How to Get Rid of Bad Case of Hiccups

Hiccups happen when a spasm in one of the nerves that controls breathing causes muscles in the diaphragm, neck and throat to contract suddenly and quickly inhale air. When this happens the glottis, the flap of tissue in the back of the throat, suddenly closes over the windpipe. When the sudden rush of air hits the closed flap it causes the "hic" sound. These spasms often happen when the nerves become irritated after you swallow too much air while drinking a carbonated beverage or eating too fast. Most hiccup remedies involve stopping air flow to the stomach in order to prevent the hiccups from continuing.

Instructions

• 1

  Hold your breath. According to Medical Online, holding your breath increases the levels of carbon dioxide in your body while decreasing the level of oxygen. This tricks your body into thinking it is suffocating or drowning which forces it to stop hiccuping and use its resources for other functions.

• 2

  Drink a glass of water. Many remedies involve drinking a glass of water, sometimes from the opposite side of the cup, in small frequent sips or in big gulps. Either way you drink the water, it will fill your stomach with liquid and give your body something else to swallow instead of air.

• 3

  Swallow a teaspoon of sugar. This trick is also intended to stop you from swallowing air and is supposed to stimulate your vagus nerve which sends signals to your diaphragm to stop contracting. Alternative substances to swallow include honey, lemon juice, vinegar, peanut butter or you can eat a cracker or a piece of bread.

• 4

  Breathe into a paper bag. Breathing into a paper bag works the same way as holding your breath because it forces you to breathe in carbon dioxide. And this increases the amount of carbon dioxide in your body and tricks your body into stopping the hiccups so it can focus on other body functions. Place the bag opening over your mouth, seal it around your mouth with your hand and breathe into it five to 10 times.

• 5

  Massage the roof of your mouth. Massaging the roof of your mouth with your tongue or a cotton swab is also supposed to stimulate the vagus nerve and stop the diaphragm from contracting. Be careful doing this if you have a sensitive gag reflex.

• 6

  Grab your tongue with your fingers and extend it out of your mouth. This will also help stimulate the vagus nerve and put an end to the diaphragm spasms.

• 7

  Put your fingers in your ears. According to the My Health Guide website, branches of the vagus nerve extend into the ear canals and reaching into your ears creates pressure that will also stimulate the nerve and stop the hiccups. Be careful not to put your fingers too far into your ears or you could damage your ear canal.

• 8

  Cough, burp or sneeze. Doing one of these things forces the diaphragm to constrict instead of contract which will interrupt the repeated contractions and cause them to slow down or stop.