Halt Your Hiccups
- Jackie Lochridge
- 11 minutes ago
- 2 min read
What Causes Hiccups?
We've all had hiccups at some point in our lives. Some are cute, some are painful, all are distracting and we want them to stop as soon as possible. Hiccups start with a spasm of the diaphragm, which triggers a cascade of other nerve and muscle actions and ends in the sudden closure of the glottis in the middle of the voice box. This curious process involves three nerve branches and a litany of small and large muscles, and the cause of the initial spams remains unknown in many cases.
Most cases of the hiccups are classified as transient or acute: they pass in second to minutes. There are also persistent hiccups lasting longer than 48 hours and recurrent hiccups which last longer than transient cases but happen very frequently. Transient hiccups may be caused by bloating from eating or drinking too quickly or from irritating the diaphragm with alcohol or spicy foods. Persistent hiccups have a variety of known causes from infection to gastrointestinal disorders.
How Can They be Stopped?
Persistent hiccups are stopped by treating the underlying condition, and in rare cases, through a vagus nerve stimulator. Transient hiccups can be more challenging, and a slew of sometimes outlandish solutions have been offered (drinking water upside down, anyone?). Common methods that may work include: slowly drinking cold water, holding your breath, and eating something acidic.
Why Do These Remedies Work?
Helpful actions primarily target the vagus nerve, helping it to reset and stop triggering the spasms. Some hiccup-ridding methods focus on the diaphragm, adding pressure to calm the spasms. The cure for hiccups is not one-size-fits-all: try a few antidotes and see what works for you.
References
Quiroga, J. B., García, J. U., & Guedes, J. B. (2016). Hiccups: A common problem with some unusual causes and cures. British Journal of General Practice, 66(652), 584–586. https://doi.org/10.3399/bjgp16x687913
Suliman, A., Paranathala, M. P., Abdulrahman Kolapo, Nath, U., & Akbar Hussain, M. (2024). Vagal nerve stimulation for Intractable hiccups. Journal of Neurology Research, 14(2), 86–89. https://doi.org/10.14740/jnr.v0i0.792
UCLA Health. (2024). Prone to hiccups? Here’s what you need to know. In Uclahealth.org. UCLA Health. https://www.uclahealth.org/news/article/prone-hiccups-heres-what-you-need-know
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