ears for 20 to 30 seconds. Alternatively, you can press the soft areas behind your earlobes, just below the base of the skull. This sends a "relax" signal through the vagus nerve, which connects to the diaphragm.