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Ten Ways to Quickly Get Rid of Hiccups

They can last for a couple of minutes or they can last for hours. The longer they go on, the more frustrating and annoying they are. Hiccups occur when something, like eating too quickly, triggers the nerves in the spinal cord at the back of the neck. The nerves send a signal that controls the diaphragm. The diaphragm, in turn, causes the person to hiccup. While not every hiccup remedy works immediately, all are easy enough to try at least once.

  1. Hold Your Breath

    • Holding your breath boosts carbon dioxide levels in the blood, which decreases the sensitivity of the vagus nerve, the longest nerve in the body. This can help calm the phrenic nerve, which controls the diaphragm.

    Breathe from a Paper Bag

    • Breathing in and out of a paper bag boosts carbon dioxide levels in the blood. Breathe slowly for a few minutes or until you notice your hiccups subside.

    Sip Water

    • Slowly sipping water helps elevate carbon dioxide levels in the blood. Sip a glass of water without taking a breath for as long as you can. The hiccups should stop once you've finished drinking.

    Swallow Sugar

    • Place a teaspoon of sugar in your mouth at the back of your tongue and swallow it. Either swallow it dry or chase it with a glass of cold water.

    Pull Your Tongue

    • Pulling your tongue with your fingers might help stop hiccups in some people. Stick your tongue out and grab it with your fingers. Gently pull it out of your mouth and hold it there until you feel the hiccups fade.

    Compress Your Diaphragm

    • Compressing your diaphragm can stop the spasms causing the hiccups. Sit on a chair and lean forward so your chest is on your lap. Remain in this position, compressing the chest and diaphragm as much as is comfortably possible, until your hiccups stop.

    Ice Water

    • Ice water can help stop hiccups in two ways. Slowly drinking ice water can stop hiccups by changing the temperature in the esophagus rapidly. Gargling with ice water is another option for stopping hiccups quickly.

    Baking Soda

    • For lasting hiccups, try a baking soda remedy. Mix 2 tsp. of baking soda with 2 tsp. of aromatic spirits of ammonia and 4 oz. of peppermint water. Take 1 tbsp. of the mixture, and repeat if the first spoonful does not work.

    Cream of Tartar

    • Cream of tartar on an empty stomach might cure hiccups in some people. Add 1/3 tsp. cream of tartar to 8 oz. warm water and dissolve. Drink 2 tbsp. on an empty stomach, if possible. Repeat if this remedy does not work the first time.

    Fright

    • A sudden fright can often help cure hiccups. When suddenly frightened, people tend to suck in air suddenly which could explain why this remedy works on some people. The tricky part is having someone truly scare you when you expect it.

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